Ometepe (orange tribe)
Andrea Boehlke
Age: 21
Occupation: Student
Current residence: Random Lake, WI
Andrea may be only 21 years old, but she already has plenty of experience outdoors. ''I've been hunting and camping my whole life. I've shot seven deer and I've also hunted turkeys and lot of different kind of fowl.'' And now she's hunting human game!!! But this natural flirt also hopes to kill with kindness. Does that mean a showmance could be in her future? ''There's really only three [hot] guys. Honestly, I think I've been checking out the girls more.'' Alrighty then!
Ashley Underwood
Age: 26
Occupation: Business owner/model
Current residence: Benton, ME
The former Miss USA competitor has a theory on why pageant girls have had success in this game before. ''Pageant girls are very strategic and very charismatic and I think you have to be likable in this game,'' says Ashley. ''I want to be likable and I want to build relationships with everybody. And through pageants you really have to work on that side of your personality.'' She names Stephenie and Parvati as her favorite players. As for her least favorite? Surprise! It's Russell! ''He's a jerk and I know you can't be everybody's best friend. But he was nobody's friend. Let's be real.''
Francesca Hogi
Age: 35
Occupation: Lawyer
Current residence: Washington, D.C.
Unlike some contestants, Francesca is not here for the experience or the exposure. ''I think that a lot of people come to play Survivor and they're kind of hoping for the best but I'm not hoping for the best. I didn't leave my family and my friends and indoor plumbing and meals at regular intervals to come and live on the beach and hope for the best. I'm here to win.'' This hardcore fan didn't have to think twice when asked about her least favorite contestant: ''Doesn't everyone hate Russell? I mean he's, like, awful. He plays to win. I appreciate that, but ugh, Ewwww. Sorry. He's awful.''
Grant Mattos
Age: 29
Occupation: Personal Trainer/ Former NFL player
Current residence: West Hollywood, CA
This former NFL wide receiver was encouraged by his good friend Natalie Bolton (Survivor: Micronesia) to be on the show, and he claims that, ''I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get to the end. And it's been visualized in my mind. I just need to go ahead and execute that now.'' As for his favorite contestants, he says, ''I liked Ozzy's game a lot and I like Sandra. And I really liked Boston Rob. His way with words was great.'' No shocker then that his least favorite is Russell. ''There was just a vibe there I really didn't like. But I would have loved to have played against him and seen what that was like.''
Kristina Kell
Age: 46
Occupation: Law student
Current residence: Los Angeles, CA
Give Kristina points for having a pretty good idea what fate is awaiting her in the elements. ''I'm expecting to be miserable. I'm expecting to be hungry. I'm expecting to be cold. I'm expecting for my feet and my hands to rot. I'm expecting to be tired and angry and lonely. I'm expecting all of it.'' But unlike, say, NaOnka and Purple Kelly, she won't let that deter her from her goal. ''I'm going to knock every person out one by one until I'm the only one left. I will do everything in my power. I will say anything, do anything, go anywhere. I will faint and throw up before I give up. I have to win. This is it.''
Matthew Elrod
Age: 22
Occupation: Pre-med student
Current residence: Nashville, TN
This Fabio lookalike feels that — like the season 21 winner — he is a secret weapon waiting to explode. ''I believe I'll be an underestimated player out here when in reality I'm probably one of the most dangerous. Because I believe I'm much more intelligent than I appear. And I think I'm going to use that to my advantage. I'm athletic and I've got a good social game and I think everybody's going to have a hard time not liking me. They might see the long blond hair and just say 'Oh, he's just a surfer guy and doesn't really have a thought going through that head of his,' but in reality I'm measuring everybody up and I'm gonna know what's going on.''
Natalie Tenerelli
Age: 19
Occupation: Dancer/student
Current residence: Acton, CA
The teenage beauty had not watched much Survivor before she was cast, but ended up on the show after being on a professional volleyball dance team — don't worry, we have no idea what that is either — with Jennifer Parker of The Amazing Race (season 12). And she's already looking for another young hottie to partner up with. ''I definitely want to align with a girl — a younger girl. Because I feel like if I'm not in an alliance with another girl that they will be jealous of me if say, I'm with two or three other guys.''
Phillip Sheppard
Age: 52
Occupation: CEO, Enterprise Software Sales Group
Current residence: Santa Monica, CA
In what sounds like a plot twist straight out of Xanadu, Phillip was recruited for the show when casting director Lynne Spillman saw him rollerdancing. Philip considers Rupert, Coach, and Boston Rob his favorite players, and insists that being one of twelve siblings will help him get along with large groups in the game. And while he's excited about playing, there is one thing he is not looking forward to about the experience. ''Well, to be candid about it, defecating in an environment where other people could potentially see you or there might be a camera catching you — that's not too exciting.'' (For anyone.)
