SA7: Island of Secrets
SA9: Return of the OutcastsChallenges: MPF percentile
43%
Seasons: 2 | Days played: 49 | Wins: 0 | Jury: 2
- SurvivorSA 7: Island of Secrets (2019) - 13th place, 9th out - 1st juror.
- Voted out in Episode 9 (Day 22).
- SurvivorSA 9: Return of the Outcasts (2022) - 8th place, 13th out - 4th juror.
- Voted out in Episode 16, "Dipping into the Dark Side" (Day 27).
| Challenge stats | Tribal council stats | Jury stats | Overall stats | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | ChW | ChA | ChW% | VFB | VAP | TCA | TC% | wTCR | JVF | TotJ | JV% | SurvSc | SurvAv |
| SA7: Island of Secrets | 1.23 | 3.31 | 0.37 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 0.24 | 0.85 | - | - | - | 0.61 | 2.08 |
| SA9: Return of the Outcasts | 1.78 | 5.39 | 0.33 | 6 | 12 | 8 | 0.73 | 1.31 | - | - | - | 1.06 | 3.10 |
| Career | 3.01 | 8.70 | 0.35 | 7 | 19 | 11 | 0.62 | 1.19 | - | - | - | 0.97 | 2.69 |
Meryl Szolkiewicz - Performance ranks
Tribal: VFB% percentile
26%
Tribal: rVAP percentile
19%
Challenges: MPF percentile
69%
Tribal: VFB% percentile
78%
Tribal: rVAP percentile
19%
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.
Meryl Szolkiewicz - Challenge record
Tribal/team challenge record (6-for-13; 2 2nds; 1 sit-out):
- [SA: Island of Secrets: Ep.1 RC - Blindfolded, gathers supplies and advantages (not counted as a challenge).]
- SA: Island of Secrets: Ep.1 IC - Helps disassemble, carry, and re-assemble puzzle pieces, Ta'alo wins! (1st/3).
- SA: Island of Secrets: Ep.2 RC/IC - Helps lift the coconuts, and Ta'alo doesn't lose (2nd*/3).
- SA: Island of Secrets: Ep.2 IC "Water Slaughter" - With Ting Ting, loses a point, but Ta'alo wins, 3-1 (1st/2).
- SA: Island of Secrets: Ep.3 RC/IC "Mud Slide" - Loses her match-up, and Ta'alo loses (3rd/3).
- SA: Island of Secrets: Ep.4 RC/IC - Part of the Ta'alo plank train, and Ta'alo wins (1st/3).
- SA: Island of Secrets: Ep.5 RC "Concentration" - Makes two matches, and Ta'alo wins (1st/3).
- SA: Island of Secrets: Ep.5 IC - Grabs a tile, moves it through the slide puzzle; Ta'alo wins (1st/3).
- SA: Island of Secrets: Ep.6 RC - Sits out, and Ta'alo loses.
- SA: Island of Secrets: Ep.6 IC - Helps place blocks, and Ta'alo doesn't lose (2nd*/3).
- SA: Island of Secrets: Ep.7 RC "Spoon Man" - Helps transfer the balls along, but Sa'ula loses.
- SA: Island of Secrets: Ep.7 IC "Hot Pursuit" - Carries her bag for Sa'ula, and Sa'ula wins.
- SA: Island of Secrets: Ep.8 RC "Kicking and Screaming" - Unable to move Seipei; Sa'ula loses.
- SA: Island of Secrets: Ep.8 IC - Successfully carries a ball on a pole, but Sa'ula loses.
Individual challenge record (0-for-1): (Mean % finish: 53.8%)
- SA: Island of Secrets, Ep. 9 IC: "When It Rains" - Lasts under an hour, 7th to drop out (7th/13).
Hero challenge/ duel record (0-for-0):
- SA: Island of Secrets: None.
Tribal/team challenge record (6-for-11):
- SA: Return of the Outcasts, Ep. 1 RC: "Water Slaughter" - With Marian, scores the final point, and Masu wins.
- SA: Return of the Outcasts, Ep. 2 IC: (Obstacles, ladders) - Crosses obstacles, but Masu loses.
- SA: Return of the Outcasts, Ep. 3 RC/IC: "Hitching a Ride" - Retrieves a fish trap, but Masu loses.
- SA: Return of the Outcasts, Ep. 4 RC/IC: "Nut Bucket" - Tosses sandbags, Masu wins.
