Karamo Brown Looks Back at His Time on “The Real World” as MTV Show Marks 20th Anniversary

"Feeling misunderstood & alone on this show is what lead me into the career I have today, helping others," he wrote

Karamo Brown is looking back on the early days of his reality TV career on MTV's The Real World Philadelphia as the show marks its 20th anniversary.

He may now be a household name due to his tenure on Queer Eye; but, in the early 2000s, Brown had a slightly different claim to fame. In 2004, the culture expert famously got his start in television as a 23-year-old social worker on The Real World Philadelphia. In fact, Karamo's historic casting made him one of the first openly gay, Black man on reality TV.

In an Instagram post on Wednesday, the television personality looked back at his time on the reality show with a series of clips from the early 2000s show.

Related: MTV Is Reuniting the Original Cast of 'The Real World' Season 1 for New Series on Paramount+

"Today, 20 years ago ... 23 year old lil Karamo was cast on #MTVRealWorld," he began. "Damn Ive been in this game for a minute. Feeling misunderstood & alone on this show is what lead me into the career I have today, helping others! 💚💚💚"

"Do you remember baby me on Real World! 🤯😳🥳" Brown asked his fans.

The clips in the carousel included the cast's taglines for the show's introduction, Brown's male cisgender cast members asking, "Are you a homosexual?" and a prank involving police officers gone wrong.

Related: LGBTQ+ Reality TV Stars Who Changed the Game

Brown was seen confronting his costar M.J. Garrett for calling in a tip that he was carrying a gun while the cast was out at a nightclub. The Netflix star could be seen surrounded by police officers and visibly upset when law enforcement moved the investigation outside.

In June 2021, Brown opened up about the ways his time on The Real World had been a catalyst that allowed him to become the man so many look up to and adore today.

"Let me tell you something: I am the poster child for You Can Grow," he said at the time. "If you have anybody in your life right now who is acting a fool, doesn't have direction, just say, 'Look at Karamo on The Real World and look at Karamo on Queer Eye.'"

Related: How Karamo Followed His Passion — and How You Can Do the Same: 'We Have to Practice Self-Esteem'

"It was one of those moments where I have to reflect confidently," Brown said of his early 20s on the reality show. "At that moment in my life, I was so unclear, I was so afraid to be vulnerable. I was so afraid to talk about what I was feeling. All of my issues and challenges were coming up in negative ways, and now here I am, years later, fully aware of who I am, living my passions, being honest with myself, being vulnerable, and helping."

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"I say this all the time, 'If my gay, Black ass can do it, anyone can do it.' Because you just have to take the time to want to grow and then ask for help and go on that journey," he concluded.

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