Age: 38
Hometown: New York City, NY
Current Residence: Brooklyn, NY
Occupation: Tech Product Lead
3 Words to Describe You: Ambitious, outgoing, resilient.
Why do you want to be part of Survivor? I love this game. You can only armchair quarterback for so long, when you’re as challenge minded as I can be before you realize you need to shut up and play. Fewer than 700 people have played this game – and fewer than 50 have won. I want to be one of them.
What’s one life experience you feel has prepared you for the game? Teaching middle school in New Orleans as part of Teach for America – and staying in the classroom for 8 years, far beyond my two-year initial commitment, uniquely prepared me for the game. That experience drove home the importance of strong relationships. Kids want to learn from someone they know cares about them. Juries (often) vote for the person they have the strongest relationship with.
Which previous player do you identify with the most? Who do you think you will play most like? I’ve thought about this question for months now and I still don’t know if there’s ever been a previous player quite like me! I hope to have Natalie Anderson’s fierceness, Yam Yam’s humor & strategy all while forging my own path to the win.
What will you value in an alliance partner? Information. Someone who puts the “tea” in loyalty and sees the game the same way I do.
Favorite Hobbies: Talking, making elaborate Mardi Gras costumes.
Pet Peeves: QR code menus in restaurants. When someone accidentally steps on the back of my flip flops.
What is the accomplishment you are most proud of? The community of friends and chosen family I’ve built for myself. My mother passed away [recently] and my people are a big reason I have the strength to be here today, chasing my dream.
What is something we would never know from looking at you? Most people see the blonde curls and the jingle-jangle jewelry and don’t think “business woman.” But I run a business, leading highly technical projects for a household e-commerce company.
Who is your biggest inspiration and why? All the women in my life. The strength, grace, caring, determination, humor, spirit, and love they possess and routinely demonstrate.
Why will you be the Sole Survivor? When you peel back all the layers, Survivor is about making it to the end sitting next to two people you can beat. The adaptability and resilience to make it to the end, the smarts to make the right moves along the way, and the storytelling ability to put it all in front of the jury. They shouldn’t let me get anywhere near final Tribal.