When Chrissy Zaremba agreed to join the cast of Survivor: Blood V Water alongside brother-in-law Michael ‘Croc’ Crocker, she pictured something very different from the hardcore physical challenges and lack of creature comforts contestants of the popular reality series must endure.
WATCH: Chrissy’s best Chrissy-isms of Survivor: Blood V Water
Arriving at the water tribe camp on day one, the bubbly mum-of-three immediately realised she may be in a little over her head.
“I am in a world of trouble. I’m so underprepared it’s not funny. My fake tan’s coming off. I have terrible footwear. I don’t like the outdoors. I don’t really like sand and dirt and water,” Chrissy revealed during the debut episode.
“I was pretty much relying on [brother-in-law] Croc for everything since he’s a superfan and just hoped to play a bit of a social game, but when they separated us I thought, ‘I’m in trouble!'” she added.
Chrissy’s self-deprecating personality and naivety to the intricacies of Survivor quickly won over viewers, with many fans thinking she’s already won in their eyes.
In fact, Chrissy – who always finds a silver lining – said she believes it was her cluelessness to the rules that may have been beneficial to her time in the outback.
“In a way being naive was good because I didn’t have a target on my back,” she explained. “Plus because I didn’t know the players, I wasn’t intimidated by people like Sandra – everyone was like, ‘Oh my God!’ and I’m just like, ‘Oh wow, she has nice skin!'”
“I was more worried about Khanh the MasterChef!“
But while she’s avoided being a target for the other contestants (for now), the underdog admitted she struggled with the less-than-comfortable living conditions on the show.
WATCH: Survivor introduces Croc and Chrissy
“I thought it was edited like that, like maybe we got pillows when the cameras were off or something – but nope, it’s exactly like it’s shown, shocking living conditions!
“I’m pretty sure it’s not even legal – I’ll have to talk to Channel 10 about that…” she joked.
“We didn’t even have any bowls, we were eating off rocks – what is that?! Khanh had to make us chopsticks out of branches, it was crazy!”
Along with the obvious challenges of being on Survivor, Chrissy revealed she also struggled with being away from her family, saying, “Everyone talks about missing your family. But it’s true – you realise how much you miss the small things when you’re away from them.
“We couldn’t talk to the crew or anything either, and I’m such a people person and I love a chat!”
She added: “Plus I missed my food having texture.”
While Chrissy previously revealed that her kids didn’t believe she would last on the gruelling series, she said that they’ve since fully embraced seeing their mum on TV.
“They thought I’d be pretty bad at going on the show at first, but now there are all these promos coming on the TV at the moment and it’s like Christmas for them, the kids are loving it! My daughter’s all over her Instagram and posting stuff, they’re so excited and they think it’s cool,” she said.
And while she fully embraced the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of being on Survivor, Chrissy admitted she probably wouldn’t do it again as a contestant.
“Look, I’d go back if I was the host – I’d like to be the host,” she revealed (watch out, JLP!).
“I need to get fit again but if I were to go on another reality show, it would be The Amazing Race,” she continued, adding, “Because Beau Ryan’s pretty cute!”
Australian Survivor: Blood V Water continues Sunday at 7.30 pm On 10 And 10 Play On Demand.
For more Survivor content check out the links below!
Here’s when Australian Survivor is returning in 2022
US Survivor’s Sandra Diaz-Twine says daughter Nina is her ‘secret weapon’ for Blood V Water
One wedding and a baby later! How Mark Wales and Sam Gash found true love on Survivor
Everything we know about Jonathan LaPaglia’s wife Ursula Brooks
Jonathan LaPaglia ditched his career as an ER doctor to follow brother Anthony into acting
From fiery antics to family man: How Michael Crocker’s fiancée changed his life for the better
“It’s an awkward conversation”: Inside Khanh Ong’s refugee journey
‘Ones to watch’: Jonathan LaPaglia dishes on Survivor: Blood V Water contestants
Awkward! Sam Frost’s brother Alex joins forces with her ex Jay Bruno on Survivor
Why Sophie Cachia left her ‘perfect life’ to explore her attraction to women
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
