Survivor season 35: Chrissy Hofbeck gave up a lot to be on the show

Actually, the actuary Chrissy Hofbeck sacrificed a great deal just to get on Survivor Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers, showing she’ll give it all.

An actuary is best summed up as someone that “calculates the present value of future risk.” It’s Chrissy Hofbeck who came up with the summation herself, in part dumbing down just how smart you have to be to perform the skills of an actuary. It’s good practice for when Survivor Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers begins, as anyone perceived to be too smart can get picked off fairly early.

In her introduction video, Chrissy explains how she still gets knocked down a peg by peers in her actuary industry that claim she’s only in this high-skill job because she’s a woman, lending to the idea that she was a “diversity hire.” The fact that a blonde woman can be viewed as a “diversity hire” quickly sheds a light on both the inclusiveness of that industry and just how much hidden strength Chrissy has to carry on in that industry.

More importantly to her Survivor game, an actuary needs to make equations in order to predict future events. That’s the game to a T, and the ability to solve problems using math equations will undoubtedly help when it comes to puzzles in the game. Finally, for a 46-year-old woman (who will claim to be 39 when she plays the game), Chrissy Hofbeck looks as capable to compete in physical challenges as anyone that’s not a former NFL athlete.

A big factor that people may overlook is just how nice Chrissy appears to be. She claims to be a good person and per the cast’s thoughts about her in the Hollywood Reporter’s write-up about her, she does seem to give off very positive vibes. Of the 17 other castaways in Survivor Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers, 11 of them view her as a mom or a mother type, and most everyone wants to get to know her better.

Chrissy Hofbeck gives off a positive vibe to almost everyone, but she’s got a bit of a wild streak to her. In that same cast impressions piece about her, Patrick Bolton notes that she squeezed his butt in an elevator! Cole Medders notes she was “super flirty with almost everyone” and even touched his shoulder and winked at him after breakfast one morning. She even originally mentioned she’s most like Jenna Morasca in her original bio, mentioning she’d take her clothes off for chocolate and peanut butter before it was changed.

I’m not going to suggest Chrissy is going to do anything untoward during her Survivor play; it’s great that the wholesome, straightforward player has a hidden wilder side to her. That’s going to be key in order for her to blend in with her tribe, as she’s tied for the oldest contestant on the season. Being able to come up and flirt with the younger men on the show is a testament to her ability to pre-game and connect with everyone in the game.

Chrissy Hofbeck is my winner pick for this season, and it was solidified in the conviction in her final line of her bio. “I feel like, in a lot of my life, I’ve been underestimated. And I want to come out here and kick some serious ass, and show everyone what I can do.” She gave up her actuary position in order to play this game; a goal she’s had since applying every year since 2001.

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A woman who’s appreciated by almost everyone on her season, who has held positions of high power, who gave up a job in finance to mother her children for a decade, who came back to the workforce to be a pioneer in the actuary industry, only to give it up to play Survivor? Chrissy Hofbeck has the tools and the conviction to win this game.

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