Survivor contestant Amber Brkich

Amber Brkich Mariano - Survivor: The Australian Outback, Survivor: All-Stars

Amber Mariano on social media: None found

Seasons: 3 | Days: 107 | Wins: 1 | Jury: 2

Survivor: The Australian Outback (2001) - 6th place, 11th out - 4th juror.

Voted out in Episode 11, "No Longer Just a Game" (Day 33).

Survivor: All-Stars (2004) - Winner, 4-3.

Received four jury votes, to win (4-3) in Episode 15, "The Sole Surviving All-Star" (Day 39).

Survivor: Winners at War (2020) - 19th place, 2nd out - 1st juror.

Voted out in Episode 1, "Greatest of the Greats" (Day 3).
Cumulative time: In-game - 3 days; Edge of Extinction - 32 days.

Amber Brkich Mariano - Career statistics
	Challenge stats	Tribal council stats	Jury stats
Season	ChW	ChA	ChW%	VFB	VAP	TCA	TC%	wTCR	JVF	TotJ	JV%	SurvSc	SurvAv
S2: The Australian Outback	0.59	9.09	0.07	5	6	8	0.61	1.75	-	-	-	0.68	2.34
S8: All-Stars	2.70	12.81	0.21	9	6	9	0.99	2.80	4	7	0.57	1.77	8.93
S40: Winners at War	0.10	2.21	0.05	0	6	1	-0.60	0.00	-	-	-	-0.55	0.10
Career	3.39	24.11	0.14	14	18	18	0.77	2.18	4	7	0.57	1.10	4.45

The Australian Outback challenges (click to expand/collapse)
Tribal/team challenge record (4-for-11):
- The Australian Outback Ep. 1 RC/IC: "Bridging the Gap" - thanks to a capsizing Kucha raft, Ogakor wins easily.
- The Australian Outback Ep. 2 RC: "Butch Cassidy" - First to jump, Ogakor wins again.
- The Australian Outback Ep. 2 IC: "Tucker'd Out" - Successfully eats mud whelk, but thanks to Tina, Ogakor loses.
- The Australian Outback Ep. 3 RC: "Water Torture" - Carries water, and Ogakor wins in the tie-breaker.
- The Australian Outback Ep. 3 IC: "Lock Step" - Runs well with Ogakor, but thanks to Maralyn's repeated trips, Ogakor loses.
- The Australian Outback Ep. 4 RC: "Master Mind" - Participates in the puzzle, Ogakor loses.
- The Australian Outback Ep. 4 IC: "True or Falls" - Answers a question correctly, but Ogakor loses.
- The Australian Outback Ep. 5 RC: "Triage" - Ogakor loses its fourth straight.
- The Australian Outback Ep. 5 IC: "The Maze" - Somehow, Ogakor wins.
- The Australian Outback Ep. 6 RC: "Blind Leading the Blind" - Ogakor loses, depriving Tina of Doritos.
- The Australian Outback Ep. 9 RC: "Double Play" - Paired with Keith, makes final round, but loses to Colby/Jerri.
Individual challenge record (0-for-7): (Mean % Finish: 63%)
- The Australian Outback Ep. 7 IC: "Perch" - Lasts an impressive 6 hrs, 47 minutes; eventually gives up (with Jerri) for ice cream and chocolate (5th/10).
- The Australian Outback Ep. 8 RC: "Return to Sender" - Narrowly loses to Jerri, but shares reward (2nd/9).
- The Australian Outback Ep. 8 IC: "Don't Fence Me In" - Drops 10 discs, good enough for third place (3rd/9).
- The Australian Outback Ep. 9 IC: "Hanging in the Balance" - Beats Elisabeth in the first round, loses to Nick in the second round (tie-3rd/8).
- The Australian Outback Ep. 10 IC: "Fire and Water" - not among the leaders (bottom 5/7).
- The Australian Outback Ep. 11 RC: "End of the Line" - finishes second (2nd/6).
- The Australian Outback Ep. 11 IC: "Blue Plate Special" - first person eliminated (6th/6).
Redemption/Exile Island duel record (0-for-0):
- The Australian Outback: None.
All-Stars challenges (click to expand/collapse)
Tribal/team challenge record (8-for-14; 1 2nd; 2 sit-outs):
- All-Stars Ep. 1 RC/IC: "Quest for Fire" - Chapera wins (1st/3).
- All-Stars Ep. 2 RC: "Stairway to the Stars" - Chapera does not win, but Saboga gives them reward, anyway.
- All-Stars Ep. 2 IC: "Float Your Boat" - Chapera wins again (1st/3).
- All-Stars Ep. 3 RC: "Better Homes and Island Living" - Sits out with Sue, as Chapera wins again (1st/3).
- All-Stars Ep. 4 RC: "Match Maker" - Chapera wins again (1st/3).
- All-Stars Ep. 4 IC: "Blind Leading the Blind" - Sits out, and somehow, Chapera actually finishes third (3rd/3).
- All-Stars Ep. 5 RC: "Shipwrecked Raft Rescue" - Chapera finishes second, still gets decent Sabogas when they're dissolved (2nd*/3).
- All-Stars Ep. 5 IC: "Pilfering Pirates" - Now down to two tribes, Chapera wins.
- All-Stars Ep. 6 RC: "Tribal Stomp-ede" - Chapera loses Sue to a quit, then loses the challenge.
- All-Stars Ep. 7 RC/IC: "Blind Leading the Blind" - Chapera wins again.
- All-Stars Ep. 8 RC: "Log Jam" - Beats Jerri, then Kathy for the final point; Chapera wins again, 5-3.
- All-Stars Ep. 8 IC: "Choose Your Weapon" - Chapera wins.
- All-Stars Ep. 9 IC: "Survivor History" - Re-switched to Chapera, which promptly loses.
- All-Stars Ep. 11 RC: "Big Bad O' Course" - part of the winning team, with Rob, Alicia, and Shii Ann.
*Note: Second-place finishes during the three-tribe phase of All-Stars count as a half-win.

