Skip to content

Top Navigation

EW.com EW.com
    • All TV
    • TV Reviews
    • TV Reunions
    • Recaps
    • What to Watch
    • Winter TV
    • Comedy
    • Crime
    • Drama
    • Family
    • Horror
    • Reality
    • Sci-fi
    • Thriller
    • All Movies
    • Movie Reviews
    • Trailers
    • Film Festivals
    • Movie Reunions
    • Movie Previews
    • All Music
    • Music Reviews
    • All What to Watch
    • What to Watch Podcast Episodes
    • TV Reviews
    • Movie Reviews
    • All BINGE
    • EW's Binge Podcast Episodes
    • Recaps
    • The Bachelor
    • The Last of Us
    • RuPaul's Drag Race
    • You
    • The Masked Singer
    • Yellowstone
    • Saturday Night Live
    • Outer Banks
    • All The Awardist
    • The Awardist Podcast Episodes
    • Oscars
    • Emmys
    • Golden Globes
    • SAG Awards
    • Grammys
    • Tony Awards
    • All Books
    • Book Reviews
    • Author Interviews
    • All Theater
    • Theater Reviews
  • Podcasts
  • Gaming
    • All Events
    • Comic-Con
  • Celebrity
  • Streaming

Profile Menu

Subscribe

Explore EW.com

EW.com EW.com
  • Explore

    Explore

    • Sex and the City turns 25: A conversation with Skipper, Carrie's nice-guy pal from season 1

      Sex and the City turns 25: A conversation with Skipper, Carrie's nice-guy pal from season 1

      Ben Weber, who played Carrie's pal (and Miranda's boyfriend) Skipper, shares his memories from the set of Sex and the City season 1. Read More
    • 20 years of Wrong Turn: How a movie about murderous cannibals became an unkillable franchise

      20 years of Wrong Turn: How a movie about murderous cannibals became an unkillable franchise

      The Eliza Dushku-starring 2003 horror film was followed by six other movies, with two more planned. Some of the key figures in front of and behind the camera explained how it happened. Read More
    • Harvey Guillén finds his light: The What We Do in the Shadows star on pride, perseverance, and Puss in Boots

      Harvey Guillén finds his light: The What We Do in the Shadows star on pride, perseverance, and Puss in Boots

      “It's more important now than ever to be as loud as we can be, to create the queerest content we can,” says the Blue Beetle actor, who graces EW’s 2023 Pride cover. Read More
  • TV

    TV

    See All TV
    • TV Reviews
    • TV Reunions
    • Recaps
    • What to Watch
    • Winter TV
    • Comedy
    • Crime
    • Drama
    • Family
    • Horror
    • Reality
    • Sci-fi
    • Thriller
  • Movies

    Movies

    See All Movies
    • Movie Reviews
    • Trailers
    • Film Festivals
    • Movie Reunions
    • Movie Previews
  • Music

    Music

    See All Music
    • Music Reviews
  • What to Watch

    What to Watch

    See All What to Watch
    • What to Watch Podcast Episodes
    • TV Reviews
    • Movie Reviews
  • BINGE

    BINGE

    See All BINGE
    • EW's Binge Podcast Episodes
    • Recaps
    • The Bachelor
    • The Last of Us
    • RuPaul's Drag Race
    • You
    • The Masked Singer
    • Yellowstone
    • Saturday Night Live
    • Outer Banks
  • The Awardist

    The Awardist

    See All The Awardist
    • The Awardist Podcast Episodes
    • Oscars
    • Emmys
    • Golden Globes
    • SAG Awards
    • Grammys
    • Tony Awards
  • Books

    Books

    See All Books
    • Book Reviews
    • Author Interviews
  • Theater

    Theater

    See All Theater
    • Theater Reviews
  • Podcasts
  • Gaming
  • Events

    Events

    See All Events
    • Comic-Con
  • Celebrity
  • Streaming

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home
  2. Gallery
  3. 'Survivor: South Pacific': Meet the Cast!

'Survivor: South Pacific': Meet the Cast!

