Survivor Snuff
Season 23 - South Pacific
Upolu, Samoa (Aired to ) 18 castaways, 39 days
returning-player captains (ozzy, coach); redemption island returned; cochran flipped to upolu at the merge; ozzy won a string of duels to re-enter at final five; final three with a 6–3–0 jury.
Episodes
Castaways
Sophie Clarke
Age
22
Hometown
Willsboro, New York
Current Residence
New York, New York
Occupation
Medical Student
Traits
Analytical, Calm, Dry-Witted
Why Applied
Lifelong fan who wanted to test her logic and people-reading under pressure
Life Experience
STEM-driven path and pre-med work built discipline and comfort with complex decisions
Unique Gameplay
Managed alliances within Upolu, checked Coach’s influence without alienating him, won key immunities late, and won 6–3–0
Finish
1
Albert Destrade
Age
26
Hometown
Hialeah, Florida
Current Residence
Miami, Florida
Occupation
Baseball/Date Coach
Traits
Smooth-Talking, Strategic, Ambitious
Why Applied
Wanted to run the social game and out-charm bigger threats
Life Experience
Coaching and sales-style work honed persuasion and reading microreactions
Unique Gameplay
Worked as Upolu’s tactician behind Coach; jury questioned his ownership of moves; finished third (0 votes)
Finish
3
Ozzy Lusth
Age
30
Hometown
Los Angeles, California
Current Residence
Venice, California
Occupation
Freelance Photographer
Traits
Athletic, Fearless, Independent
Why Applied
To push his survival skills and compete as a challenge beast
Life Experience
Outdoors-first lifestyle shaped self-reliance and comfort in the ocean
Unique Gameplay
Volunteered to go to Redemption, won a string of duels to return, dominated challenges post-return, and fell at final four (last juror)
Finish
4 (On Jury)
Rick Nelson
Age
54
Hometown
Aurora, Utah
Current Residence
Aurora, Utah
Occupation
Rancher
Traits
Straightforward, Hardworking, Dry Humor
Why Applied
Wanted the adventure and to represent rural, blue-collar grit
Life Experience
Ranch life forged early mornings, patience, and resilience
Unique Gameplay
Steady Upolu number who benefited from cohesion; became juror #8 at five
Finish
5 (On Jury)
Brandon Hantz
Age
19
Hometown
Katy, Texas
Current Residence
Tomball, Texas
Occupation
Oil Tanker Crewman
Traits
Emotional, Loyal, Impulsive
Why Applied
To define his own legacy and play openly about faith and loyalty
Life Experience
Grew up fast around strong personalities, learning to wrestle impulse vs. intention
Unique Gameplay
Wore loyalty on his sleeve, gave up immunity to trust the group, and was blindsided at six
Finish
6 (On Jury)
Edna Ma
Age
35
Hometown
Anaheim, California
Current Residence
Los Angeles, California
Occupation
Anesthesiologist
Traits
Polite, Observant, Optimistic
Why Applied
To stretch beyond the OR and test herself in a radically new setting
Life Experience
Medicine taught empathy, precision, and calm under stress
Unique Gameplay
Trusted Upolu’s plan a beat too long; targeted as numbers tightened and became juror #7
Finish
7 (On Jury)
John Cochran
Age
24
Hometown
Washington, DC
Current Residence
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Occupation
Law Student
Traits
Self-Aware, Wry, Game-Smart
Why Applied
Superfan dream to test theory vs. practice
Life Experience
Academic focus and fandom taught him to analyze social incentives
Unique Gameplay
Flipped from Savaii to Upolu at the merge and reshaped the season’s trajectory; became juror #6
Finish
8 (On Jury)
Dawn Meehan
Age
41
Hometown
South Jordan, Utah
Current Residence
South Jordan, Utah
Occupation
English Professor
Traits
Kind, Resilient, Attuned
Why Applied
To model courage for her family and chase a lifelong goal
Life Experience
Teaching and parenting developed patience and deep listening
Unique Gameplay
Bonded closely with Cochran, then was cut in the mid-merge squeeze (juror #5)
Finish
9 (On Jury)
Whitney Duncan
Age
27
Hometown
Scotts Hill, Tennessee
Current Residence
Nashville, Tennessee
Occupation
Country Singer
Traits
Composed, Social, Steady
Why Applied
To step outside music and compete in a pure social strategy game
Life Experience
Touring and performing built stamina and quick relationship building
Unique Gameplay
Savaii loyalist who fell to the Upolu steamroll post-merge (juror #4)
Finish