Individual challenge record (1-for-10): (Mean % Finish: 65%)
- All-Stars Ep. 10 RC: "Rock Bottom" - Eliminated in 2nd round, Rupert picks her & Jenna to join the trip (tie-6th/9).
- All-Stars Ep. 10 IC: "Waiting to Exhale" - Makes the final round for women, but loses to Kathy (2nd/4).
- All-Stars Ep. 11 IC: "Big Bad O' Course" - does not win the individual immunity portion.
- All-Stars Ep. 12 RC: "Face Off" - last person eliminated (2nd/7).
- All-Stars Ep. 12 IC: "When It Rains, It Pours" - First person out, almost immediately (7th/7).
- [All-Stars Ep. 13 RC: "Survivor Smorgasboard" - Amber's mom is out in the 1st round (6th/6; not counted)].
- All-Stars Ep. 13 IC: "Fire and Rain" - Runs out of matches, does not win (5th/6).
- All-Stars Ep. 14 RC: "Second Chance" - Makes it to the final round, but loses to Rob, who chooses to bring her along. Amber receives a free car for her troubles (2nd/5).
- All-Stars Ep. 14 IC: "Survivor Scramble" - Amber is first to 17 tribe names, but can't unscramble the letters to get CHABOGA MOGO, gets passed by and narrowly loses to Rob (2nd/5).
- All-Stars Ep. 15 F4 IC: "Obstacle Puzzle Maze" - Amber wins, barely ahead of Rupert (1st/4)
- All-Stars Ep. 15 F3 IC: "Hand On a Hard Idol" - Tries to convince Rob to let her win, accidentally loses (2nd/3).
Redemption/Exile Island duel record (0-for-0):
- All-Stars: None.
Winners at War challenges (click to expand/collapse)
Tribal/team challenge record (1-for-2):
- Winners at War, Ep. 1 F20 IC: "Water Slaughter" - Part of the game point-winning pair; Dakal wins, 3-1.
- Winners at War, Ep. 1 F19 IC: "Blue Lagoon Bustle" - Helps build the lead crossing obstacles, but Dakal loses.
Individual challenge record (0-for-2): (Mean % finish: 51.9%)
- Winners at War, Ep. 8 RC: "Back in the Saddle" - Reaches the snake maze, but does not win (tie-2nd/8).
- Winners at War, Ep. 14 EoE RC: "Don't Call It a Comeback" - Reaches the table maze, places no balls (tie-4th/13).
Redemption/Exile Island duel record (0-for-0):
- Winners at War: None.

