Survivor 45
S50: In the Hands of the FansChallenges: MPF percentile
56%
Seasons: 2 | Days played: 26+ | Wins: 1
- Survivor 45 (2023) - Winner, 5-3-0.
- Received five jury votes to win in Episode 13, "Living the Survivor Dream" (Day 26).
- Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans (2026) - nth place, nth out.
- Season has not yet finished airing.
Dee Valladares on social media: Instagram
| Challenge stats | Tribal council stats | Jury stats | Overall stats | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | ChW | ChA | ChW% | VFB | VAP | TCA | TC% | wTCR | JVF | TotJ | JV% | SurvSc | SurvAv |
| Survivor 45 | 3.99 | 9.98 | 0.40 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 0.44 | 2.07 | 5 | 8 | 0.63 | 1.47 | 9.82 |
| S50: ItHotF | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | NA | NA |
| Career | 3.99 | 9.98 | 0.40 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 0.44 | 2.07 | 5 | 8 | 0.63 | 1.47 | 9.82 |
Dee Valladares - Performance ranks
Tribal: VFB% percentile
39%
Tribal: rVAP percentile
92%
Challenges: MPF percentile
NA
Tribal: VFB% percentile
NA
Tribal: rVAP percentile
NA
Performance ranks are a quick visual measure of the contestant's season vs. historical data from all prior contestants, in three basic (scorable) categories:
1. Performance in individual challenges (MPF), as a measure of "physical game";
2. Ability to vote people out consistently (VFB%, or VFB/TCA), or "strategic game"; and
3. Ability to avoid being voted against (rVAP, or TCA-VAP) - which scales better than a percentage would - for "social/strategic game."
See also: Full glossary for all these abbreviations.
Dee Valladares - Challenge record
Tribal/team challenge record (3-for-9; 3 2nds; 1 sit-out):
- Survivor 45 Ep.1 RC: "Barge Simpson" - Retrieves flint with Drew, and Reba wins!
- Survivor 45 Ep.1 IC: "Mud Crutch" - Crosses obstacles, and Reba doesn't lose (2nd*/3).
- Survivor 45 Ep.2 RC/IC: "Smash and Grab" - Grabs a key, and Reba wins (1st/3).
- Survivor 45 Ep.3 RC: "Running Down a Dream" - Catches her ball, and Reba takes 2nd (2nd*/3).
- Survivor 45 Ep.3 IC: "Draggin' the Dragon" - Sits out, as Reba wins again.
- Survivor 45 Ep.4 IC: "Turn the Cage" - Helps carry the cage, shoots, but Reba loses (3rd/3).
- Survivor 45 Ep.5 RC/IC: "Knock One Back" - Collects keys, hits a target, and Reba wins (1st/3).
- Survivor 45 Ep.6 RC/IC: "Super Ramp" - Crosses obstacles, but the red team loses big.
- Survivor 45 Ep.9 RC: "Different Stages" - Part of the middle-finishing team, keeps her vote (2nd*/3).
Individual challenge record (3-for-8): (Mean % finish: 59.4%)
- Survivor 45 Ep. 7 IC: "Get a Grip" - Outlasts everyone on both teams, and Dee wins! (1st/6).
- [Survivor 45 Ep. 8 IC: "Drop a Log" - Sits out in exchange for rice (not counted).]
- Survivor 45 Ep. 10 RC: "Running on Empty" - One of seven somewhere on the table maze as Emily wins (tie-2nd/8).
- Survivor 45 Ep. 10 IC: "Invertigo" - Reaches final pegs, then drops quickly (5th/8).
- Survivor 45 Ep. 11 IC: "Unspun Heroes" - Still knocking blocks off with sandbags at the end (tie-4th/7).
- Survivor 45 Ep. 12 RC: "Barreling Along" - Working on the slide puzzle as Austin wins (tie-2nd/6).
- Survivor 45 Ep. 12 IC: "Gimme One Step" - Showdown with Austin, and Dee wins! (1st/6).
- Survivor 45 Ep. 13 F5 IC: "High Deck Matsui" - One of two still on the first tier of the puzzle as it ends (tie-4th/5).
- Survivor 45 Ep. 13 F4 IC: "On Shaky Ground" - Progresses slowly and steadily, and Dee wins! (1st/4).