10 (On Jury)
Keith Tollefson
Age
26
Hometown
Edina, Minnesota
Current Residence
Edina, Minnesota
Occupation
Water Treatment Technician
Traits
Athletic, Protective, Straightforward
Why Applied
Adventure, competition, and to back his alliance to the end
Life Experience
Hands-on technical work and athletics built focus and follow-through
Unique Gameplay
Savaii competitor targeted once numbers flipped (juror #3)
Finish
11 (On Jury)
Jim Rice
Age
35
Hometown
Denver, Colorado
Current Residence
Denver, Colorado
Occupation
Medical Marijuana Dispenser
Traits
Tactical, Confident, Direct
Why Applied
To prove his aggressive strategy could carve a path to the end
Life Experience
Entrepreneurial grind sharpened negotiation and risk tolerance
Unique Gameplay
Early Savaii strategist; first juror after the merge when the flip took hold
Finish
12 (On Jury)
Mikayla Wingle
Age
22
Hometown
Tampa, Florida
Current Residence
Tampa, Florida
Occupation
LFL Player & Model
Traits
Competitive, Straight-Talking, Focused
Why Applied
To test her grit outside the arena and challenge stereotypes
Life Experience
High-intensity sports built toughness and body/mind control
Unique Gameplay
Upolu member repeatedly targeted by Brandon’s distrust; lost the duel on Redemption and finished 13th
Finish
13
Elyse Umemoto
Age
25
Hometown
Vancouver, Washington
Current Residence
Las Vegas, Nevada
Occupation
Pageant Titleholder & Student
Traits
Poised, Optimistic, Supportive
Why Applied
To push beyond pageants and compete in a raw social/strategic game
Life Experience
Public-facing roles taught composure and quick rapport-building
Unique Gameplay
Early Savaii number perceived as too tight with Ozzy; sent to Redemption and eliminated there
Finish
14
Stacey Powell
Age
44
Hometown
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Current Residence
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Occupation
Mortician
Traits
Blunt, Funny, No-Nonsense
Why Applied
Wanted an extreme challenge and the chance to shake up her life
Life Experience
Funeral services work forged composure and resilience under stress
Unique Gameplay
Clashed with Coach/Albert over hierarchy, then lost on Redemption after an early boot
Finish
15
Christine Shields Markoski
Age
39
Hometown
Merrick, New York
Current Residence
Merrick, New York
Occupation
Teacher
Traits
Tenacious, Independent, Tough
Why Applied
To prove she could thrive alone and outwork everyone
Life Experience
Teaching and parenting built patience and self-belief
Unique Gameplay
Became a Redemption Island warrior with multiple duel wins before Ozzy’s engineered showdown ended her run pre-merge
Finish
16
Semhar Tadesse
Age
24
Hometown
Los Angeles, California
Current Residence
Los Angeles, California
Occupation
Spoken Word Poet
Traits
Artistic, Sensitive, Sincere
Why Applied
To share her voice and test herself far outside her comfort zone
Life Experience
Eritrean American upbringing and performance work shaped identity and purpose
Unique Gameplay
Struggled in the opening challenge, became the first boot, and was eliminated on Redemption
Finish
18
Mark Caruso
Age
48
Hometown
Forest Hills, New York
Current Residence
Forest Hills, New York
Occupation
Retired NYPD Detective
Traits
Big-Hearted, Vocal, Gutsy
Why Applied
To live the superfan dream and bring big personality to the island
Life Experience
Years in law enforcement taught situational awareness and grit
Unique Gameplay
Early Savaii target who fought on Redemption but couldn’t extend the run
Finish
17
Benjamin Wade
Age
39
Hometown
Bolivar, Missouri
Current Residence
Susanville, California
Occupation
Soccer Coach & Orchestral Conductor
Traits
Charismatic, Philosophical, Ritual-Oriented
Why Applied
To redeem prior seasons and prove his leadership style could actually win
Life Experience
Built teams and led ensembles, blending discipline with a flair for ceremony
Unique Gameplay
Captained Upolu’s majority, cultivated loyalty through ritual and structure, reached Final 3, and finished runner-up (3 votes)
Finish
2
Finalists
Sophie Clarke
Winner of $1,000,000
Jury Votes (6)
- Jim Rice
- Dawn Meehan
- Whitney Duncan
- Keith Tollefson
- John Cochran
- Rick Nelson
Albert Destrade
Jury Votes (0)
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