Career challenge totals

Team/tribal challenges
Wins:	13
2nd place:	1
Played:	27
Win%:	0.50
Sat out:	2

Individual challenges
Wins:	1
Played:	19
Win%:	0.05
Mean% Finish:	61.9%

Duels
Wins:	0
Played:	0
Win%:	--
Mean% Finish:	--

The Australian Outback Tribal (click to expand/collapse)
Idols held/played: (0/0)
- The Australian Outback: None.
VFB - Votes for the person booted (5/8):
- The Australian Outback, Ep. 2: Kel Gleason (voted out, 7-1).
- The Australian Outback, Ep. 3: Maralyn Hershey (voted out, 5-1-1).
- The Australian Outback, Ep. 7: Jeff Varner (voted out, 5-5 [eliminated based on prior votes against]).
- The Australian Outback, Ep. 8: Alicia Calaway (voted out, 5-4).
- The Australian Outback, Ep. 10: Nick Brown (voted out, 4-2-1).
VAP - Votes against (6):
- The Australian Outback, Ep. 10: Two votes, from Elisabeth and Rodger.
- The Australian Outback, Ep. 11: Four votes, from Tina, Keith, Elisabeth, and Rodger (voted out, 4-2).
Jury votes made (0/1):
- The Australian Outback, Ep. 14: Voted for Colby Donaldson (who lost, 4-3).
All-Stars Tribal (click to expand/collapse)
Idols held/played: (0/0)
- All-Stars: None.
VFB - Votes for the person booted (9*/9):
- All-Stars, Ep. 4: Rob Cesternino (voted out, 4-1).
- All-Stars, Ep. 9: Jerri Manthey (voted out, 4-1).
- All-Stars, Ep. 10: Lex van den Berghe (voted out, 7-2).
- All-Stars, Ep. 11: Kathy Vavrick-O'Brien (voted out, 6-2).
- All-Stars, Ep. 12: Alicia Calaway (voted out, 6-1).
- All-Stars, Ep. 13: Shii Ann Huang (voted out, 5-1).
- All-Stars, Ep. 14: Big Tom Buchanan (voted out, 4-1).
- All-Stars, Ep. 15 (F4 vote): Rupert Boneham (voted out, 3-1).
- All-Stars, Ep. 15 (F3 vote): Autovote* against Jenna Lewis (voted out 2-1 or 1-0).
VAP - Votes against (6):
- All-Stars, Ep. 9: One vote, from Jerri.
- All-Stars, Ep. 10: Two votes, from Kathy and Lex.
- All-Stars, Ep. 11: Two votes, from Shii Ann and Kathy.
- All-Stars, Ep. 13: One vote, from Shii Ann.
Jury votes received (4/7):
- All-Stars, Ep. 15: Received four votes, from Big Tom Buchanan, Shii Ann Huang, Alicia Calaway, and Lex van den Berghe, to win, 4-3.
Winners at War Tribal (click to expand/collapse)
Idols/advantages held/played (0/0):
- Winners at War: None.
VFB - Votes for the person booted (0/1):
- Winners at War: None yet.
VAP - Votes against (6):
- Winners at War, Ep.1 (F19 vote): Six votes, from Kim, Nick, Sandra, Tyson, Wendell, and Yul (voted out, 6-3-1).
Jury votes made (1/1):
- Winners at War, Ep. 14: Voted for Tony Vlachos, who won, 12-4-0.

