What a Jungle Competition Taught This Real Estate Star About Pressure

Lucía Torres · 2026-10-20

Alexia Umansky isn't your typical reality TV contestant. She's a real estate agent with The Umansky Team, and she recently took on the ultimate challenge: Fox's "Special Forces." The show pits recruits against a team of Marines, Navy professionals, and British soldiers known as the Directing Staff. In this exclusive Q&A, Alexia opens up about the experience—and how it's changed the way she approaches her work back home. ### Reading the Room: From Open Houses to the Jungle In real estate, being able to read a room and stay calm under pressure is non-negotiable. So did those instincts kick in out there? "Absolutely," Alexia says. "As an agent, when showing homes with a client, social awareness is essential. When to speak, when to stay back, when to step up—all of that can be applied to how we acted and behaved in the jungle." She adds, "Real estate is a service business, and I was ready to be of service to my castmates and the Directing Staff." ### A Family That Works Together As part of The Umansky Team, Alexia and her dad, Mauricio, deal with challenges together for a living. Did their work dynamic show up in the competition? Or their family dynamic? "Both!" she laughs. "Whether it's for work or for family, we always have a team mentality. We checked on each other, helped each other, looked out for each other, strategized, and kept each other calm." ### New Strengths That Translate to Real Estate The competition demanded discipline, mental strength, and flexibility. The Directing Staff would repeatedly tell them to "Get up and get ready to go again." For Alexia, that's a mindset that translates directly to real estate. "The market and your clients can surprise you at any moment," she says. "You always have to be prepared." ### Competition Personalities: Alexia vs. Mauricio When asked for one word to describe her competition personality, Alexia doesn't hesitate: "I'm not very competitive at all!" But her dad? "My dad is very competitive. He's always been an athlete and loves to be 'best in show.' It's part of what drives him and has contributed to his success." ### The Bonds That Last What did she enjoy most about her time on the show? "The camaraderie between all of the recruits. Being a part of a team, feeling the support and encouragement from one another, was incredibly special. It's a very bonding experience. Whether you were there for one day or the whole time, we all held each other up." ### What's Next? The competition is still going strong, and Alexia is excited for audiences to see the crazy challenges the Directing Staff came up with. "Hopefully people will see how much passion these men have for what they do—they are real military men who put their whole hearts into this. I hope the audience gains an even deeper respect for the people who defend and serve their countries." Catch Alexia on "Special Forces," airing Thursdays at 9 PM EST and PST on Fox (streaming live on YouTube TV). Episodes are available the next day on Hulu and Disney+. So what's the takeaway for real estate professionals? For Alexia, it's simple: stay calm, read the room, and always be ready to get up and go again. That's a lesson that works just as well in the jungle as it does in the world of luxury real estate.