York College Alum Puts Brainpower to the Test on Prime Video’s Beast Games
York College of Pennsylvania alumna Jessica Douglass ’21 is stepping onto a global stage as a contestant on Season 2 of Beast Games. It is a high-stakes competition series hosted by YouTube creator MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson). The new season premieres January 7, 2026, on Prime Video.
Douglass is among the elite competitors selected for “Team Smart,” facing off against “Team Strong” in a competition that pits 100 of the world’s strongest against 100 of the world’s sharpest minds. They all compete for a $5 million prize.
Douglass was a Mathematics major who earned her Bachelor of Science degree in 2021. She transferred to York College in spring 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic shortened her time on campus, but she says the connection she found within the Mathematics program left a lasting impact.
“Even though my time overlapped with the pandemic, I immediately felt a strong sense of community within the Mathematics program,” Douglass said. “Staying active in the Math Club helped keep me connected and engaged.”
York College’s rigorous curriculum and supportive faculty were especially meaningful during a deeply personal struggle. In 2020, Douglass lost her mother to breast cancer, an experience that she says shaped both her resilience and perspective.
“Immersing myself in my studies became a vital outlet,” she said. “The resilience and analytical mindset I developed at York have shaped how I face challenges today.”
Those same skills are now put to the test on Beast Games, where contestants must think quickly and critically under intense pressure.
“Beast Games demands quick strategic thinking, breaking down complex challenges, and finding creative solutions in high-stakes situations,” Douglass said. “York’s math curriculum built my confidence in tackling difficult problems head-on and taught me the resilience needed to persist.”
Douglass first discovered Beast Games while watching Season 1 on Prime Video in late 2024. A longtime reality television fan, she applied soon after the season ended.
“When I saw they were casting specifically for a ‘Team Smart,’ I knew my educational background, starting with my math degree from York, would help me stand out,” she said.
Although she was thrilled to be selected, the reality of the moment didn’t fully set in until she boarded her flight to the first filming location in Las Vegas.
“Growing up, my mom and I watched reality TV together and always talked about how fun it would be to compete on one,” Douglass said. “Stepping into that moment felt incredibly surreal, like a full circle moment.”
Participating in Beast Games pushed Douglass far outside her comfort zone. She says the experience was transformative.
“It taught me that I can truly accomplish anything I set my mind to,” she said. “I pushed past my limits, met incredible people, and made friendships that will last a lifetime.”
As viewers tune in, Douglass hopes her story resonates beyond the competition itself.
“I hope people see that they’re never alone in tough times and that they should never give up on their dreams,” she said. “I grew up on a farm in a small town. If I can make it onto a show like Beast Games, anyone can chase and achieve their biggest dreams with determination.”
Season 2 of Beast Games premieres January 7, 2026, exclusively on Prime Video.