Career Tribal Council totals

Hidden idols
Found:	0
Played:	--
Votes voided:	--

Voting record
VFB:	14
Tribals:	18
VAP:	18

Jury votes
Made:	2
For winners:	1
Received:	4
Total jurors:	7

The Australian Outback image gallery (click to expand/collapse)

The Australian Outback intro shot

The Australian Outback intro shot

Hometown intro shot, Ep1

Another hometown intro shot

Landed. Let the games begin!

Consulting Ogakor's instructions, with Kel and Tina

The tribes head out to their camps

In deep, Day 1 hike

Helping Keith try to start a fire, Day 2

Ogakor hiking to the Ep1 RC/IC

Pre-challenge lineup, Ep1 RC/IC

Listening to Probst

Starting line, Ep1 RC/IC

More starting line

Ogakor bridges the gap

Holding a ladder rung, almost there

Ogakor wins! Ep1 RC/IC

Accepting their trophy (matches)

Cheering on the early jumpers, Ep2 RC

Ogakor assembles at the crate

To the finish line!

Ogakor wins! Ep2 RC

Confessional dissing Keith's rice, praising Jerri's tortilla(s?)

Making a tortilla, with Jerri

Oh. My. God!

Listening to Jerri discuss Kel's alleged beef jerky

Rooting through Kel's backpack, finding no evidence of smuggled jerky

Pre-challenge lineup, Ep2 IC

Watching Maralyn prepare to face off against Skupin

Ready to eat a large cricket, vs. Alicia

Being somewhat supportive of Tina, round 1

Ogakor, Ep2 Tribal Council

More Ogakor Ep2 Tribal

Pre-challenge lineup, Ep3 RC

Pre-challenge description

Carrying water across the balance beam

Watching the initial Colby-vs-Skupin faceoff

Ogakor wins! Time to hug Colby!

Pre-challenge lineup, Ep3 IC

Starting line, Ep3 IC

Hitting the river

Ogakor loses... Ep3 IC

Sigh... so close

Ready to head out to the Ep3 Tribal Council

Ogakor, allegedly hiking to the Ep3 Tribal Council

Ogakor, Ep3 Tribal Council

Listening to Probst

Tribal is STILL going

Joining Mitchell and Jerri on their Keith-/Tina-thwarting canoe trip, Ep4

Pre-challenge lineup, Ep4 RC

Listening to Probst

Confessional noting that people are trying to target Jerri

Dissing Colby (to Jerri and Mitchell) as easily persuadable

Listening to the Ep4 IC treemail

Pre-challenge lineup, Ep4 IC - True or Falls

Watching Keith get one right

Getting one right vs. Alicia

Watching Jerri miss one vs. Kimmi

Heading back to camp, sans idol

Eh, Tribal Council should be interesting

Ogakor hikes to the Ep4 Tribal Council

Ogakor, Ep4 Tribal Council

More Ep4 Tribal

Yeah, it's weird here now that Mitchell's gone. Early Ep5.

In camp with Jerri (not Colby)

Testing Ogakor's travois in camp

Pre-challenge lineup, Ep5 RC

Listening to Probst

Getting rescued

Sigh. Lost again.

Double sigh.

Reading the Ep5 IC treemail

Arrival, with flags, Ep5 IC

Pre-challenge lineup, Ep5 IC

Listening to Probst

Ogakor wins immunity!

With Jerri, checking out the flour supply. Early Ep6.

Screaming about food.

Excited at the chance to win food in the Ep6 RC

Yay, let's go (not) win some food!

Sampling Doritos, pre-Ep6 RC

Starting line, Ep6 RC

With Keith, stuck in the wilderness

Feet away from winning, if only Jerri can get her there

Sigh.

