Australian Survivor is back and bigger than ever!
The ‘Australian Survivor: Champions vs. Contenders’ is set to premiere Wednesday, August 1, at 7:30pm on Network Ten.
This season will see 12 ‘Champions’ go head-to-head with 12 ‘Contenders’ for the ultimate prize of $500,000.
Here are the teams competing in this season of Australian Survivor.
THE CHAMPIONS:
Monika Radulovic
2015 Miss Universe Australia winner Monika Radulovic has joined the 2018 season of Australian Survivor.
Lydia Lassila
Lydia has competed in five Winter Olympics in aerial skiing, and has run her own business for over 10 years. Lydia is also a mum-of-two.
Jackie Glazier
Jackie, a professional poker player, says one of her greatest strengths is ‘reading people’ and says she will use her skills to make it to the end of the competition.
Steve ‘Commando’ Willis
The Commando shot to fame as a trainer on The Biggest Loser. Willis also served in the army for years before becoming a personal trainer, and believes he’s got what it takes to be crowned this year’s Survivor.
Sam
This champion is a Brisbane-born Astrophysicist who claims he’s going to make himself ‘useful’.
Damien Thomlinson
Damien is an ex-special forces commando who is also an author, speaker and actor. He entered to competition because he ‘wants to show veterans and people that are adaptive that anything is possible.’
Matt Rogers
Matt is an Australian Rugby League and Union legend. The former Wallaby says he was thrilled to be chosen for the show, saying: ‘[I] was a huge fan from the very first series, we use to have survivor nights at mum and dads place.’
Shane Gould
Shane has won three gold medals, one silver and one bronze medal in the Olympic Games for Australia. The former Olympian is now a successful business owner who entered the competition because she thought ‘thought it would be a very interesting social experiment to be involved with AND a difficult test of my survival skills.’
Moana Hope
Moana is a North Melbourne Football Club champion. The AFLW player decided to enter Survivor because it will be ‘something different.’
Russell Hantz
Russell is an American oil company owner and television personality, best known for appearing on three seperate seasons of Survivor US. He was the runner-up on Survivor: Samoa, and the second runner-up on Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains. He also competed on Survivor: Redemption Island.
Brian Lake
Brian is a former AFL legend who played with the Western Bulldogs for 10 years before moving to Hawthorn where he won three premierships and the Norm Smith medal. He says, ‘Survivor is a whole new world for me and I’m still in shock this is happening. I’m very excited to get out there though and give it a definite go!’
Sharn
Sharn is a Criminal Barrister. As one of the top female prosecutors in the country, Sharn can’t wait to get in front of the Survivor ‘jury.’
‘I think the skills I have developed in my professional life will translate well in this environment. I would be obviously thrilled to get to the Jury and address my fellow tribemates because I really think that’s where I’ll shine. Proving my case is what I do every day,’ she says.
Sharn is also a mum of four.
THE CONTENDERS
Heath
Heath is a builder who stands at 7-feet tall. His height and build put him at a natural advantage, but will also make him stand out as a target.
‘People see me as a threat,’ admits the gentle giant, and the champions will do everything to knock him out as soon as possible.
Anita
Anita is a sales rep who is going on Survivor to prove ‘anything is possible’ – especially at 50.
‘I will back stab, tell a few lies and align with whoever,’ says the QLD-based sales rep. ‘I already feel like a winner.’
Robbie
Robbie is a construction worker from SA with ‘strong morals.’ He is hoping his charm and athletic ability will keep him safe.
Benji
Benji claims to be a self-made millionaire who has worked in some of the biggest places in the world, from New York to Brazil.
‘I am going to be extremely likeable and perform well in challenges for my tribe but hidden behind my high performance and fun, goofy exterior will be some very villainous moves. The best way to ensure you are safe is to cause chaos in another section of camp. Just because I will do anything to achieve that won’t necessarily make me a heartless villain, I will just be a great game player.’
Fenella
The last of five children, Fenella is an interior designer.
She says, ‘I’m not scared facing off against the champions, I know I can do it. I’m quite unassuming and nobody would think I’m fit but I am. Mentally, I know how to work people from years of working in retail. I know how to lie to your face thanks to going to a private girls’ school. I can manipulate from being the youngest child. I’m also fiercely competitive and stubborn.’
Jenna
With NFL and AFL in her background, Jenna, aims to try as hard as she can when playing for the title of sole survivor. The mother of a two-year-old daughter, Jenna believes the challenges she’s faced when coming out as gay have only made her stronger.
‘My family accepts me for who I am and supports me for who I truly am. I live a drama free life and I like it that way. I pride myself on being honest and upfront but I’m also very competitive and hate losing,’ she says.
Tegan
An experienced camper and fisherwoman, Tegan is looking forward to pushing her outdoor skills to the next level with building shelter and starting fires from scratch.
Steve K
Already being described as one of the biggest characters to hit the island, Steve is not afraid to play the game. Steve lives by the motto, ‘comfort is a wonderful place to be in, but you never grow there.’
Matt
A 35-year-old traffic police controller from Queensland who is not afraid to put other contestants ‘back in line.’
Paige
This young marketing coordinator from SA is ready to give the jungle a crack!
Shonee
Married to a famous pro-skater, Shonee is ready to step out of her husband’s shadow and show Australia what she’s made of.
Zach
A personal trainer from Western Australia, whose hoping his physical ability will take him all the way to the end.
Australian Survivor begins on Wednesday, August 1, at 7:30pm on Channel Ten.
