Survivor season 35 cast: Ashley Nolan wants to be the alpha
Ashley Nolan will be on the Levu Tribe (Heroes) on Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers and is going to bring some fire to challenges
Most fans would say that being willing to be stranded on an island to play Survivor is a bold decision. However, season 35 contestant Ashley Nolan probably wouldn’t consider it even close to the boldest decision she’s made. The 26-year old lifeguard from Satellite Beach, FL would probably include becoming a lifeguard at the top that sort of list.
Nolan had a “full-time desk job” and just decided to quit to pursue being a lifeguard on a bit of a whim. She doesn’t seem to regret it, though, as the avid surfer says she is and appears comfortable on the beach. What’s more, her status as a lifeguard captain qualifies her to be one of the Heroes, a member of the Levu Tribe, on Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers.
However, being a hero or a lifeguard isn’t what stands out most about Ashley Nolan when you listen to her or see what she has to say. Instead, it’s abundantly clear that she’s a fiery competitor that is going to be all-in from Day 1 in Fiji:
There’s a lot to take in when it comes to Nolan as she’s far from a flat character right off the bat — a good thing for those dreaming of good characters on the show once again. She admits in her introduction video that she’ll be amped up during challenges because she hates to lose. What’s more, she said in her cast bio on CBS that she refuses “to be last”.
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However, this isn’t about to be a player who just yells a lot during challenges and gets the boot early. Also from her cast bio, Nolan says that she’d compare herself most to Borneo winner and Survivor legend Richard Hatch.
For those unaware, Hatch is the man who made the game what it is. With his alliances and villainous (though it appears mild re-watching now) actions, he made Survivor as much a social game as much as a physical conquest. So for Nolan to compare herself to Hatch, she must believe that she has a lot to offer as a strategist in the game.
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That’s not the only indication of her potential social prowess either, though it’s admittedly her description of herself. Again from her bio, she states this when answering what her “personal claim to fame” is:
"Just about as well rounded as any woman could be. I’ll be just one of the guys—out saving lives, working out, and cracking jokes all day and then all of the sudden I can put myself together into a well-spoken lady who can charm your socks off and still kick butt."
If she’s being truthful about herself, Nolan would appear to be a dangerous player. Anytime that you have someone that combines competitive fire, physical prowess and the ability to essentially be a chameleon in terms of personality, you’re talking about a potential force in the game of Survivor.
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With that being said, self-assessments only mean so much. We’ll have to see if Ashley Nolan lives up to her own billing when Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers premieres on Wednesday, Sept. 27.