Hero challenge/ duel record (0-for-0):
- Survivor 45 : None.
Tribal/team challenge record (0-for-0):
- In the Hands of the Fans: None yet.
Individual challenge record (0-for-0):
- In the Hands of the Fans: None yet.
Hero challenge/ duel record (0-for-0):
- In the Hands of the Fans: None yet.
Career totals - challenges
| Wins: | 3 |
| 2nd place: | 3 |
| Played: | 9 |
| Win %: | 0.50 |
| Sat out: | 1 |
| Wins: | 3 |
| Played: | 8 |
| Win %: | 0.38 |
| Mean% Finish: | 59.4% |
| Wins: | 0 |
| Played: | 0 |
| Win %: | - |
| Mean% Finish: | - |
Dee Valladares - Tribal Council record
Idols held/played (0/0):
- Survivor 45, Ep. 3: With Julie, finds the second clue that leads to Austin's idol (Day 7).
VFB - Votes for the person booted (4/9):
| Tribal | Voted | Boot (totals) | VFB? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ep4 | Sifu | Sean Edwards (voted out, 3-1-1) | - |
| Ep6 | Kaleb | J.Maya (voted out, [0]-0; 10-1) | -* |
| Ep7 | Kaleb (F11 vote) | Kaleb Gebrewold (voted out, 4-2) | Yes |
| Ep8 | Kellie | Kellie Nalbandian (voted out, 5-3) | Yes |
| Ep9 | Kendra | Kendra McQuarrie (voted out, 6-1) | Yes |
| Ep10 | Jake | Bruce Perrault (voted out, 4-3-1) | - |
| Ep11 | Julie | Emily Flippen (idoled out, [0]-1) | - |
| Ep12 | Drew | Drew Basile (voted out, 4-2) | Yes |
| Ep13 | Katurah | Julie Alley (voted out, 2-1-1-[0]) | - |
| 9 | TOTALS | 4 | |
*Everyone voted for Kaleb in the first round of the Ep6 Tribal; he played his Shot in the Dark (and couldn't vote), and was safe. Nobody earned VFB, since JMaya left on the revote, not the first round.
VAP - Votes against (2):
- Survivor 45, Ep. 4: One vote, from Sean.
- Survivor 45, Ep. 13 (F5 vote): One vote, from Jake.
Jury votes received (5/8):
- Survivor 45, Ep. 13: Received five jury votes, from Kaleb Gebrewold, Kellie Nalbandian, Emily Flippen, Julie Alley, and Katurah Topps, to win, 5-3-0.
Idols/advantages held/played (0/0):
- In the Hands of the Fans: None yet
VFB - Votes for the person booted (0/0):
| Tribal | Voted | Boot (totals) | VFB? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | TOTALS | 0 | |
VAP - Votes against (0):
- In the Hands of the Fans: None yet.
Jury votes made (0/0):
- In the Hands of the Fans: None yet.
Career totals - Tribal Council
| Advantages held/played: | 0/0 |
| Idols found: | 0 |
| Idols played: | - |
| Votes voided: | - |
| VFB: | 4 |
| Tribals: | 9 |
| VAP: | 2 |
| Made: | 0 |
| For winners: | - |
| Received: | 5 |
| Total jurors: | 8 |
Dee Valladares - Pictures
-
Survivor 45 intro shot -
Survivor 45 intro shot -
CBS pre-game interview shot -
On the boat, Day 1 -
Opening sequence confessional -
Greeting Probst, Day 1 -
Retrieving flint, Ep1 RC -
Reba wins! -
Not very amused by Sifu's spy shack-ing -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep1 IC -
Watching the puzzle stage as Reba cruises to 2nd place -
Talking about her extra-long big toe, Ep2 -
Listening to Drew's journey story -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep2 RC/IC -
Getting a key -
Reba wins! -
Suspicious of Drew and Austin, Ep3 -
Just caught Drew digging -
Austin comes (mostly) clean -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep3 RC -
Austin gets second for Reba -
Checking out Drew's Goodwill Advantage -
Just found the second clue/hammer -
Checking out Austin's idol -
Watching from the sitout bench as Reba wins immunity, Ep3 IC -
Still with Reba, Ep4 swap -
Meeting the new tribemate -
Discussing Sifu vs. Sean as the next boot -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep4 IC -
Reba trailing -
The losing Rebas -
We should get Sifu while we can! -
Following through -
Not planning to tell Sifu she voted for him, Ep5 -
