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Janu Tornell is a contestant from Survivor: Palau.

Janu is best known for quitting to save another contestant, Stephenie LaGrossa, and as the first castaway sent to Exile Island.

Profile[]

Retrieved from CBS.com

As a child, Janu Tornell never aspired to be a showgirl. Tornell's Cuban-born mother, Maria, was a famous showgirl in Havana, but Tornell did not find her calling until many life experiences later and considers her mother one of her greatest inspirations for overcoming the hardships of life, including a successful battle with cancer. Tornell is equally inspired by her father, Juan, as he always told her that every experience in life gives you endurance.

Born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, Tornell attended Valley High School. She then spent time in Spain before moving to Los Angeles. She attended Los Angeles Valley Community College before moving back to Las Vegas to finish her studies and pursue a career as a showgirl. In 2004, after 20 years, she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She most recently worked as the lead showgirl for a major Las Vegas hotel, performing two shows per night, six days per week. She also models. Tornell was previously employed as a restaurant manager, waitress and administrative assistant. Additionally, she was named 1989 Miss Nevada USA and was first runner-up in Miami's 1990 Miss Nuestra Belleza competition.

In her spare time, Tornell enjoys traveling, scuba diving, swimming, body surfing, reading, rock climbing and watching foreign films. She describes herself as honest, fun, outgoing and strong-minded. She is fluent in Spanish, Italian, French and English. Her hero is Audrey Hepburn for her talent, goodwill, beauty and her ability to be most beautiful to the least fortunate.

Tornell is an active member of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and the Screen Actors Guild.[1]

Survivor[]

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Episode Tribe
Affiliation
Challenge Challenge Type Sit-Out? Result
1 None Race to Shore Immunity Lost
Koror Supply Dump Reward/Immunity No Won
2 The Gauntlet Reward No Lost
Heads Up Immunity No Won
3 By Any Means Necessary Reward No Lost
Hot Pursuit Immunity Yes Won
4 Build a Better Bathroom Reward Yes Won
Sumo at Sea Immunity No Won
5 Sea Salvage Reward Yes Won
6 Shooting Gallery Reward Yes Lost
Build It Up, Break It Down Immunity No Won
7 S.O.S. Reward Yes Won
Floating Puzzle Immunity No Won
8 Cool Hand Balut Reward Yes Won
Under Current Immunity Yes Won
9 Perch Immunity Lost
10 Water Tower Reward Won
Last Gasp Immunity Lost
Quit, Day 27

Episode Janu's
Votes
Voted Against
Janu
1 Koror Tribe Immune
2 Koror Tribe Immune
3 Koror Tribe Immune
4 Koror Tribe Immune
5 Willard -
6 Koror Tribe Immune
7 Koror Tribe Immune
8 Koror Tribe Immune
9 Stephenie Coby
10 No Vote
Quit, Day 27
Voted for
Sole Survivor
Tom

Post-Survivor[]

  • On January 9, 2010, Janu attended Survivor's 10-year anniversary party.

Trivia[]

  • Janu and Jenn Lyon hold the record for most tribal challenges sat out of in a single season, with seven each.
  • Janu is the first castaway in Survivor history to be sent to Exile Island.
  • Janu is the lowest-placing woman from Koror.
  • Janu is the first player to quit at the jury stage of the game and the first woman to quit the game in their first season.
  • Janu is the only player to quit specifically to save another player.
  • Janu is the first player to quit and still have her final words aired.
  • Janu has won the most challenges out of anyone who has quit the game, with 12.
  • Janu's fellow Koror tribemate Coby Archa named his adopted daughter after Janu.
  • Coby Archa claims that Janu was considered for Micronesia, but was not chosen.[2]
  • Janu's quit is responsible for the inclusion of NaOnka Mixon and Kelly Shinn on the jury upon quitting in Nicaragua. Host Jeff Probst explained that "We had set a precedent. We let Janu stay on the jury so we let NaOnka and Purple Kelly on the jury as well".[3]

References[]

Survivor: Palau Castaways
 Angie
Ulong
S10 angie t
 Ashlee
Ulong
S10 ashlee t
 Bobby Jon
Ulong
S10 bobbyjon t
 Caryn
Koror
S10 caryn t
 Coby
Koror
S10 coby t
 Gregg
Koror
S10 gregg t
 Ian
Koror
S10 ian t
 Ibrehem
Ulong
S10 ibrehem t
 James
Ulong
S10 james t
 Janu
Koror
S10 janu t
 Jeff
Ulong
S10 jeff t
 Jenn
Koror
S10 jenn t
 Jolanda
Ulong
S10 jolanda t
 Jonathan
No tribe
S10 jonathan t
 Katie
Koror
S10 katie t
 Kim
Ulong
S10 kim t
 Stephenie
Ulong
S10 stephenie t
 Tom
Koror
S10 tom t
 Wanda
No tribe
S10 wanda t
 Willard
Koror
S10 willard t
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