Tina Wesson

Tina Wesson
Contestant Profile
Born	December 26, 1960 (1960-12-26)
Hometown	Knoxville, Tennessee; Robbinsville, North Carolina
Occupation	Personal Nurse; Motivational Speaker
Survivor Career
Tribe(s)	Ogakor Barramundi
Finish	Winner
Alliance(s)	Ogakor Alliance
Challenge Wins	5
Votes Against	0
Days Lasted	42
Tribe(s)	Saboga
Finish:	18/18
Challenge Wins	0
Votes Against	4
Days Lasted	3
Tribe(s)	Galang Kasama
Finish	4/20
Alliance(s)	Galang Alliance
Challenge Wins	9
Votes Against	10
Days Lasted	38

Tina Marie Wesson is the Sole Survivor of Survivor: The Australian Outback. She later competed on Survivor: All-Stars and Survivor: Blood vs. Water.

She is remembered most for being the first female Sole Survivor. She is also remembered for having been Sole Survivor of a season, the first one voted out of a season and to be on the Jury on her third season.

Profile

The Australian Outback

Tina Wesson currently works as a private duty C.N.A. nurse while also working as a full-time mom. Formerly, she worked as a community education director, flight attendant, substitute teacher and a swimming instructor. Wesson obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in therapeutic recreation from the University of Tennessee in 1983. An avid athlete, she is most proud of having completed the Dublin, Ireland Marathon, placed first in the Tennessee State Racquetball Tournament and placed first in her age division in her hometown mini-triathlon, all in the same year (1998). Her quest in life continues to be to "live the life less ordinary." Wesson describes herself as happy, content, adventurous, outgoing, and very much in love. Her favorite hobbies are racquetball, paddleball , running, swimming, and motorcycling. Her favorite television show is Rosie, while her favorite feature films are Out of Africa and Shadowlands. She prefers classic, contemporary Christian, and pop rock music, citing Match Box 20 as her favorite band. While rooting for the University of Tennessee Volunteers, she's always game for a round of Balderdash. Her perfect day consists of eating a good breakfast followed by a ride on her motorcycle to the mountains with her husband and her best friend. After a hike, she'd play racquetball, take a shower, have dinner, see a movie while eating a big bag of popcorn and then head home to bed. She's an early riser. Born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, Wesson currently resides there with her husband, Dale, and her two children, Katie and Taylor. She is a member of the Outstanding Young Women of America and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Her birth date is December 26.

Blood vs Water

Name (Age): Tina Wesson (52)
Tribe Designation: Galang
Relationship to Significant Castaway: Katie’s Mother
Previous Season: Survivor: Australia – winner; Survivor: All Stars – 1st out
Current Residence: Robbinsville, N.C.
Occupation: Motivational Speaker
Why Did You Want to Return to Survivor and Play with Your Loved One? Survivor gets in your blood. It is a thrill and an honor and a quest to get to play! Then to be able to share the experience with my daughter who happens to also be my best friend, what a gift!

Survivor: The Australian Outback

As part of the Ogakor tribe, Wesson was not targeted in the beginning of the game, seeming to mesh well with all the contestants and was not seen as a physical liability, despite losing the Day 6 Immunity Challenge for Ogakor.

Wesson proved to be a strategic player when she managed to convince allies Keith Famie and Colby Donaldson to force a tie between Mitchell Olson (who was aligned with Amber Brkich and Jerri Manthey) and Famie, whereby Olson would be voted off due to his previous vote at the Day 12 Tribal Council. She eventually made it to the merge, where her strategic prowess was believed to be the reason of the ex-Ogakors subsequent success over the ex-Kuchas by systematically eliminating them, while having a perfect timing to eliminate two of their own at the same time, in that case, Jerri Manthey and Amber Brkich.

After Brkich's departure, Wesson, Donaldson, and Famie took control and eliminated the remaining two Kuchas, Rodger Bingham and then Elisabeth Filarski, at the next two Tribal Councils. After the Final 3 immunity challenge, Donaldson continued his winning streak and chose to eliminate the unpopular Famie instead of Wesson, which cost him the win (which many fans believe that he could have won if he had chosen Famie instead).

Wesson became the Sole Survivor in a 4-3 vote, in which she gained the votes of Famie, Filarski, Manthey, and Alicia Calaway.