Dalton Ross introduces 16 of the men and women competing for $1M in the ''South Pacific'' season starting Sept. 14, including a ''Nashville Star,'' a former Miss Washington, and a new face with a familiar name
dalton-ross image
By Dalton Ross Updated August 19, 2011 at 07:00 PM EDT
Skip gallery slides
FB

1 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

1

Survivor: South Pacific | SURVIVOR: SOUTH PACIFIC Kneeling/seated: John Cochran, Elyse Umemoto, Mikayla Wingle, Albert Destrade Back row: Dawn Meehan, Keith Tollefson, Semhar Tadesse, Mark-Anthony Caruso, Whitney Duncan, Jim…
Credit: Monty Brinton/CBS

SURVIVOR: SOUTH PACIFIC Kneeling/seated: John Cochran, Elyse Umemoto, Mikayla Wingle, Albert Destrade
Back row: Dawn Meehan, Keith Tollefson, Semhar Tadesse, Mark-Anthony Caruso, Whitney Duncan, Jim Rice, Sophie Clarke, Edna Ma, Rick Nelson, Christine Shields Markoski, Stacey Powell, Brandon Hantz

1 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Elyse Umemoto

Survivor: South Pacific | Dance Team Manager Hometown: Las Vegas Age: 27 Like many a Survivor contestant before her, Elyse comes from the pageant world, where she was crowned…
Credit: Monty Brinton/CBS

Dance Team Manager
Hometown: Las Vegas
Age: 27
Like many a Survivor contestant before her, Elyse comes from the pageant world, where she was crowned Miss Washington in 2007 and was the second runner-up to Miss America. (Unlike the others, however, she encountered controversy when some mildly racy party photos surfaced online.) Elyse also already has reality show experience, appearing on TLC's Miss America: Reality Check. But she says there's more to her than her background in beauty. ''I like to call myself a tall glass of contradiction. I'm a total dichotomy. I'm such an academic, but was also captain of the cheer squad. I was born and raised in the church, and now perform and live in Las Vegas. There are two very different sides of me.''

Watch our exclusive video of Elyse.

2 of 18

3 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Brandon Hantz

Survivor: South Pacific | Oil Tanker Crewman Hometown: Katy, Tex. Age: 19 Just when you thought Survivor was finally done with Russell Hantz, along comes his nephew Brandon. And…
Credit: Monty Brinton/CBS

Oil Tanker Crewman
Hometown: Katy, Tex.
Age: 19
Just when you thought Survivor was finally done with Russell Hantz, along comes his nephew Brandon. And Brandon is on a mission to show that there is a much different side to the Hantz family. What side might that be? ''It's loyal. It's courageous. It's kind of like a golden retriever,'' says Brandon. ''I want to show that we have morals and values and we have a standard in the Hantz family.'' So what kind of advice did Uncle Russell give him? ''Pretty much to stay calm. If somebody tries to get in my face, to not lose my temper. Other than that, he knows I'm a nice guy to be around, and as long as I keep my cool, it's going to be smooth sailing.''

Watch our exclusive video of Brandon.

3 of 18

Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

4 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Whitney Duncan

Survivor: South Pacific | Country Singer Hometown: Nashville Age: 27 The country singer and fifth-place finisher on season 5 of Nashville Star has no concerns about putting her life…
Credit: Monty Brinton/CBS

Country Singer
Hometown: Nashville
Age: 27
The country singer and fifth-place finisher on season 5 of Nashville Star has no concerns about putting her life back on camera. ''I'm an open book. I always speak my mind. My fans know me already. They know my personality. This is a game, so there probably will be some characteristics that have to come out that aren't necessarily awesome. I mean, you take food away from me for a couple of weeks and there is no telling what I'll say or do, honestly.'' The real question is what she will say and do if someone in the game recognizes her. She could get Hogeboomed!

Watch our exclusive video of Whitney.

