"Paradise Can Be Hell": Meet the cast of the Real World: St. Thomas

With his tattoos and gauged ears, Brandon does not look like your typical Real Worlder. Growing up in Boston's infamous "Southie" neighborhood, he has had to steal and hustle to survive. Right now he is homeless and couch-surfing. Since graduating high school, he has worked day and night in order to support his mother and his younger sister Savannah, who is the light of his life. Though he's currently doing electrical and construction work, Brandon's dream is to leave all that in the dust and become a music journalist. He's extremely open about his past and often comes on very strong, very quickly. He typically goes for tattooed punk girls with indie sensibilities, but that doesn't mean he is averse to challenging himself with a preppy girl every once in a while. That time may have come because it looks like Laura might have caught his eye in St. Thomas. And he certainly won't be shy to express his affections. With extreme exhibitionist tendencies, Brandon -- who was a virgin until he was 19 -- has since slept with over 100 women and deflowered a nearby high school's cheerleading captains. After a particularly heart-wrenching breakup with his first love, Brandon had a year of promiscuous sex and coke-fueled partying. He has now been drug-free for five months. Brandon sees the Real World as his opportunity to get out of his town and have a shot at a normal life. Will he be able to stay on the straight and narrow path while in St. Thomas or will he succumb to his old wild ways?

Don't let the name fool you. LaToya Jackson is not a member of that Jackson family, but this self-proclaimed "Head Bitch in Charge" still has plenty personality to spare. Bubbly and energetic, Toya, as her friends call her, worked in local TV news but soon realized that she is meant for something greater. Toya grew up, went to school and spent her entire life in the same city. But her outgoing personality cannot be contained and she is desperate to experience life outside her little town. A recent graduate of Virginia State University, where she was an RA, LaToya was admired on campus and even considered herself and her then-boyfriend to be the Michelle and Barack Obama of VSU. Full of sass and style, what kind of drama and mischief will Ms. Toya bring with her to St. Thomas?

Born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, this corn-fed cutie got an unusual present from her adoptive parents when she was born: a shotgun. Extremely sporty and outdoorsy, Laura's passion is leading her towards a career as a wilderness guide. Though Laura grew up in a strict household full of antiques and needlepoint, this ugly-duckling turned swan is anything but a conservative country girl. After breaking up with her ex-boyfriend, Laura has really let her inner party girl fly free. A former cheerleader for much of her life, she now does a standing backflip while drinking to test how drunk she is. In high school, Laura was booed out of the men's locker room for wanting to join the football team. So instead she tried out and made first string quarterback for the Lingerie Football League. She is also a master flirt who has high standards for the men in her life. That doesn't mean that Laura dates less frequently, she's just a pro at finding hot guys. Maybe she'll put her expertise to use in the Real World house with Trey. The problem is Laura has a reputation for falling fast and hard. Will history repeat itself?

A self-described "down ass bitch," Marie is one hell of a good time. With "Statitude" to spare -- that's Staten Island Attitude, for those not in the know -- Marie describes her worst trait as calling people out too often. She is going to put you in your place, whether you like it or not. Marie seems to be rebelling against her strict SVU cop mother who ruled with an iron fist while she was growing up. Partying and drinking often, she is a treasure trove of good stories and always seems to end up in bizarre situations. She once called in sick from her new job at a bar so that she could party. Later in the night, she got so drunk that she ended up partying at the same bar that she had called in sick from. Needless to say, she was fired. There's also the time that Marie lost a tooth and just went on partying for two weeks, toothless and fancy free. Marie is always looking for Mr. Right or even Mr. Right Now. With a house full of hotties, including a roommate who has the same Hakuna Matata tattoo as her, it doesn't seem like Marie will have any trouble finding a man. St. Thomas -- it's a wonderful place.

Robb will be the first to tell you that white guys CAN jump. At 6'6" with bright red hair and piercing blue eyes, Robb stands out wherever he goes. Robb is extremely competitive. A former basketball star, he regularly shocked people with his dunking skills. He also has a great sense of humor, which he uses to his advantage when it comes to wooing women. But Robb's nonstop jokes conceal a rough upbringing. His relationship with his father has been strained and, although he doesn't hold a grudge, he is much closer with his mom and even moved home in part to be closer to her and his sister. He is studying criminal justice with an eye on becoming a cop or an FBI agent but is having trouble balancing schoolwork and partying. Robb likes to shock his mom with explicit details about his sex life and, like fellow roommate Trey, is developing a reputation as a "man-whore." But the emotional scars left by his father are more than just skin deep and this baggage seems to have found its way on the flight to St.Thomas. Will Robb be able to live by his problem-free philosophy and embrace the mantra behind his Hakuna Matata tattoo?

Brandon Swift, who goes by Swift, recently graduated from Temple University with a Business Administration degree in legal studies. In addition to having entrepreneurial aspirations, he also wants to become a sports and entertainment lawyer, a career he may be ideally suited for. Swift will argue his point endlessly and he's easily fired up when he feels disrespected. But there's another side to him, one that is charming, charismatic and drives the ladies wild. A strong sense of loyalty he has for his friends and family also causes people to gravitate towards him. Currently, Swift is working as a VIP host at a popular local club. He is conflicted about relationships. Girls tend to get obsessed with him and while he's not exactly ready to settle down, he finds the player's life shallow and empty. Will he find depth with one of his female roommates or will he just end up playing her?

Born in a blue collar section of Baltimore, Trey had a rough childhood. His drug addict father was in and out of jail for much of Trey's life on charges related to murder, leaving Trey to be raised by his mother and grandmother, to whom he's incredibly close. He remembers fondly watching soap operas with his mother, which to this day has remained a guilty pleasure for Trey and maybe a potential career goal. He had once hoped to erase his father's legacy by pursuing a career in law enforcement, but those dreams were dashed when he got caught selling prescription drugs to his football teammates. This star athlete with an aggressive temper and "old school" values is actively working on becoming a better man. He credits his sessions with a life coach for motivating him to turn things around. A bit of a "man whore," Trey is also struggling to change his reputation and to find the right woman. He arrives in St.Thomas with a girl back home, but is the relationship strong enough to withstand temptation?