Well, that’s it Australian Survivor fans! Tonight Jericho Malabonga, 25, was crowned as Sole Survivor in the live finale, beating out 32-year-old Tara Pitt to win the $500,000 prize money. Nine members of the jury voted, with six siding with Jericho and three to Tara.
TV WEEK spoke to the runner-up about how she felt sitting next to the Cookie Monster, her opinions on Peter Conte, 22, and Michelle Dougan, 33, and her favourite moments of the series.
Congratulations on making it to the final two!
“Thank you, it still feels surreal.”
How did you feel when Jericho won?
“I was definitely sitting there next to someone who deserved it just as much as I did. For me, once that name was read out, there was a huge relief that came off my shoulders because I could start to enjoy my Survivor Finale experience and concentrate on what the future will hold for us, so there was definitely no bad blood. Of course there was the disappointment, I had a 50 per cent chance of winning half a million dollars. I genuinely think that Jericho played the more fierce game out of the two of us and that’s why he deserved to win the six votes of the jury.”
What was your tactic going into that final tribal?
“The night before, day 54, Jericho and I didn’t sleep. I don’t know if that’s because we couldn’t get the fire or we were really hungry but we were like, ‘What is going to get thrown at us?’ Either these guys are going to be really cranky because they’re on the jury or they’re going to throw us some crazy questions. I just wanted to go with what was happening in that particular moment of time so when I walked in, I remember saying to Sarah [Tilleke] that my game didn’t start till Day 49 when Locky [Gilbert] left.
“Knowing that the jury members wanted these big players with big moves, it sucked that at that particular moment I’d only done it for six days. You don’t want to go into the final speech and claim too many big moves that you didn’t do because the jury won’t support that. So for me it was making sure the jury knew that yes, at the end of the day I only got out Locky and that was my only move.”
Tara lasted 55 days in Samoa.
I was surprised you said you didn’t start playing the game till Locky left – you helped get out AK!
“I was really watching what I said with the AK [Aaron Knight] because so many people were claiming so many moves whereas at the end of the day you can only really have one person. So I feel like I did come onto Asaga pushing that AK was really dangerous so maybe that was part of getting him out. Luke really did come out with ‘Oh let’s make out there’s a boy and a girl alliance, just form some sort of paranoia to him that he’s safe.’ So I can’t take all that credit for that.”
Locky called Peter a goat for coasting along, do you think that’s true?
“Well I’m still trying to work out what a goat means. I’m still focusing on the word sheep! I might have used Locky as a shield but I only did that to one person. Peter used whoever was popular at the time. Peter just seemed to float on by and as much as I don’t want to get his game play down because he did do really well, I would have been more disappointed if I sat next to Peter and he won.
“Half the reason why I saved Jericho was mainly because I know Michelle and Peter can use their speech quite well and I’m not very good at getting my message across. I wanted the jury to see game play, challenges and camp life. For me, that’s more important than what you’re going to say at the end. I guess that was another reason why Jeri and I formed an alliance because I think we both felt that we were the deserving two out of the four that were left.”
The final four.
Do you have any regrets about your game play?
“I feel if you do have regrets in the game, you probably get more depressed afterwards so it’s good to come out and say I don’t have regrets and I played as well as I could. That’s why I’m happy the result.”
How much has your life changed since the show?
“I didn’t leave my family for 55 days to get a movie career. But so far what I’ve got out of it is that I’m the 2017/2018 ambassador for Mates4Mates. So this organisation is really close to my heart, helping service veterans which was like my father, just get through to the next stage of their life out of the army. That’s something that I feel really close to and yeah it sucks that I didn’t win but I’ve got that to come home to right now so I’m excited to start that new adventure with them.”
“Was there a move you made that you were most proud of?”
“There was that time where I could have saved Ziggy [Nicole Zagame] and I chose to vote her out. That was bittersweet because she got me out at Samatau. She’s such a challenge threat and I could have just stuck with Locky and Ziggy but I just went on my own to get her out.”
How much weight did you lose?
“Probably 11kg and I’ve tried to maintain it back but obviously the first couple of weeks you just eat eat eat. I feel a lot fitter, I try to make sure I don’t go back into my old ways, sitting around drinking Coke and buying chocolate. I am trying to eat better, but definitely not rice!”