Sigh again.

Learning about Skupin's medevac

Early Ep7, watching Tina about to take control of the game

Fetching Ogakor's 'Boys Night Out' treemail

Reading the treemail

Wait... Elisabeth and Alicia are here?

Watching the guests sample Ogakor's food

Listening to Tina reading the merge treemail

At the new Barramundi camp, hoping there's food in the crate

Reading the official merge instructions

Cheers!

Merge feasting

Barramundi arrives, Ep7 IC

Listening to Probst

Standing on a pole, Ep7 IC

Still going, but Nick's done

Barramundi, Ep7 Tribal Council

Listening to Alicia talk about the IC

Rodger says a blessing for the mushy rice

Pre-challenge lineup, Ep8 RC

Listening to Probst

Last up, trying to beat Jerri's mark, Ep8 RC (misses by inches).

Oh, you're picking *ME* to go with you, Jerri?

Oh. My. GOD.

We should really make sure Colby's still with us.

But for now, let's eat

Contemplating the Ep8 IC treemail

Pre-challenge lineup, Ep8 IC

Oh no! Can't drop any more!

Looking wistfully at Keith getting the necklace

No big deal, just a lightning strike near camp

Barramundi, Ep8 Tribal Council

Listening to Tina

This is a respect vote, Alicia

Picking a partner's name out of Colby's hat for the Ep9 RC. Hoping for Rodger, obviously.

Pre-challenge lineup, Ep9 RC.

Starting line, first round.

That was easy.

Ready to go, final round, Ep9 RC.

Eh, Colby and Jerri won. Of course.

Seeing off Colby and Jerri on their reward trip

Oh, look at the coral Colby brought back for us!

Reading the Ep9 IC treemail.

Pre-challenge lineup, Ep9 IC.

Listening to Probst.

Clapping for Rodger.

Trying to knock Elisabeth off her pedestal.

Heh. Did it.

Now battling Nick in the semi-finals.

Yay, Nick won.

I kind of feel bad for Rodger and Elisabeth. Now one of them is going. Oh well.

Barramundi, Ep9 Tribal Council.

Listening to Probst.

So long, Jerri.

Pondering her position in the wake of Jerri's boot, early Ep10

Good news, this is all the food we have for the next 14 days

Checking treemail with Elisabeth: Wallets?

Ohhhhhh

Ready to bid at the first Survivor Auction

Mmmmmmountain Dew

Heading back to camp, aka soon-to-be diarrheafest

Sure, you got river water, Amber. But you're also the only one not sick right now.

Pre-challenge lineup, Ep10 IC

Starting line, Ep10 IC

In camp, begging Probst for rice

He wants all our tarps?

Handing out the batch of freshly traded-for rice

Sort of thinking about maybe flipping over with the Kuchas

Eh, I don't know if I can really trust them

Barramundi, Ep10 Tribal Council

Listening to Probst

There's a lot of hoping going on. Hope we find food, hope I don't get booted. Early Ep11.

Pre-challenge lineup, Ep11 RC

Listening to Probst

The reward includes breakfast?

Starting line, Ep11 RC

Close race with Colby

Temporarily winning

Nope. Colby wins.

Have fun playing cowboy, Colby

Coming up on post-flooded Barramundi camp

We have NO FOOD

Scouting out a location for the new shelter

Worn out Barramundis

Pre-challenge lineup, Ep11 IC

Preparing to shoot

Hanging out with the already-eliminated

Yay, new shelter, guys

This vote is going to be hard. I always hate going to Tribal Council.

Heading to Tribal Council with her rice cup, instead of her washed-away torch

Barramundi, Ep11 Tribal Council

Watching her name come up on votes

Sigh.

Bringing her brand-new torch to Probst.