Voting History

Tina's Voting History
Episode	Tina's Votes	Voted Against Tina
1	Ogakor Tribe Immune
2	Kel	-
3	Maralyn	-
4	Mitchell; Mitchell	-
5	Ogakor Tribe Immune
6	No Tribal Council
7	Jeff; Jeff	-
8	Alicia	-
10	Jerri	-
11	Nick	-
12	Amber	-
13	Rodger	-
14	Elisabeth	-
15	Ineligible	-
Jury Votes for Tina	Alicia, Elisabeth, Jerri, Keith
Sole Survivor, Day 42

^1 In The Killing Fields, the vote ended with a 3-3 tie between Keith and Mitchell, forcing a revote. Tina did not change her vote at the revote.
^2 In The Merge, the vote ended with a 5-5 tie between Jeff and Colby, forcing a revote. Tina did not change her vote at the revote.

Survivor: All-Stars

“	It's our game now, get off our playing field!	”
—Jenna Lewis, in reference to the returning winners, including Tina

As part of the Saboga tribe who lost immunity in the first episode, Tina, a previous winner, was immediately targeted. She was chosen to be eliminated over Survivor: Africa winner Ethan Zohn, as he was needed for strength in challenges. Tribemate Jenna Lewis, who showed disdain for the possibility of a former winner winning again, and Jerri Manthey, who had conflicts with Wesson in their first season orchestrated Tina's elimination. With the very first votes against her, Tina was voted out of Survivor: All-Stars in the first episode, by a 4-2 vote.

Voting History

Tina's Voting History
Episode	Tina's Votes	Votes Against Tina
1	Jenna L.	Jenna L., Jerri, Rudy, Rupert
Voted Out, Day 3

Survivor: Blood vs Water

Statistics of Tina Wesson
Longevity
Seasons competed:	3
Days lasted:	83
Challenge Wins
Tribal wins:	8
Individual wins:	6
Total wins:	14
Tribal Council
Total votes received:	14
Exile Island
Times sent to Exile Island:	N/A
Redemption Island
Duels won:	5
Days spent on Redemption Island:	12

Voting History

Tina's Voting History
Episode	Tina's Votes	Voted Against Tina
1	Candice	-
	Galang Tribe Immune
2	Galang Tribe Immune
3	No Tribal Council
	Galang Tribe Immune
4	Galang Tribe Immune
5	Laura M.	-
6	Kat	-
7	Laura B.	-
8	Ciera	-
9	Vytas	-
	Tyson	Caleb, Ciera, Hayden, Gervase, Laura M., Monica, Tyson
Voted Out, Day 24
10	On Redemption Island
11
12
13
14
Returned, Day 36
14	Gervase	-
	Gervase	Gervase, Monica, Tyson
Voted Out, Day 38
Voted for Sole Survivor	Tyson

Post-Survivor

• Tina wrote an inspirational book entitled, "Out Live, Out Laugh, Out Love".

  

  Tina's book.

• In 2001, Tina also graced the cover of the July–August issue of Racquetball magazine.
• On December 3, 2013, Tina's son, Taylor Lee Collins, died in a car accident.