J. volunteers to claim she voted for Sifu -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep5 RC/IC -
Reba wins! -
The merge is coming! Ep6 -
Three tribes, one beach -
This seems accurate -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep6 RC/IC -
Red team, trailing -
The losing red team -
Waiting for the winning team to return -
We should target Kaleb -
Not-merge tribe, Ep6 Tribal -
Kaleb is safe?! -
Getting a Grip, Ep7 IC -
Showdown vs. Kellie for reward -
Dee wins! -
Safe at Tribal tonight -
Reward feasting -
Kaleb is going. Boy, bye! -
Red team, Ep7 Tribal -
Listening to Probst -
The 10-second women's alliance, Ep8 -
Yay -
Auction time, ready to bid -
Sitting out for rice, Ep8 IC -
Dakuwaqa, Ep8 Tribal -
Listening to Bruce -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep9 RC/IC -
Watching Drew shoot -
The non-winning, non-losing team, back at camp -
Austin got his vote back! -
Dakuwaqa, Ep9 Tribal -
Table mazing, Ep10 RC -
Girls' night reward feasting -
Still in it, Ep10 IC -
Dakuwaqa, Ep10 Tribal -
Listening to Drew -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep11 IC -
Alerting Julie that they're planning to blindside her -
Dakuwaqa, Ep11 Tribal -
Talking to Probst -
Slide puzzling, Ep12 RC -
Reward helicoptering, thanks to Austin -
So far so good, Ep12 IC -
Dee wins immunity! -
One, two, three ... Drew! -
Not telling Austin about the Drew plan -
Dakuwaqa, Ep12 Tribal -
Pre-challenge lineup, F5 IC -
Working on the tower puzzle -
Final 5 Tribal -
Sounds like a plan -
Pre-challenge lineup, F4 IC -
Almost there... -
Dee wins final immunity! -
Just watched Jake win at firemaking -
The final three, morning 26 breakfast -
Facing the jury, Final Tribal -
Telling the story of Julie's idol play -
The winner of Survivor 45 ... Dee! -
Finalists plus jury, Aftershow
-
On the boat, Day 1 -
Arrival -
Pre-challenge reaction shot
Dee Valladares - Interviews
Pre-game interviews
- Mike Bloom at Parade.com (9/10/23): "Dee Valladares Comes in With a Lifetime of Sales Experience"
- Rob Cesternino & Mike Bloom at RHAP (9/13/23): "Survivor 45 | Cast Preview Part 2"
Post-game interviews
- Dalton Ross at EW.com (12/21/23): "Dee Valladares reveals unaired Survivor 45 Tribal Council breakdown"
- Mike Bloom at Parade.com (12/21/23): "Survivor 45 Winner Dee Valladares Talks Through Her Victory-Clinching Final Tribal Council Reveal"
- Rob Cesternino at RHAP (12/21/23): "Survivor 45 | Final Five Exit Interviews"
Pre-game interviews
- Mike Bloom at Parade.com (2/4/26): "Survivor 50's Dee Valladares Isn't Playing Scared - And She's Coming for a Second Win"
- Dalton Ross at Parade.com (2/11/26): "Dee Valladares welcomes being one of Survivor 50's biggest threats: 'I want them to come for me'"
Post-game interviews
- None yet.
Dee Valladares - Bios
Official CBS Survivor 45 bio excerpts (from Mike Bloom's Parade.com gallery, 9/7/23):
3 Words to Describe You: Fiery, wildly enthusiastic, empathetic.
Why do you want to be part of SURVIVOR? I can’t just give one answer. First and foremost, I want my family to be set. My parents left their familiarity behind in Cuba so that I can fulfill my dreams. Secondly, I want to live a rare life surrounded by rare individuals and I can’t do that unless I place myself in situations where I don’t belong - like here. Finally, I want that immigrant kid watching the show to know that the mind is powerful beyond measure. You can do more than you think you can.
What’s one life experience you feel has prepared you for the game? Starting my business at 23. I’ve learned how to turn an idea into reality, how to navigate hardships when finances were uncertain, and how to become a better business partner. This will help me in the strategic/social aspect of the game.
