Survivor is a reality TV series that’s been entertaining audiences for the last 22 years. Every time they bring a new concept or a twist to the series. In this article, we have covered everything you want to know about Survivor Season 44 Cast.
Interestingly, the participants haven’t seen the previous season. Hence, they don’t know whether they’ll witness the same challenges as from the season or not!
This season was filmed from June 5 through June 30, 2022. It is the twelfth consecutive season to be filmed in the Mamanuca Islands in Fiji.
Survivor Season 44 Cast
Apparently, Survivor Season 44 cast was announced on January 31, 2023. The cast has 18 players divided into three tribes: Ratu, Soka, and Tika.
The first episode is titled ‘I can’t wait to see Jeff’ which was won by the Soka tribe.
Let us take you through the Survivor Season 44 cast one by one, to know furthermore about them.
1. Brandon Cottom
He is famous for playing in professional football leagues. Brandon is 30 and hails from Newtown, Pennsylvania. His new career shift is pretty exciting as he has started working as Security Specialist.
Three words to describe: Easygoing, ambitious, and confident
Hobbies: Coaching at Parisi Speed School, snowboarding, enjoying any lake, cooking, and grilling
Life experience: According to Brandon, NFL has prepared him well for SURVIVOR. As a player, he had to overcome obstacles one after another and has learnt the importance of hard work and self-belief. Additionally, he can handle pressure and play well in the worst situations as well.
2. Bruce Perreault
This 46-year-old contestant grew up in the foster care system, which taught him the value of short-term and long-term relationships. He works as an Insurance Agent in West Warwick, Rhode Island.
Three words to describe: Energetic, funny, and competitive
Hobbies: Golf and boxing
Life experience: As stated earlier, he was abandoned by his parents and grew up in a foster home. He says that despite being abandoned, he became a husband and a father. This experience is the best that he can relate to.
3. Carolyn Wiger
Next in the Survivor Season 44 cast is Carolyn Wiger, who is 35 years old and works as a Drug Counselor. She was once under addiction, recovered later, and became a drug counselor.
Carolyn says she has been following the show since the beginning, especially after seeing Maryanne Oketch.
Three words to describe: Passionate, a little bit loud, and open
Hobbies: Gardening, ice skating, and rescuing bunnies
Life experience: In the words of Carolyn, “Overcoming my addiction and learning how to forgive, love and accept myself. Active addiction is mental and emotional torture. It took me years to realize my mistakes don’t define me. I’ve worked hard to become the person I am proud of. I know this game will break me down, but I am strong, resilient, and most importantly, I believe in myself!”
4. Carson Garrett
Interestingly, Carson is the youngest participant on the show. The 20-year-old is a NASA engineering student. He is from Rome but currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia, for his studies. Carson believes that his young age, innocence, and inexperience will fall in his favor.
Three words to describe: Multi-faced, exuberant, and innovative
Hobbies: 3D printing, Settlers of Catan, photography, Minecraft, strategic board games, space/engineering YouTube videos, and Civilization V
Life experience: According to Carson, he has undergone workforce development training during his two-semester studies at NASA. During his first semester, he specialized in proposal writing. Additionally, during his second semester, he learned mission concept design. He also worked with students from various countries and knew how to deal with them.
5. Claire Rafson
She has been a megafan of the series. Fifth from the Survivor season 44 cast is Claire Rafson, who happens to be a queer, 25-year-old Tech Investor and Venture Capitalist from Brooklyn, New York.
Three words to describe: Energetic, motivated, and cunning
Hobbies: Eating, drinking, and sleeping. She also loves traveling and going to music festivals and concerts
Life experience: Being a queer black Jewish woman, she has always been the odd one out. She believes that she has been playing the social/strategic game of Survivor all her life to fit in, succeed, and reach her goals.
6. Danny Massa
Even though the 32-year-old is a firefighter, he is still terrified.
Eventually, his experience of throwing himself into various fearful events will help him. Furthermore, he might bring a sense of adaptability to the game. Precisely, he won’t strategize. Instead, he will take things as they come.
Three words to describe: Kind, Passionate and determined
Hobbies: Brazilian jiu-jitsu, running with his dog, breath work, and meditation
Life experience: Unlike others, he chooses to be unprepared for the game. Exactly like his profession, he wants to take challenges as it is.
7. Frannie Marin
This 23-year-old Research Coordinator is from Cambridge. She strategizes to be calm and put into practice mindfulness and self-compassion. Apart from being a Research Coordinator, she works at a nail salon catering to customers with different personalities.
Three things to describe: Curious, calculating, and zesty
Hobbies: collecting leaves, games night, and collaging
Life experience: According to Frannie, “I worked at an intense, high-traffic nail salon for five years, where I had to balance customers’ needs with those of 20 Vietnamese women, many twice my age and with ranging language barriers. I had to navigate very different perspectives to keep everyone happy, sometimes with grown adults screaming in my face about their nails.”
