Survivor birthday: Sandra Diaz-Twine turns 43 years old today
The Queen stays Queen for yet another year, as the greatest Survivor player the game has ever seen, Sandra Diaz-Twine, turns 43 years old today.
Player: Sandra Diaz-Twine
Occupation: Office Assistant
Hometown: Samford, CT
Seasons: Survivor Pearl Islands, Heroes vs. Villains, Game Changers
Tribes: Drake (Aqua Buff), Balboa (Black Buff) on Pearl Islands, Villains (Red Buff), Yin Yang (Black Buff) on Heroes vs. Villains, Mana (Red Buff), Nuku (Blue Buff) on Game Changers
Finished: Sole Survivor of Pearl Islands and Heroes vs. Villains, 15/20 on Game Changers
Sandra Diaz-Twine might be the greatest player of Survivor the show will ever see. You cannot ignore the fact that she is the game’s only two-time winner, with it taking just two appearances on the show to achieve that claim. She didn’t play in a season where she could accumulate cult minions, willing to take out the biggest competition (and themselves) in her fourth season, in order to win once. She did it against a cast of 16 that worked out to be technically 18 with the Outcast twist, then she did it again against the cast of the greatest season of all time.
Where she lacks in physical prowess in challenges she more than makes up with a social and strategic game. Even in Survivor Game Changers, knowing full well that she has the biggest target on her back after the premiere, you could see how she rattles the cage to stir up drama for others while swooping in partnerships and alliances to further everyone’s game.
That’s the best part of her gameplay; even though she’s doing it to stay in the game longer, she genuinely wants to further her Survivor alliances along. She won Heroes vs. Villains not because the jury Heroes wanted Russell to lose, but because Sandra bonded with them even while part of the Villains’ main alliance.
However great a player she is with gameplay, she’s even better as a character of Survivor. Take for example Day 39 of Heroes vs. Villains. The game is over; it’s time to prep for jury speeches. There’s nothing to be gained by messing around with the other players, yet she’s been gunning after Russell the entire game. So what does she do when he goes for a walk? Burns his hat!
I will repeat; there’s nothing to be gained by doing this! Even if it’s to rustle Russell’s feathers, the jury isn’t awarding him any votes at that point already. She’s doing it to him because “he’s a stupid ass!” That’s what makes her both a great player and a great character; her personality doesn’t come at a detriment to her game.
Next: Survivor Winners: Ranking All 33 Sole Survivors By Season
From all of us at Surviving Tribal, we’d like to wish Sandra Diaz-Twine a very happy 43rd birthday!