Survivor birthday: Jaime Huffman (nee Dugan) from Survivor China turns 32

She was known as Jaime Dugan when she made Survivor history. Later marrying her fellow castaway, we celebrate Jaime Huffman’s 32nd birthday.

Player: Jaime Dugan
Occupation: Marketing/Wedding Photographer
Hometown: Columbia, SC
Seasons: China
Tribes: Zhan Hu (Yellow Buff), Hae Da Fung (Black Buff)
Finished: 10/16

Survivor China was one of the first seasons where most of the players were thinking about strategy. Sure, you still had people making personal connections and growing as people, but you also had players like Todd who were there to orchestrate a path to victory. By letting James Clement know where the Hidden Immunity Idol was to give him two in his possession, it was a bold move that cemented trust.

However, that move also helped to cement the fate of Jaime Dugan.

She wasn’t one of the most strategic players of Survivor China, but she did present a real, honest personality that may have been overshadowed by the bombastic James, Jean-Robert and Dave types. Remember, she successfully voted out every person whose name she had written down, meaning she played a better social game enough to get into a good position on her Zhan Hu tribe. However safe she felt before the merge went out the window

However safe she felt before the merge went out the window at the first joint tribal council, as she to use the Hidden Immunity Idol in her bag. The problem was that James already had both, meaning what she had found back at camp was just a regular placard on top of one of the gates. Hilarity ensued, as she was the first player in Survivor history to play a fake HII at a tribal council.

One of the stronger personal stories of Survivor China was the blossoming love of Jaime Dugan and Erik Hoffman, her Zhan Hu tribemate. Their love didn’t mature into the Boston Rob / Amber Brkich power duo of All-Stars, but since the airing of the show the two have been married for over eight years and have a child of their own. Guess that answers Jeff Probst’s deeply personal reunion question!

Next: Survivor Game Changers: Ranking All 33 Previous Seasons

We at Surviving Tribal would like to wish Jaime Huffman a happy 32nd birthday!