By RODNEY HO/ rho@ajc.com, originally filed Monday, February 15, 2016
CBS brings back the brains, brawn and beauty groups for the whopping 32nd cycle of CBS's "Survivor" Wednesday night set in Cambodia.
Atlanta is represented this season by Cydney Gillon, 23-year-old bodybuilder. Hmm... what group do you think she'll be placed in?
The dynamics of any given season is so variable, it's virtually impossible to handicap the cast and identify who might win the $1 million. Gillon, based on my interview, was open about her potential strengths and weaknesses. (Over the previous 31 cycles, one former Atlantan Parvati Shallow has taken home the crown. Having competed three times, she is literally in the Survivor Hall of Fame. Yes, that's a thing!)
Here's a quick summary of who she is:
Graduated: North Atlanta High School, 2010; University of Pennsylvania, 2014
Job: Personal trainer and bodybuilding competition coach
Power parents: She said she inspired her mom and dad to get into shape when as a six year old, she told them flat out they were fat. They went even further than most, getting into bodybuilding. She too was inspired and began competing at age 14. "My mom and I were lifting partners," she said.
Binging "Survivor:" Prepping for the show meant watching many of the previous seasons. She realized that early on, you don't want to be the "lazy bum" or the person "going above and beyond. You want that happy medium." Women tend to be seen as liabilities in physical challenges while guys tend to be seen as threats. She figured given her obvious physique, those two issues would cancel each other out.
Psych!: Armed with a psychology degree, Gillon hopes her ability to read people will help her in the competition. "It's all about paying attention, observing and analyzing," she said.
Prepping for food deprivation: "Bodybuilding is all about deprivation. Mentally, I'm okay eating a little less. I'm used to doing it on a regular basis. I figured I was prepared."
Her challenge strengths and weaknesses: She said going in, she figured she'd be best at brute strength challenges. Endurance? Not so much. As for puzzles: "I already knew back in SAT prep that puzzles were not my forte."
Keeping secrets: "I can take secrets to the grave."
Trust issues: "I don't trust people easily. I'm also open to any situation that could move me further. 'Survivor' is all about options. I knew going in to not be rigid in your game play."
Strategy entering the competition: "You don't necessarily want to be overly nice. I'm also aggressive. I'm a mix. If you give me attitude, I'll give it back."
Not a beach bum: This is Gillon's first time on a beach. Her swimming skills, she said, aren't great. But "Survivor" actually made her like the ocean. Since taping "Survivor," she and her mom have traveled to Cancun.
Probst: "Cydney probably has the most sculpted body of any woman we've had on the show—and arguably the most sculpted of any guy! She's just stunning to look at, and she's a hard worker. She's clearly a physical asset on her tribe, and people are going to be drawn to her. We haven't had anybody like her with that kind of discipline in a long time. It will also be interesting to see what toll the game takes because she's a woman who is used to having a lot of calories to have her body working, and as you know, calories are in short supply."
TV PREVIEW
"Survivor: Kaoh Rong," 8 p.m. Wednesdays, CBS, starting February 17, 2016
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