8. Heidi Lagares-Greenblatt
Because Heidi has spent over half of her life in Puerto Rico, she has the highest experience on an island. The 43-year-old engineering manager struggled in her initial move to the states but overcame the obstacles to create both a community and a successful career.
Three words to describe: Energetic, adventurous, and loud
Hobbies: CrossFit and playing board games
Life experience: Heidi states, “I am a first generation in the States. I moved with nothing and was barely able to speak the language. I had to learn and adapt all by myself to succeed in this country.”
9. Helen Li
Next from the Survivor Season 44 cast is Helen Li. A 29-year-old Product Manager from San Francisco, California.
Three words to describe: Empathetic, optimistic, and self-aware
Hobbies: Travel, downhill skiing, hiking, and board games and puzzles
Life experience: Helen was part of a number of different communities and learned to adapt to the norms of each of them.
10. Jaime Lynn Ruiz
Another Survivor Season 44 cast participant is Jaime Lynn Ruiz from Mesa, Arizona. Yogi by profession, this 35-year-old has immense flexibility.
Three words to describe: Enthusiastic, magnetic, and loving
Hobbies: Gardening, yoga, cooking, golfing, hiking, reading, painting, swimming, writing, eating, laughing, meditating, and catching up on her favorite shows.
Life experience: According to Jaime, “My time in corporate America prepared me for the show. I spent over a decade navigating different personalities and building winning teams. Relationship building is EVERYTHING!”
11. Josh Wilder
This surgical podiatrist was not supposed to make it to the island. Primarily, Josh had undergone a life-saving transplant 25 years ago. He wishes to follow a clinical way in the game.
Three words to describe: Adventurous, charismatic, and ambitious
Hobbies: Obstacle course races, traveling, and tending to his houseplants
Life experience: Because he is a physician, he meets new people daily which enhances his sociability.
12. Kane Fritzler
Next from the Survivor Season 44 cast is a 25-year-old law student from Canada.
Three words to describe: Inclusive, loud, and competitive
Hobbies: Dungeons and Dragons, caring for my dog, and SURVIVOR
Life experience: He has won the best negotiator award at a national negotiation competition for Canadian Law Schools.
13. Lauren Harpe
Elementary School Teacher by profession from Texas, Lauren is patient. She recently became a single parent at 31.
Three words to describe: Personable, resistant, and adaptable
Hobbies: She loves Mario Kart, and reading and listening to podcasts and sermons online
Life experience: Being a single parent came with additional challenges. These include: physical, mental, and emotional.
14. Maddy Pomilla
A self-proclaimed adventure addict, this 28-year-old lives in Brooklyn, New York, and works as a Charity Projects Manager.
Three words to describe: Brave, friendly, and feral
Hobbies: Surfing, skateboarding, making movies with sisters, dancing, pretending to be Madonna at karaoke, and lying on the grass
Life experience” According to Maddy, “I am one of five sisters, and I’m the classic middle child – social, independent, problem–solving. To survive the Pomilla sisters, you gotta be dynamic and keep up!”
15. Matt Blankinship
27-year-old Security software engineer from San Francisco, California, is focused on errors.
Three Words to describe: Joyful, empathetic, and persistent
Hobbies: Taiko, music, and running
Life experience: According to him, the best SURVIVORS are defined by how they respond to setbacks.
16. Matthew Grinstead-Mayle
The 43-year-old barbershop owner is from Ohio.
Three words to describe: Spontaneous, caring, and adventurous
Hobbies: Adventures, rollercoasters, waterslides, eating, and growing and collecting plants
Life Experience: Because his mother worked for the YMCA, he has always been outside. In a forest, climbing trees, swimming in lakes and rivers, surrounded by friends and nature.
17. Sarah Wade
Sarah is a management consultant by profession. Sadly, she lost her best friend two years ago and hence is living her dream.
Three words to describe: Strategic, driven, and fun
Hobbies: Outdoors, biking, working out, playing beach volleyball, reading, eating, and drinking
Life Experience: Because of her best friend’s sudden demise, she has the grit to overcome unpleasant experiences and compassion for unseen challenges.
18. Yamil “Yam Yam” Arocho
This Survivor Season 44 cast is the first resident from Puerto Rico in the game. The 36-year-old is a salon owner.
Three words to describe: Fun, loud and caring
Hobbies: Gardening, outdoors, and traveling
Life experience: After Hurricane Maria hit, there wasn’t any power supply for 90 days. He gave hope to his team to be together and strong.
Summary
Survivor’s 44th season premiered on March 1, 2023, on CBS in the United States and globally in Canada. Unfortunately, Bruce Perreault had to be evacuated because of medical reasons. The head injury is the primary reason. Moreover, Maddy Pomilia was the first contestant to be voted out by the rest of the Survivor Season 44 cast.