- SA: Return of the Outcasts, Ep. 5 RC/IC: (Gauntlet) - Scores vs. Pinty; Masu wins, 5-0.
- SA: Return of the Outcasts, Ep. 6 RC: (Cart ride, puzzle) - Rides cart, but Masu loses.
- SA: Return of the Outcasts, Ep. 6 IC: (Ropes, slide puzzle) - Hangs letters; Masu wins.
- SA: Return of the Outcasts, Ep. 8 RC/IC: "Bog Roll" - In final round, but Yontau loses.
- SA: Return of the Outcasts, Ep. 9 RC/IC: (Blindfolds, maze, word puzzle) - Gathers bags, yells over Thoriso; Yontau wins.
- SA: Return of the Outcasts, Ep. 10 RC/IC: (Wrecking ball) - Helps haul ball; Yontau wins.
- SA: Return of the Outcasts, Ep. 11 RC/IC: "Perch" plus - Fifth Yontau to drop out, lasting under 60 min.; Yontau loses.
Individual challenge record (1-for-4): (Mean % finish: 65.2%)
- SA: Return of the Outcasts, Ep. 13 IC: "Splash Forward" - Fourth to drop out (8th/11).
- SA: Return of the Outcasts, Ep. 14 RC/IC: (Dunes, keys, puzzle) - First to the puzzle, but does not win (tie-2nd/10).
- SA: Return of the Outcasts, Ep. 15 IC: (Go Round/Holey) - Eliminated in the first round (tie-7th/9).
- SA: Return of the Outcasts, Ep. 16 RC/IC: (Maze Gate/Block Puzzle) - One of six working the puzzle as it ends (tie-3rd/8).
Hero challenge/ duel record (0-for-0):
- SA: Return of the Outcasts: None.
Career totals - challenges
| Wins: | 12 |
| 2nd place: | 2 |
| Played: | 24 |
| Win%: | 0.52 |
| Sat out: | 1 |
| Wins: | 1 |
| Played: | 5 |
| Win%: | 0.00 |
| Mean % Finish: | 62.9% |
| Wins: | 0 |
| Played: | 0 |
| Win%: | - |
| Mean % Finish: | - |
Meryl Szolkiewicz - Tribal Council record
Idols held/played (1/1; 1 vote voided):
- SA: Island of Secrets, Ep. 5: Enlists Dante to grab the idol clue at the reward (Day 10).
- SA: Island of Secrets, Ep. 5: Retrieves the idol at the IC (Day 11).
- SA: Island of Secrets, Ep. 8: Plays the idol for herself, voiding one vote (Day 19).
VFB - Votes for the person booted (1/3):
| Tribal | Voted | Boot (totals) | VFB? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ep3 | Ting Ting | Ting Ting Wong (voted out, 4-2) | Yes |
| Ep8 | Geoffrey | Nathan Castle (voted out, 4-2-[0]) | - |
| Ep9 | Geoffrey | Meryl Szolkiewicz (voted out, 7-6) | - |
| 3 | TOTALS | 1 | |
VAP - Votes against (7):
- [SA: Island of Secrets, Ep. 8: One vote, from Nathan, voided by her idol play.]
- SA: Island of Secrets, Ep. 9: Seven votes, from Durao, Geoffrey, Mike, Mmaba, Nicole, Rob, and Seipei (voted out, 7-6).
Jury votes made (1/1):
- SA: Island of Secrets, Ep. 18: Voted for Rob Bentele, who won, 6-4-0.
Idols held/played (0/0) | Advantages held/played (3/1):
- SA: Return of the Outcasts, Ep. 9: Finds the Tribal Pass advantage at the Fresh Stop Survivor shop reward, good until the final six (Day 15).
- SA: Return of the Outcasts, Ep. 13: Gets the OUTsurance reward send token at the merge challenge/feast (Day 20).
- SA: Return of the Outcasts, Ep. 14: Gets a 50/50 coin at the Outpost (Day 23).
- SA: Return of the Outcasts, Ep. 16: Gives the send token to Tejan, as promised (Day 26).
- SA: Return of the Outcasts, Ep. 16: Uses the Tribal pass on Marian (Day 27).
