THE HIT LIST
THEY’VE GOT BRAINS AND BRAWN, BUT DO THE TOP FIVE CONTENDERS HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO OUTWIT, OUTPLAY AND OUTLAST THEIR RIVALS?
Hayley, 31, NSW
As we head into Australian
Survivor’s final week, why should you win the $500k prize money?
I feel that my game epitomises the best traits of Team Brain and Brawn. I’ve orchestrated blindsides, made strategic moves and been a contender in challenges. I’ve pushed myself to my physical limit. What will you spend the money on if you win?
My partner Jimmy and I just got engaged so if I’m lucky enough to win, we’ll buy a house and start a family.
If you don’t win, who should it be?
Flick has played an amazing, under-the -radar game and I admire her strength in staying on to play for her late mum.
Cara, 47, NSW
If you were to compete in a Survivor All
Stars season, who do you want to play?
I’d include the wonderful George and Hayley from this season and Survivor heroes like David Genat and Luke Toki. I’d also like to play with Janine Allis and Sharn Coombes – smart, resilient women with amazing social games! What do you wish you knew before you arrived in camp?
I wish I paid more attention to my son teaching me how to tie knots.
Why should you be crowned Sole Survivor? Strategy and alliances are key to Survivor success. I’m a 47-year-old woman, but I’ve been seen as a threat. I’ve got that something extra.
Flick, 28, WA
Why should you be crowned Sole Survivor? I’ve played the most all-round game physically, strategically and socially. My social game has been by far the strongest, which has gotten me this far and will come in handy when I’m giving my final two pitch to the jury.
What will you spend the prize money on if you win?
I’ll be donating a big chunk of the money to Dementia Australia and the Perron Institute who specialise in frontotemporal dementia, which is what my mum passed away from.
If you don’t win, who should it be?
I really want to see a girl crowned Sole Survivor. If not me, then Hayley really deserves it.
Wai, 38, NSW
What have you been proudest of in your game play?
I’ve been playing strategically and socially, and I’ve been putting myself, dare I say it, Wai out of my comfort zone physically!
What was the best blindside this year?
I’m still shook that we sent Simon home with two immunity idols. It was a history-making blindside for sure.
What do you wish you’d known before playing Survivor?
I wish I’d known to take long pants to camp. It was freezing at night! I also wish I’d taken some swimming lessons from a surf champion beforehand, too. That would’ve been helpful.
George, 31, NSW
What do you wish you knew before arriving in camp?
I packed my wardrobe as if I was going out for cocktails at Bankstown Sports Club on a Friday night. I really regret not googling Cloncurry weather! What will you spend the money on if you win?
My parents are low-income earners nearing retirement. They sacrificed so much supporting me and my siblings. I’d clear their debts so they can retire in peace. Why should you win? Survivor’s about outwitting, outplaying and outlasting and I’ve done all three far better than any of the other tribemates. I’ve always been a target, but I’m still here. King George deserves this crown!
For Todd Sampson, the idea behind his latest documentary series Mirror, Mirror – a startling look at the societal crisis of body image dissatisfaction – stemmed from a simple question.
“I asked my youngest daughter Jet, at the time she was 9. I said to her, ‘Would you rather be beautiful or smart?’” Sampson, 51, tells WHO. “And she looked at me with a coy smile and said, ‘Well, my friends would say beautiful.’ And that just said something in my mind.”
After doing the research, the Canadian-born TV presenter and documentary maker found that a quarter of all children under the age of 10 said they’d rather be goodlooking than smart – a rather alarming statistic. “That was really the initial tiny seed of the show,” Sampson explains.
What is Mirror, Mirror about?
The heart of the documentary is the societal crisis of body image dissatisfaction, so our goal was to create a show that explored how we’re being manipulated by not just the media, but advertising. Arguably one of the central themes of the show is social media and how social media is now the water we’re swimming in. No-one is immune to body image dissatisfaction and there are plenty of companies making money o the back of it. You interview some very interesting people. Did anyone shock you? I’m not a very judgey person, I’m very much each to their own, [but] I think one of the strangest ones for me was with [former Married at First Sight star] Hayley Vernon. I’m not going to say I’m prudish, but I was a little shocked by how sexualised and casual it all was when you’re lming an OnlyFans shoot. However, her explanation of female empowerment, I think, was one of the bigger moments of the lm. What is your main goal for the documentary? Awareness! And I think we all know that it’s a big part of the solution. I just wanted to use my voice – because I’m fortunate to have a voice on a big platform – for what I consider to be one of the biggest crises of our time.
(Airs Wed., Sep. 8; Thu., Sep. 9, 7.30pm on Network Ten and 10 Play)