4 of 18

Advertisement

5 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Albert Destrade

Survivor: South Pacific | Baseball/Dating Coach Hometown: Plantation, Fla. Age: 26 This former dating coach was initially recruited for The Amazing Race but ended up on the island instead,…
Credit: Montry Brinton/CBS

Baseball/Dating Coach
Hometown: Plantation, Fla.
Age: 26
This former dating coach was initially recruited for The Amazing Race but ended up on the island instead, and it will be worth keeping an eye on how he does in the elements. ''I work outdoors, but I'm not an outdoorsman by any stretch of the imagination,'' he admits. ''I'm not very handy. I'm a little spooked by animals and things like that, to be honest with you.'' Uh-oh. But Albert is a smooth talker and physical force, making him a real threat to win it all.

Watch our exclusive video of Albert.

5 of 18

6 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Edna Ma

Survivor: South Pacific | Anesthesiologist Hometown: Los Angeles Age: 35 Edna actually originally applied to be on Shark Tank , where she could hawk her BareEase ouchless hair-removal prep…
Credit: Monty Brinton/CBS

Anesthesiologist
Hometown: Los Angeles
Age: 35
Edna actually originally applied to be on Shark Tank, where she could hawk her BareEase ouchless hair-removal prep cream (she also has a similar product for men called — wait for it — Numb Nuts), but was funneled over to Survivor. However, she has no plans to tell anyone about her day job as an anesthesiologist. ''Historically, Survivor has never granted anybody with a medical degree a million dollars. There's a perception that doctors are rolling around in cash. Certainly not my situation. So I will be omitting that from my game plan.''

Watch our exclusive video of Edna.

6 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

7 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

John Cochran

Survivor: South Pacific | Harvard Law Student Hometown: Washington, D.C. Age: 24 Allow the Woody Allen-ish Harvard law student (who five minutes into the game instructs Probst to refer…
Credit: Monty Brinton/CBS

Harvard Law Student
Hometown: Washington, D.C.
Age: 24
Allow the Woody Allen-ish Harvard law student (who five minutes into the game instructs Probst to refer to him by his last name only) to tell you why he's destined to take home the title. ''I will win Survivor because I am a student of the game, unlike any other player that's played the game before. I've never missed a single episode. I used to do a newsletter in high school and wear a buff around my arm every Thursday, now it would be Wednesday. My senior yearbook picture was me wearing three buffs, two around my arm and one around my forehead, and a Survivor T-shirt. This has been ingrained in me for 11 years. This is the culmination of a lot of obsession.'' And how!

Watch our exclusive video of John.

7 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement

8 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Christine Shields Markoski

Survivor: South Pacific | Teacher Hometown: Merrick, N.Y. Age: 39 The feisty New Yorker may have the best story ever for how she ended up being cast on Survivor…
Credit: Monty Brinton/CBS

Teacher
Hometown: Merrick, N.Y.
Age: 39
The feisty New Yorker may have the best story ever for how she ended up being cast on Survivor. ''I ended up on this show because I was angry,'' Christine explains. ''At NaOnka and Purple Kelly. I sent in the video, yelling. I told the casting people that they suck at their job and should be fired, and if I did my job as poorly as they did, I would be fired.'' More like fired up. Anyhow, it worked! Anything about the experience she's not excited about going into the game? ''The lack of food, because I get crabby. I'll have to find ways to decrabitize myself.''

Watch our exclusive video of Christine.

8 of 18

Advertisement

9 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Jim Rice

Survivor: South Pacific | Medical Marijuana Dispenser Hometown: Denver Age: 35 The medical marijuana dispensary owner is totally high... on his chances in the game! ''I don?t think there's…
Credit: Monty Brinton/CBS

Medical Marijuana Dispenser
Hometown: Denver
Age: 35
The medical marijuana dispensary owner is totally high... on his chances in the game! ''I don?t think there's anyone else here that has the combination of physical ability, mental toughness, and also the mental acuity to actually win.'' And while he says he'd love to meet a lovely lady on the beach, he won't let it stand in the way of his quest for the million dollars. ''I know there's a couple of the girls that are on this island right now that are planning to use their charm. I am completely fine with letting them use their charm. I just have to leave that relationship before it leaves me.''