Which previous player do you identify with the most? Who do you think you will play most like? I identify the most with Jesse. His why and my why are the exact same. Family above all else. I feel like I will play the game like Tony. Dude was a lot of fun to watch and was the ultimate persuader.
What will you value in an alliance partner? Someone who sticks to their word. In a game where deceit is inevitable, staying true to their word will get us further along. No one gets to the end by themselves anyway. Also, someone who is having fun! We’re all stuck together on an island, why not have fun??
Favorite Hobbies: CrossFit (don’t judge), running, traveling, anything outdoors, spending time with fam, anything that gets my heart racing.
Pet Peeves: Bad tippers, road ragers, constantly being late, injustice to kids, old people or dogs.
What is the accomplishment you are most proud of? Running and completing my first full marathon when, prior to signing up, I had only ever ran 3 miles. 26.3 miles scared the shit out of me so I put it on my calendar and figured out the “how” along the way.
What is something we would never know from looking at you? I am not a college graduate. Five years later and my fam still thinks I have my Bachelors. Whoops! Technically in my head, I did graduate because I shook the [school] president’s hand. Six months into waiting for my diploma, I found out I failed a class by one letter grade. Surprise, mom!
Who in your life is your biggest inspiration and why? My dad. He is my perfect example of not needing materialistic items to be happy. And I think I’ve only ever seen him mad 3 times!
Why will you be the Sole Survivor? It’s already happened in my mind daily. I’m going to be the person out there who doesn’t quit and most importantly, the person who cares the most.
Official CBS Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans cast bio excerpts, as published by Mike Bloom at Parade.com (January 28, 2026):
"Why do you want to come back for Survivor 50 and how does it feel to be chosen for this milestone season? This isn’t just a return. It’s a responsibility. Being 1/24 players chosen from hundreds that have played feels… surreal. Survivor legitimately changed the trajectory of my life and being able to be part of Season 50 is something I’ll never take lightly. I’d even come and play for free. That’s how much I love this game and the people surrounding it.
What one life experience since the last time you played do you feel has prepared you for 50? Does gaining 10 pounds and eating an excessive amount of chicken tendies count as a life experience?
Coming into this season, what is the Survivor accomplishment you are most proud of? And what are you eager to have another shot at? Co-hosting the “On Fire” with Jeff and Jay Wolff was sooo fun. Definitely top 3 accomplishments. I’m proud of the relationships I’ve made and maintained (Julie, Brandon, Kellie) and also so grateful Survivor brought us together. I’m eager for the challenges. I’m a natural competitor and I can already feel in my bones that these challenges will be LEGENDARY!
What would you say is your Survivor reputation and how will you manage that perception in the game? People say I’m cutthroat and the most dominant winner in the new era. Which makes me laugh sometimes because I think I could’ve been more ruthless. The thing is, you see me from a screen but when you meet me I’m kind and make sure everyone is comfortable. I’m going to use my charisma and easy-goingness to make sure it’s anyone but me. Either way, I don’t care about reputation. I care about results.
What is your strategy going into 50? And how will it differ from previous time(s) you’ve played? Chill the F out. That’s my strategy. On Season 45, I played like I had something to prove. On Season 50, I’m playing like I have nothing to lose.
Survivor fans have had the opportunity to help shape the game this season by voting on various elements – what are you hoping makes the cut and why? Please, please, please just give us rice *crying emoji face* But another part of me wants to watch these oldies suffer in the new era.
At this point in your life who is your biggest inspiration and why? Last time I said my dad, so if I don’t say my mom now she will probably cry. All jokes aside, this year has been a whirlwind. Not many people know this, but 3 months ago (Feb 2025) my dad had to rush my mom to the hospital. Turns out the blood she peed was due to a cancerous tumor in her colon – my best friend sat me down and told me my world came crashing down. I became paralyzed hearing the word “cancer.” As soon as I got to the hospital, my mom was so calm, even in the midst of chaos. 4 days later, the surgeon called and let us know the cancer hadn’t spread. Coincidentally, it was on my grandma’s birthday who passed from cancer (mom’s mom). Te amo mami! This one is for you.
Why will you be the Sole Survivor? Why not me?"