Snuffed, Ep11

With the jury, final Tribal Council

Asking her jury question

S2 Reunion, waiting for the final vote reveal
All-Stars image gallery (click to expand/collapse)

All-Stars intro shot

All-Stars intro shot

Boat ride in, already paired up with Rob

More boat ride

Arrival, somewhat soggy

'Hometown' intro shot, Ep1

Chapera made it to camp! F2 high five!

Chapera arrival in camp

Helping try to make fire, Day 1

Forming an unbreakable alliance with Rob, Day 1

Boston Rob: 'She's beautiful, obviously. Any idiot can see that.'

Looking forward to the Ep1 RC/IC

Listening to the Ep1 RC/IC treemail

Chapera, first to arrive at the Ep1 RC/IC

Listening to Probst

Chapera's raft reaches the beach

Chapera wins! Ep1 RC/IC

Collecting their various prizes

Enjoying the Ep2 rainstorm, with Rob

Entertained by Big Tom's antics

Chapera contemplates their treasure chest

Pre-challenge lineup, Ep2 RC

Starting line, Ep2 RC

Tired, after the RC loss

Chapera actually making fire, Ep2

Pre-challenge lineup, Ep2 IC

Chapera prepares to float their boat

Paddling back to victory

Chapera wins! Everyone hug Rob C!

Celebrating another victory, post-Ep2 IC
Winners at War pictures (click to expand/collapse)

Winners at War intro shot

Winners at War intro shot

Preview headshot

On the boat, Day 1

I met my husband on the show!

Greeting the men

Pre-game lineup

A toast: 20 years, 20 winners

The new Dakal tribe

Battling for the challenge-winning point

Dakal wins immunity!

Talking about kids with Tyson and Sarah

Talking about not having played with idols and advantages before

Idol hunting

Pre-challenge lineup, Ep1 F19 IC

Hauling the boat

Crossing the barrel

Watching Wendell and Tyson toss rings

The losing Dakals

The game moves so fast now, I'd better get moving

Dakal, Ep1 F19 Tribal Council

Talking to Probst

Second person voted out of Winners at War

Snuffed, Day 3 (Episode 1)

Greeting Natalie at EoE

Reading the EoE clue, Ep2

Talking about the new search, Ep3

Checking out the combo lock

Heading to the re-entry challenge, Ep8

Pre-challenge lineup

Starting line

Untying bags of sticks

The non-winners, heading back to the Edge

Yay, new task, Ep9

Of course we all ran to the top of the hill

The loved ones are here! Ep10

Pile of Marianos

Saying goodbye

Learning about the coconut task, Ep12

Jogging for coconuts

Concerned about Rob

Time for the re-entry challenge, Day 35

Heading to the challenge

Pre-challenge lineup, Ep14 RC

Fresh off the starting line

Post-challenge reflections

Full jury, Final Tribal Council

Full cast finale composite

The Australian Outback interviews (click to expand/collapse)
Pre-game interviews
- None found?
Post-game interviews
- Gretchen Carlson at CBSNews.com (5/1/01): "Life After the Outback"
All-Stars interviews (click to expand/collapse)
Pre-game interviews
- CBS pre-game interview
Post-game interviews
- Tatiana Morales at CBSNews.com (5/10/04): "Mending Fences After the Game"
- Alex Tresniowski & Tom Gliatto at People.com (5/24/04): "Now That's An Alliance!"
Winners at War interviews (click to expand/collapse)
Pre-game interviews
- Sangita Patel for ET Canada (1/15/20): "Amber Mariano Says She's 'One of the Luckiest People' To Have Played Survivor"
- Dalton Ross at EW.com (1/17/20): "Amber Mariano on why the timing was perfect for her return to Survivor"
- Mike Bloom at Parade.com (1/17/20): "Amber Mariano Plans to Replicate Her Survivor Success on Winners at War"
- Gordon Holmes at XfinityTV.com (1/31/20): "Amber Mariano - 'I Saw Some Shocked Faces When I Was Revealed'"
Post-game interviews
- None yet.