Watch our exclusive video of Jim.

9 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

10 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Semhar Tadesse

Survivor: South Pacific | Spoken Word Artist Hometown: Los Angeles Age: 24 The former Miss Eritrea is not looking forward to getting her well-manicured nails dirty. ''I'm definitely not…
Credit: Monty Brinton/CBS

Spoken Word Artist
Hometown: Los Angeles
Age: 24
The former Miss Eritrea is not looking forward to getting her well-manicured nails dirty. ''I'm definitely not psyched about being out in nature. It's not my thing. I know I lived in Africa, but I lived in the city. I'm not psyched about living like a homeless person, stinking, having to smell other people. My biggest fear is probably Redemption Island. I am very scared to be alone.'' Which, as a result, kind of makes us want to see that happen. (Sorry, Semhar!)

Watch our exclusive video of Semhar.

10 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

11 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Sophie Clarke

Survivor: South Pacific | Medical Student Hometown: Willsboro, N.Y. Age: 22 Sophie became a Survivor fan quite by accident. ''I started watching the show when I was 9 years…
Credit: Monty Brinton/CBS

Medical Student
Hometown: Willsboro, N.Y.
Age: 22
Sophie became a Survivor fan quite by accident. ''I started watching the show when I was 9 years old when it came out. My dad thought it was a documentary. We weren't really allowed to watch TV, but he thought it was going to be all educational, and it was not at all. We watched it anyway and I've been a fan ever since.'' But what will transform her from fan into winner? ''I think I have that je ne sais quoi that other people don't have,'' says Sophie. ''I'm super determined. I've never quit anything in my life. And I think all my life experiences put together amount to a winner of Survivor more than anyone else. At least I hope so.''

Watch our exclusive video of Sophie.

11 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement

12 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Mark-Anthony Caruso

Survivor: South Pacific | Retired NYPD Detective Hometown: Forest Hills, NY Age: 48 ''I call myself Daddy Bear,'' says the openly gay former NYPD morgue detective. ''I'm older, wiser,…
Credit: Montry Brinton/CBS

Retired NYPD Detective
Hometown: Forest Hills, NY
Age: 48
''I call myself Daddy Bear,'' says the openly gay former NYPD morgue detective. ''I'm older, wiser, and cuter, I guess. No, I'm kidding. I'm not cuter.'' One thing he's not kidding about, however, is which two former players he'd like to see return this season. ''I would like to see Jane. And I know people may not like hearing this, but I like Russell. I do! I just like him! I worked in the New York City police department for 20 years. There's a thousand Russells!''

Watch our exclusive video of Mark-Anthony.

12 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

13 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Mikayla Wingle

Survivor: South Pacific | Lingerie Football Player Hometown: Tampa Age: 22 If you were thinking of doubting Mikayla's toughness, think again. The Playboy cover girl plays linebacker and cornerback…
Credit: Monty Brinton/CBS

Lingerie Football Player
Hometown: Tampa
Age: 22
If you were thinking of doubting Mikayla's toughness, think again. The Playboy cover girl plays linebacker and cornerback for the Tampa Breeze of the Lingerie Football League. ''We hit just as hard as the guys. We wear less padding than them,'' she says in perhaps the understatement of the year before turning her attention to the other contestants. ''I can probably squat half these people over my shoulder.'' But will Mikayla — who was originally recruited for The Amazing Race — pull an Ometepe and let a returning player come in and walk all over her into the finals? ''I don't think anyone wants to be embarrassed like that again,'' she says. ''It's not going to happen like that again.''

Watch our exclusive video of Mikayla.

13 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

14 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Keith Tollefson

Survivor: South Pacific | Water Treatment Tech Hometown: San Diego Age: 26 Keith has one big worry coming into this game: the pacemaker that has been in his chest…
Credit: Monty Brinton/CBS

Water Treatment Tech
Hometown: San Diego
Age: 26
Keith has one big worry coming into this game: the pacemaker that has been in his chest since he was a young boy. Not that it will hamper him in the challenges, but will it hamper him in making it further in the game? ''It's definitely an issue about telling [the other contestants] or not telling them, but I have a pretty big scar and it's pretty visible. You can see the bump. So I need to figure out how to play that because there have been people in the past that have gotten kicked off because they think they're going to get a sympathy vote.''