VFB - Votes for the person booted (6/8):
| Tribal | Voted | Boot (totals) | VFB? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ep2 | Chappies | Chappies Chapman (voted out, 5-4-1) | Yes |
| Ep3 | PK | PK Phetoe (voted out, 5-4) | Yes |
| Ep8 | Shona | Shona MacDonald (idoled out, [0]-3-2) | Yes |
| Ep12 | Palesa | Palesa Tau (voted out, 10-2) | Yes |
| Ep13 | Toni | Toni Tebbutt (voted out, 6-[0]-1-1) | Yes |
| Ep14 | -* | Danté de Villiers (voted out, 7-1-1) | - |
| Ep15 | Steffi | Steffi Brink (voted out, 5-4) | Yes |
| Ep16 | Killarney | Meryl Szolkiewicz (voted out, 5-2) | - |
| 8 | TOTALS | 6 | |
*Meryl was present at the Ep14 Tribal, but elected to have a "no vote" at The Outpost, in exchange for a 50/50 coin; 1 TCA charged
VAP - Votes against (12):
- SA: Return of the Outcasts, Ep. 12: Two votes, from Palesa and Toni.
- SA: Return of the Outcasts, Ep. 13: One vote, from Toni.
- SA: Return of the Outcasts, Ep. 15: Four votes, from Killarney, Marian, Shane, and Steffi.
- SA: Return of the Outcasts, Ep. 16: Five votes, from Dino, Felix, Killarney, Phil, and Shane (voted out, 5-2).
Jury votes made (1/1):
- SA: Return of the Outcasts, Ep. 24: Voted for Dino Paulo, who won, 7-2.
Career totals - Tribal Council
| Advantages held/played: | 3/1 |
| Idols found: | 1 |
| Idols played: | 1 |
| Votes voided: | 1 |
| VFB: | 7 |
| Tribals: | 11 |
| VAP: | 19 |
| Made: | 2 |
| For winners: | 2 |
| Received: | - |
Meryl Szolkiewicz - Pictures
-
Island of Secrets intro shot -
Island of Secrets intro shot -
On the boat, Day 1 -
Greeting Nico -
The original Ta'alo tribe -
Starting line, Ep1 RC -
Ta'alo meet and greet, Day 1 (minus Cobus) -
Enjoying Tania's stories -
Do Tanya's stories ever end? -
Tania proposes an all-women's alliance -
Not totally on board with that plan -
Cobus finally gets to camp, Day 2 -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep1 IC -
Starting line -
Ta'alo leads on the puzzle -
Still working on the puzzle... -
Ta'alo wins immunity! -
Fun times at soggy Ta'alo camp, Ep2 -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep2 RC/IC -
Preparing to race out and pick up cups, if needed -
Enjoying the fruits of the fishing gear reward -
Pre-challenge lineup, second Ep2 IC -
About to lose a point to water-walking Steffi -
Watching medical tend to Nate -
Listening to Dante read the Ep3 RC/IC treemail -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep3 RC/IC -
Watching Ta'alo fall just short of scoring -
Breaking the bad news that Tania will not be back for Tribal -
Heading to Tribal -
Ta'alo, Ep3 Tribal Council -
Listening to Nico -
Pre-swap lineup, Ep7 -
The new new Sa'ula tribe -
Moving balls along, Ep7 RC -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep7 IC -
Sa'ula, about to catch Ta'alo -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep8 RC -
Trying to drag Seipei -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep8 IC -
Waiting for her turn -
The losing Sa'ulas -
Listening to Durao's IoS report/p> -
Sa'ula, Ep8 Tribal Council -
Listening to Mmaba -
Trying to clear the air post-Tribal, Ep9 -
Listening to Dante yell at Nicole -
Buffs dropped, ready to merge -
Happy to have new opportunities to get out from the bottom -
Merge feasting -
Telling Cobus about last night's Tribal -
Giving Steffi the scoop on the Nate blindside -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep9 IC -
Starting line -
Still going... -
Enduring Nicole's food chatter -
The non-winners -
Hoping things break her way at Tribal -
Manumalo, Ep9 Tribal Council -
Talking to Nico -
Ninth person voted out, and the first member of our jury... -
Snuffed, Day 22 (Episode 9) -
With the jury, Final Tribal Council -
Asking her question -
Waiting for the vote reveal -
Full cast, reunion show
-
SA: Return of the Outcasts intro shot -
SA: Return of the Outcasts intro shot -
Opening sequence confessional -
Greeting Nico -
Part of the match-winning point, Ep1 RC -
The Full Package is formed -
Also the Breakfast Club -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep2 IC -
Watching PK struggle with knots -
The losing Masus -
