Sophi "Soph" Balerdi is a contestant from Survivor 49.
Profile
Retrieved from EW.com
Age: 27
Hometown: Miami
Current Residence: Miami
Occupation: Entrepreneur
3 Words to Describe You: Spicy, thoughtful, relentless
Why do you want to be part of Survivor?: Just like Dee from S45, Survivor is a symbol of my American dream. Survivor helped my grandma learn to speak English. It was the heart of our whole relationship. She was my best friend and I originally applied to give her an extra special season while she was sick. After she passed, I didn't stop applying. I'm here to play in honor of her. In honor of her sacrifices and my parents who moved to America so that I can have opportunities like playing Survivor!
What's one life experience you feel has prepared you for the game?: Leaving the Miami bubble to go to grad school in North Carolina. I went from being one of many Cuban girls to being the only Hispanic girl in my program. It was a culture shock in the best way. I learned a lot academically but also about myself. I learned that I do well in environments where I'm different and usually gravitate to those who are the most different than me. I feel Survivor will be similar.
Which previous player do you identify with the most? Who do you think you will play most like? I don't want to sound cliche, but I want to play my own game, but one inspired by the baddies who came before me. I identify with Natalie Anderson. She was underestimated but held her own and was strong every time she has played. I want to play a combination of Cirie's and Genevieve's game. Strategic and ruthless but with strong emotional connections.
What will you value in an alliance partner? Somebody who will be real with me, and tell me when I'm being too much / paranoid and check me instead of coming after me right away. I like constructive criticism and tough love. That's how I am with my family and friends. I consider that to be a form of loyalty just as much as voting together.
Favorite hobbies: Running, Salsa Dancing, Pickleball, Watching the Real Housewives.
Pet Peeves: 1) Men with Peter Pan syndrome. Get off the dating apps and stop terrorizing my beautiful single friends. 2) People who don't return their shopping carts.
What is something we would never know from looking at you? I have seen every Real Housewife franchise and Marvel Movie. Superfan of both.
Who is your biggest inspiration and why? My Grandma/abuelita and my parents. My grandma is the reason I am out here. I was raised by very hard working immigrants. Growing up first generation, you see and hear the stories of all the sacrifices that were made to give you a better life. I watched them build the American dream from the ground up and I carry those sacrifices with everything I do. My grandma taught me of the impermanence of life. Before she died, she told me "no esperes para vivir" which means "don't wait to live." And here I am, on Survivor. Our favorite game.
Why will you be the Sole Survivor? I believe I can split emotion from game. I am not coming into this experience with any muscles, any athletic background, etc. But I do know how to talk. I am going to leverage my ability to scratch the surface with people and connect deeply. I am coming here to make real, genuine relationships and friends, who will be at my wedding one day and that's why they'll never see it coming. I will be loyal to my allies to a certain point, but to win you have to be the most loyal to yourself. I believe I can make those decisions.[1]
Survivor
| Episode | Tribe Affiliation |
Challenge | Challenge Type | Sit-Out? | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kele | Cube Bert-Sea | Reward | No | Lost |
| Fight for Supplies | Reward | Yes | Lost | ||
| Baby Snakes | Reward/Immunity | No | Lost | ||
| 2 | Mona Lisas and Mad Ladders | Reward/Immunity | No | Lost | |
| 3 | Sea of Love | Reward/Immunity | No | Lost | |
| Switched Tribes, Day 8 | |||||
| 4 | Hina | Stackie Robinson | Reward/Immunity | No | Lost |
| 5 | Turn the Cage | Reward/Immunity | No | Lost | |
| 6 | Panic at the Disc Throw | Reward | No | 1st | |
| Let It Slide | Immunity | No | 1st | ||
| Tribes Merged, Day 13 | |||||
| 7 | Lewatu | Rolling Stones1 | Reward | Won | |
| Hard to Handle | Immunity | Lost | |||
| 8 | Chimney Sweep | Reward/Immunity | Won | ||
| 9 | TBD | Immunity | TBD | ||
| Notes: ^1 The castaways first competed as two teams for reward. Only the members of the winning team would have the right to compete for individual immunity.
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Post-Survivor
Trivia
- After being given the nickname "Soph" to differentiate between fellow castaway Sophie Segreti at the merge, Sophi's name was changed in the opening credits of the following episode to match.
References
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