The Australian Outback bio (click to expand/collapse)

From her official CBS Survivor: The Australian Outback cast bio page:

"Amber Brkich is from Beaver, Pennsylvania and is a recent graduate from Westminster College, where she earned a B.A. degree in Public Relations, minoring in Speech Communications. Prior to departing for Australia, while Brkich searched for her 'career job,' she was an administrative assistant and lived with her parents. Her previous occupations while attending school included waitress, librarian assistant, swimming instructor, lifeguard and babysitter for her professor.

Brkich's favorite hobbies are going out with her friends, dancing and just generally having fun. She's a member of Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority, where she was Vice President and New Member Coordinator. Brkich also belongs to the Catholic Church. Her primary reasons for trying out for Survivor: The Australian Outback include lack of change, excitement, and kangaroos in her life, although the million dollars wouldn't hurt either!

Her birth date is August 11, 1978."
All-Stars bio (click to expand/collapse)

From her official CBS All-Stars bio page:

"Since finishing sixth on Survivor: The Australian Outback, Amber Brkich has enjoyed doing dozens of appearances across the country and has taken part in various charity functions. Immediately following the show, Amber appeared on the cover of Stuff Magazine. For a short time, she also worked as the host of an adventure travel game on Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. More recently, Amber has appeared in various commercials for Adelphia Cable, Rite Aid drugstores, and Mountaineer Racetrack in West Virginia. In her free time, she enjoys babysitting her niece, Emma, and going out with her friends.

Amber remains a resident of her hometown, Beaver, Pennsylvania (a suburb just north of Pittsburgh). She is a graduate of Westminster College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in public relations, with a minor in speech communications, in 2000. She is a member of Alpha Gamma Delta Alumni having served as vice president and new member coordinator while still in school.

Amber is currently single. Her birth date is August 11, 1978."
Winners at War bio (click to expand/collapse)

Excerpts from her official CBS Survivor: Winners at War cast bio page (1/15/20):

"Hobbies: Being a mom of four equals no time for hobbies. LOL! Any free time we have is spent together as a family. Whether it's playing a game, going on a bike ride, or having family movie night ... we love hanging out as a family!

Do you still watch Survivor?

Yes. I've seen every season and now watch it with my family every week.

What does Survivor mean to you and your family?

Now that our kids are old enough to watch the show ... it means enjoying family night while eating Doritos and watching Survivor. It's a lot of fun!

What is one way playing Survivor changed your life?

I met my husband on the show and the rest is history.

As Survivor approaches Season 40 and celebrates 20 years on television, what does it mean to be a part of the legacy?

Never expecting to play again... had sort of closed that book. So now that it is open again ... it's both nerve-wracking and exciting to "get back into the game" and not just watching as a fan, as I've been doing for the past 15 years. I'm so excited that my girls will not just hear about Mommy and Daddy being on Survivor. Now they will actually be a part of our story and get to watch the season with us when it airs. It's an honor to be a part of another epic season!

How will you play differently than you have in past seasons?

A lot of time has passed since I last played Survivor. Heck, it's been 20 years since I played the first time on Season 2. Not only has the game evolved and changed a lot... so have I. I'm no longer just playing for myself. I'm married with four children who will be closely watching and listening to everything I do and every word I speak. I'm 20 years older too. I was the youngest in my Tribe when I played Survivor: The Australian Outback. Now, I'm going to be one of the "older" people. People see me in a whole new light. Plus, being married to "Boston Rob" paints a HUGE target on my back. When I played the first two times, I didn't have that pressure. So, I guess for me I'm going to try to focus on my social game in a big way and try hard to find Idols/advantages! I'd like to think I'll be good at challenges but let's face it, I am not in the shape I was before having four kids. But I also want to focus on enjoying the experience and showing my girls how strong their mom is! I'll never give up and I'll show them to always go big and finish what you start. And in the end, hopefully, win it again!"