Listening to Dante complain about Chappies -
So much for the Breakfast Club? -
Masu, Ep2 Tribal Council -
Retrieving a fish trap, Ep3 RC/IC -
The losing Masus, again -
Toni wants Marian out -
Masu, Ep3 Tribal -
Tossing sandbags, Ep4 RC/IC -
Masu wins! -
Reward feasting -
Scoring vs. Pinty, Ep5 RC/IC -
Masu wins, 5-0! -
Reward feasting -
Grabbing wheels, Ep6 RC -
Yontau picking Toni reinforces the threat she poses -
Masu wins! Ep6 IC -
Swapping tribes, Ep7 -
The new Yontau tribe -
Feeling pretty good about the swap -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep7/8 RC/IC -
Rolling balls -
The losing Yontaus, Ep8 -
Conferring with Dante -
Yontau, Ep8 Tribal -
Talking to Nico -
Drowning out Thoriso, Ep9 RC/IC -
Yontau's reward will be one at a time... -
Meryl is first, gets a Tribal Pass -
Talking about her new advantage -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep10 RC/IC -
Yontau wins -
Reward feasting -
Getting talked at by Dante, Ep11 -
I need to separate myself from Dante -
Starting line, Ep11 IC -
The losing Yontaus -
Yontau (and Masu), Ep12 Tribal -
The whispering begins -
It's the merge! -
Ready for the Ep13 merge feast/RC thing -
Reading about her OUTsurance reward send token -
Starting to pile up the advantages -
Challenge in progress, Ep13 IC -
The Full Package, reunited and plotting -
Salan, Ep13 Tribal -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep14 RC/IC -
Meryl wins immunity! -
Safe at Tribal Council tonight -
Oh no, there's a dilemma -
Talking about the reward decision -
Returning to camp with blankets -
Emerging with the lucky fortune cookie, anyway -
Talking with Marian and Steffi -
Reading about her 50/50 coin opportunity -
Salan, Ep14 Tribal -
Talking to Phil, Ep15 -
Starting line, Ep15 RC/IC -
Still in it, final stage -
Picked for reward with Dino -
Felix has a warning -
Maybe I can flip Tejan with my reward send token? -
Salan, Ep15 Tribal -
Happy with her position, Ep16 -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep16 IC -
Not beating Marian -
Coming up with a Tribal Pass plan -
Everyone is on board! (Allegedly) -
Salan, Ep16 Tribal -
Back to camp with you, Marian! -
The fourth member of our jury... -
About to be snuffed, Day 27 (Episode 16)
Meryl Szolkiewicz - Interviews
Pre-game interviews
- M-Net pre-game interview video (Instagram).
- M-Net official bio page.
Post-game interviews
- (None found.)
Pre-game interviews
- Shannon Guss & Mike Bloom at RHAP (6/24/22): "Survivor South Africa: Return of the Outcasts | Pre-Season Interviews, Part 3: Masu (Post-Merge) Women"
Post-game interviews
- Shannon Guss & Mike Bloom at RHAP (8/13/22): "Week 4 (Eps 13-16) Exit Interviews | Survivor South Africa: Return of the Outcasts"
Meryl Szolkiewicz - Bios
Official M-Net Island of Secrets bio excerpts (May, 2019):
"A creative soul with a degree in musical theatre, this pilates instructor with big hair and even bigger ambition always wants to perform at her best and won’t let anything get her down. After starting a career as a musician, Meryl married quite young and had three beautiful boys within four years. For this yummy mommy, Survivor SA is an opportunity to rediscover her adventurous side. Raising three kids made her fierce and strong, compassionate and loyal, but in Survivor you may just see a little more of her flirtatious side. It is a game, after all!"
Meryl's audition video:
Official SurvivorSA: Return of the Outcasts M-Net bio (6/5/22):
"Meryl Szolkiewicz studied toward a musical theatre degree and started her career as a musician and performer, but that fell away after she met and married her husband, and had three sons.
She saw her chance to appear on her season of Survivor SA as a chance to hit the reset button – which she duly did, rediscovering her strength and a newfound joy that has permeated all aspects of her life.
She is a big Survivor SA fan but understood after her season that she is not the biggest – despite Survivor being an institution in her household. This time around, she’s looking to play a more rooted game, be careful with her empathetic nature – and just have fun."