Since the official cast of “Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans” was announced in May, former contestants like Rob “Boston Rob” Mariano, Parvati Shallow and Rob Cesternino have shared their thoughts on the 24 players who will return for the landmark season.
The forthcoming season, which will be shaped by the results of fan votes that were held throughout the airing of “Survivor 48” earlier this year, is set to boast series legends like Cirie Fields and Ozzy Lusth, new-era players like Joe Hunter and Kamilla Karthigesu, and even former “Survivor” winners like Dee Valladeras and Kyle Fraser.
In an interview with TheThings, the “Queen” of “Survivor,” Sandra Diaz-Twine, became the latest alum to share her thoughts on the history-making cast.
Sandra Diaz-Twine Has Bad News for Past Winners on Season 50
Sandra originally appeared on “Survivor: Pearl Islands” in 2003. Through a cunning social game and an ability to convince her tribemates to target big threats, Diaz-Twine was ultimately able to win the title of “Sole Survivor.” In 2010, Sandra became the first-ever player to win “Survivor” twice when she took home the $1 million prize on “Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains.”
As a two-time winner, Diaz-Twine continued her “Survivor” career as a contestant on “Survivor: Game Changers” (2017), “Survivor: Winners at War” (2020) and “Australian Survivor: Blood vs. Water” (2022), though she has never been able to replicate the success of her first two seasons.
CBS/GettySpeaking with TheThings, Sandra spelled bad news for the former “Survivor” winners competing on Season 50 – “Survivor 45” winner Dee Valladeras and “Survivor 48” winner Kyle Fraser.
CBS/Getty“It’s not gonna happen,” said Sandra, commenting on whether Dee or Kyle would be joining herself and Tony Vlachos in the two-time winners club. “I would bet money that it’s not gonna happen.”
She continued: “They’ve already won. They’re gonna be held to a higher standard. People are gonna be jealous of what they’ve already achieved their first time around versus someone who’s playing for the fourth, the fifth, the sixth time. You know? So when it comes to sending them packing or looking for a reason to vote someone off, being a winner is just the simpler version. You’re a threat. You’ve already won before. Let’s not get wrapped up around it. Let’s just get them out. And that’s what’s gonna happen. They’re gonna go.”
Sandra Places Her Bets on who She Thinks Will Win ‘Survivor 50’
While the self-proclaimed “Queen” of “Survivor” doesn’t think that past winner or legacy players, like Cirie, Ozzy and Benjamin “Coach” Wade, will be able to outwit, outplay and outlast their competitors on “Survivor 50,” she has placed her bets on who she thinks will take home the prize.
According to Diaz-Twine, Emily Flippen (“Survivor 45”), Kamilla Kartigesu (“Survivor 48”) and Genevieve Mushaluk (“Survivor 47”) have the best chance of being named the landmark season’s “Sole Survivor.”
CBS/Getty“Emily. Because I think she has what it takes. Kamilla. But,I think they’re gonna be scared of her. They’ve seen her play. And Genevieve. I mean, there’s so many good new school players that are out there that had the potential to go, you know, to win the season,” said Sandra.
Diaz-Twine, who also served as a mentor to castaways on “Survivor: Island of the Idols,” similarly agreed that Jenna Lewis-Doughtery, who appeared on the very first season of “Survivor” in 2000, stands a chance of winning “Survivor 50” next spring.
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Two-Time ‘Survivor’ Winner Thinks These Two Players Have ‘No Chance’ of Winning ‘Survivor 50’