Trivia

• Tina is the first Sole Survivor to not get a single vote against her in Tribal Council.
• Tina currently owns the old Barramundi tribe flag after a deal with Colby Donaldson that whoever won would have the right to own the flag. She claims that it still smells as it did during the game.
• Tina was not originally chosen to compete in Survivor: The Australian Outback. She was an alternate, who was called to the show only a week before filming began.
  • She replaced a contestant who withdrew from the game.
• Tina is one of seven Sole Survivors (along with Sandra Diaz-Twine, Todd Herzog, Yul Kwon, Earl Cole, Natalie White and Tony Vlachos) to win Survivor without winning individual immunity.
  • She is the first person to win Survivor without wining an Individual Immunity Challenge.
  • She is the first female to achieve this feat.
• Tina is the first former Sole Survivor to get voted off in a subsequent season and the first Sole Survivor to have their torch snuffed.
  • She owns the record for worst finish by a previous winner, with 18th.
  • She is the second castaway to be voted off first in a season and return for a second season. The first being Francesca Hogi.
  • She is the only castaway to be a first boot on a season and return to play again, but not be voted out first again.
  • She is the first castaway to have their torch snuffed for the first time in a season which was not their original season.
  • She is the only castaway to be a winner, first boot, redemption island returnee and part of the jury.
• Tina is the first castaway to finish in 18th place in a season of Survivor.
• Tina is the oldest female Sole Survivor by birthdate, not by age during gameplay.
• Tina is the first Sole Survivor to vote against the eliminated castaway every time she voted at Tribal Council (The others are Ethan Zohn, Brian Heidik, Amber Brkich, Yul Kwon, Todd Herzog, Parvati Shallow, Natalie White and Tony Vlachos).
• Tina is the second person to win a Loved Ones Challenge, following Greg Buis.
• Tina is the only Survivor: All-Stars returnee to not participate in Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains.
• Tina's luxury item in The Australian Outback was a backgammon board.
• Tina is the oldest castaway in Survivor: Blood vs. Water.
• Tina is the third castaway to play the game three times without appearing on Heroes vs Villains; the other two being Ozzy Lusth and Jonathan Penner.
• After the tribe switch on Blood vs Water, Tina is the only person to have a relative on their same tribe, as her daughter Katie was assigned to be on Galang.
  • Also, she is the first female with this achievement.
  • She is the only one of the three who wasn't a contestant in Survivor: Cook Islands or Survivor: Micronesia.
• Tina is the only person to return twice after being crowned Sole Survivor. She won The Australian Outback and returned for All-Stars and Blood vs Water. Other Sole Survivors have only appeared once after winning their seasons.
• Tina and her daughter are the first loved ones to be on a tribe together, as Candice and John Cody only shared Redemption Island with each other.
• In both of the seasons where Tina made the Merge, she was one of five women to do so.
• Tina is the only castaway to play in both seasons of Survivor that were longer than 39 days.
• Tina is the only Sole Survivor to be voted off more than once
  • She's also the only female Sole Survivor to be voted off after her win.
  • Being voted off on three separate occasions, Tina has been voted off more times than any other Sole Survivor.
• Tina is one of four castaways who have made it to the Final Tribal Council, been voted off before the merge, and voted off during the Jury stage of the game. The others are Stephenie LaGrossa, Colby Donaldson & Tyson Apostol
• Tina is third winner to become a member of the Jury on a subsequent attempt. Following J.T. Thomas and fellow Blood vs. Water castaway Aras Baskauskas.
  • Unlike the other two, she was not the first voted out of a newly merged tribe.
  • She is the only female to hold this distinction.
• Along with her Daughter, Katie, Tina is the only person to have a relative on their same tribe pre-merge.
• Tina is the first female castaway to compete in a first post-Merge Redemption Island duel.
  • Tina is the oldest contestant to win a Redemption Island Duel.
  • Tina is the oldest contestant to return to the game from Redemption Island.
  • Tina is also the only former winner to return from Redemption Island.
• Tina lost 18 lbs (8 kg) during her time in Blood vs Water.
• Tina holds conflicting records:
  • She holds the record for most improved returning player on their previous by lasting 35 days longer in Blood vs. Water than in her previous season, All-Stars.
    • The record for the most improved returning player on their original placement is held by fellow tribemate Monica Culpepper with 25 days.
  • She also hold the record for losing the most days played, by lasting 39 days less in All-Stars than she did on Australian Outback.
• Tina is the only winner to be voted out three times.
• Tina has won, been the first person voted out, and the last person voted out. She is the only castaway to do so.
• After her second elimination in Survivor: Blood vs. Water, she was the 400th person voted out of Survivor.
• Every time Tina received votes against her at Tribal Council, she was voted out.
  • When she won, it was the first time she had received any votes that season.
• Tina is one of the few contestants to play in seasons with 16, 18, and 20 contestants.
  • The others are Colby, Jerri, Boston Rob, Rupert and Coach.
• Tina and Ozzy Lusth are the highest ranking Redemption Island returnees at 4th place.
• Tina is one of a few castaways to have been voted out more than once in a single season. The others are Burton Roberts, Matt Elrod, Andrea Boehlke, Ozzy Lusth, Laura Boneham, and Laura Morett.
• By age, Tina is the oldest female returnee to compete more then once; she was 52 when she competed on Survivor: Blood vs. Water.
  • The oldest female returnee by birth date is Kathy Vavrick-O'Brien.
• Tina shares her birthday with Kelly Sharbaugh and Kristina Kell.
• Tina is one of three pervious Sole Survivor's to spend time at Ponderosa, the other two being Aras Baskauskas and J.T. Thomas.
  • John Cochran and Tyson Apostol also spent time at Ponderosa, but before they returned and became eventual Sole Survivors.

External links

Preceded by Borneo File:S1 richard t.jpg Richard Hatch

Sole Survivor Titleholder The Australian Outback File:S2 tina t.jpg Tina Wesson

Succeeded by Africa File:S3 ethan t.jpg Ethan Zohn

Survivor: All-Stars Castaways
Alicia Chapera	Amber Chapera	Colby Mogo Mogo	Ethan Saboga	Jenna L. Saboga	Jenna M. Mogo Mogo	Jerri Saboga	Kathy Mogo Mogo	Lex Mogo Mogo
Richard Mogo Mogo	Rob C. Chapera	Rob M. Chapera	Rudy Saboga	Rupert Saboga	Shii Ann Mogo Mogo	Susan Chapera	Tina Saboga	Tom Chapera