Watch our exclusive video of Keith.

14 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement

15 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Dawn Meehan

Survivor: South Pacific | English Professor Hometown: South Jordan, Utah Age: 41 File this one under ''better later than never.'' Dawn applied for Survivor way back in 2000, but…
Credit: Monty Brinton/CBS

English Professor
Hometown: South Jordan, Utah
Age: 41
File this one under ''better later than never.'' Dawn applied for Survivor way back in 2000, but when her audition tape was unearthed in 2009, she got the call and was cast for Survivor: Redemption Island. ''And about a month before the show, they made a change and cut me,'' Dawn explains. ''But it was the best thing that could have happened. I prepared physically six days a week for 10 months and have read every strategy book.'' Now she's finally made it and looking to put that preparation to use. But will she be prepared for the emotional strain of being separated from her husband and six adopted children? She already has a contingency plan that involves her younger tribemates. ''I'm hoping to leave with an extra kid.''

Watch our exclusive video of Dawn.

15 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

16 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Rick Nelson

Survivor: South Pacific | Rancher Hometown: Aurora, Utah Age: 51 He may sport the most incredible mustache in Survivor history, but Rick will need more than fabulous facial hair…
Credit: Monty Brinton/CBS

Rancher
Hometown: Aurora, Utah
Age: 51
He may sport the most incredible mustache in Survivor history, but Rick will need more than fabulous facial hair to make it to the end. He'll need persistence, something he has already shown by applying 14 different times to be on the show. He finally made it this go-round after winning Sears' online Casting Call contest (Marc-Anthony and Sophie also initially applied through the Sears contest). ''My whole strategy is going to be, do your work, give it 110 percent at everything,'' says Rick, ''but don't whine.'' And what about the returning players? ''They had their chance. This is our chance. This is our time.''

Watch our exclusive video of Rick.

16 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

17 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Stacey Powell

Survivor: South Pacific | Mortician Hometown: Grand Prairie, Tex. Age: 44 Stacey has a message for the two returning players this season: ''The two returning players, whomever they may…
Credit: Monty Brinton/CBS

Mortician
Hometown: Grand Prairie, Tex.
Age: 44
Stacey has a message for the two returning players this season: ''The two returning players, whomever they may be, they got to go. I don't care who they are, because they've been here. We haven't. Give us the opportunity and chance to scrounge and learn.'' And she has a message for all her fellow players as well. ''Don?t let the smooth taste fool you. You think size matters? Size doesn't matter. Don't let it fool you. The smallest can be the strongest, and the biggest can be the weakest. Don't talk the talk until you walk the walk first.''

Watch our exclusive video of Stacey.

17 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement

18 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Host Jeff Probst

Survivor: South Pacific
Credit: Montry Brinton/CBS

18 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

  • By Dalton Ross @DaltonRoss

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 18 1
    2 of 18 Elyse Umemoto
    3 of 18 Brandon Hantz
    4 of 18 Whitney Duncan
    5 of 18 Albert Destrade
    6 of 18 Edna Ma
    7 of 18 John Cochran
    8 of 18 Christine Shields Markoski
    9 of 18 Jim Rice
    10 of 18 Semhar Tadesse
    11 of 18 Sophie Clarke
    12 of 18 Mark-Anthony Caruso
    13 of 18 Mikayla Wingle
    14 of 18 Keith Tollefson
    15 of 18 Dawn Meehan
    16 of 18 Rick Nelson
    17 of 18 Stacey Powell
    18 of 18 Host Jeff Probst

    Share & More

    Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message
    EW.com

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Advertise this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Meredith© Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab Do Not Sell My Personal Informationthis link opens a modal window
    © Copyright EW.com. All rights reserved. Printed from https://ew.com

    View image

    'Survivor: South Pacific': Meet the Cast!
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.