We’ve got the photos and bios of the folks who will be competing for $1 million.
Jonathan Young
Age:29
Hometown:Gadsden, Ala.
Current residence:Gulf Shores, Ala.
Occupation:Beach service company owner
Favorite hobbies:Working out, spearfishing, and surfing.
Marya Sherron, Romeo Escobar, and Tori Meehan on ‘Survivor 42’.Credit: Robert Voets/CBS (3)
3 words to describe you:Endurance, devoted, mentally strong.
Pet peeves:Wearing shirts, people who bully others, and when people are disrespectful.
Who is your hero and why?Lex Luger.
The cast of ‘Survivor 42’.Robert Voets/CBS
He is a man of God.
My physical and spiritual mentor through some of the hardest times in my life.
Which past Survivor will you play the game most like?Ozzy.
Robert Voets/CBS
My wit and charm will help me outside of the challenges.
I’m very strong-willed and determined.
I will not give up on anything.
Robert Voets/CBS
Marya Sherron
Age:47
Hometown:Lansing, Mich.
Current residence:Noblesville, Ind.
Occupation:Stay-at-home mom
Favorite hobbies:Gardening, writing (poetry and spoken word), and Pilates.
3 words to describe you:Spicy, smart, loving.
Robert Voets/CBS
Pet peeves:When someone has a big ole Snuffleupagus sneeze and doesn’t cover their nose.
My teaching awards are pretty cool too.
In reality, I am a bag of mistakes made and lessons learned.
Robert Voets/CBS
I am also tender-hearted if someone else is hurt, I hurt.
Basically, I’m a softie.
Who is your hero and why?Kious Kelly.
Robert Voets/CBS
Kious was the first nurse in New York to die of COVID-19.
He gave his life for others.
He was a dearly loved and respected nurse.
Robert Voets/CBS
He passed on March 24, 2020.
Kious was my brother.
Which past Survivor will you play the game most like?Ironically, a mix between Angelina and Tony.
Robert Voets/CBS
After Angelina’s turbulent first few weeks, she slipped under the radar and made it to the end.
Tony brought an upbeat, funny, and light energy.
By the time he was recognized as a threat, it was too late.
Robert Voets/CBS
My game will be easy to argue at the final three.
I believe being likable and smart/savvy pays off in the end and secures the vote.
Romeo Escobar
Age:37
Hometown:Los Angeles
Current residence:Norwalk, Calif.
Robert Voets/CBS
Occupation:Pageant coach
Favorite hobbies:Traveling, beauty pageants, and watchingSurvivor.
3 words to describe you:Competitive, intuitive, smart.
What is the accomplishment you are most proud of?Several.
Robert Voets/CBS
I always dreamed of working in the industry, so I am.
I dreamed of owning my own pageant, so I do.
I dreamed of traveling the world, so I have.
Robert Voets/CBS
I always accomplish my goals.
What is something we would never know from looking at you?How competitive I am.
Because I am a small man, and gay and Latino, people always underestimate me.
Robert Voets/CBS
I love proving them wrong.
I hate losing or being wrong.
I always want to have the right answer and win everything I do.
Robert Voets/CBS
Who is your hero and why?My mother and father.
They are immigrants who came to this country with nothing.
They wanted a better life for their family.
Robert Voets/CBS
But I do want to achieve greatSurvivorhistorical moments like Sandra, Cirie, Parvati, Rupert, Rob.
I want to be remembered.
I always find a way to get what I want.
Robert Voets/CBS
Tori Meehan
Age:25
Hometown:Tulsa
Current residence:Rogers, Ark.
3 words to describe you:Quirky, warm, self-aware.
Pet peeves:When people lack self-awareness, are emotionally reactive, immature, or petty.
Robert Voets/CBS
I recognize that there is a higher calling on my life than simply living for myself.
Which past Survivor will you play the game most like?100% Kim Spradlin.
Not only was she a beast in challenges, but her social game was so strong.
Robert Voets/CBS
Her tribemates viewed her as a leader, and her alliance members followed her lead.
She didn’t go into the game trying to be super manipulative and deceptive.
I felt like she tried to be as authentic as she could in a game likeSurvivor.
Robert Voets/CBS
Why do you believe you’re free to be the Sole Survivor?I am the total package.
I genuinely care about people and know how to connect on a deeper, personal level.
I have studied the game ofSurvivor, so I know what strategy will work in the game.
Jackson Fox
Age:48
Hometown:Pasadena, Tex.
Current residence:Houston
Occupation:Healthcare worker
Favorite hobbies:Puzzling, weightlifting, and dog walking.
3 words to describe you:Kind, dedicated, assertive.
Pet peeves:Unorganized, no schedules, and people who don’t get to the point.
What is the accomplishment you are most proud of?Starting and running my own company.
What is something we would never know from looking at you?I used to be a girl.
I’m covered in tattoos.
I’m a big softie when it comes to animals.
I’m a collector of hurt or abandoned animals.
Who is your hero and why?My mom.
She had grace until the end.
Her faith was unmatched.
She was an awesome person.
Not just a mother, but as a whole.
I could only strive to be half the person she was.
Which past Survivor will you play the game most like?Elaine!
Biscuit all the way.
She was hard-working, confident, resilient, and played a hell of a mind game!
You couldn’t not like her.
3 words to describe you:Cunning, competitive, cultured.
Pet peeve:Slow walkers.
It’s the New Yorker in me.
Who is your hero and why?My parents!
I can never fully repay them, although I intend to try through winning the million!
I’ve watched all the seasons, I’ve studied the greats, and I’ve learned the nuances.
I am a subject matter expert inSurvivor.
I want to show Black and brown girls that this game was made for us too!
3 words to describe you:Silly, empathetic, shameless.
I still love both my parents very much, but I can also recognize their shortcomings.
Also, I’m afraid of condiments.
He is missed every single day.
She’s always been there for us emotionally, financially, or with whatever we need.
He was also able to articulate his game beautifully in confessional.
Cirie Fields her “sit, wait, and strike” strategy is savage.
Tyson Apostol his sass and strategic game.
Natalie Anderson for her laser focus.
Why do you believe you’re free to be the Sole Survivor?
“They must adapt, or they’ll be voted out of the game.”
A statement that has not changed.
I am not going to leave everything to starve on an island to let someone else win.
I am playing for me and my family, and no one will get in the way of that.
Swati Goel
Age:19
Hometown:Palo Alto, Calif.
Current residence:Palo Alto, Calif.
Occupation:Ivy League student
Favorite hobbies:Reading on the beach, theater, and all thingsSurvivor.
3 words to describe you:Competent, charismatic, caring.
Pet peeves:People who have big dreams but don’t work hard.
I was raised to prioritize things like service to my country and the world.
I’m really proud of my decision to enlist.
What is something we would never know from looking at you?I’m a karate black belt.
I am very open and honest.
Who is your hero and why?Elon Musk.
My life’s mission is to change the world for the better.
Building something like Tesla, which is uber-successful and also a boon to the environment, is my dream.
Which past Survivor will you play the game most like?A cross between Victoria Baamonde and Chaos Kass.
Recommendation letters, winning elections, high attendance for all my events, etc.
my entire life has been a highly successful exercise in persuasion.
It sounds awful, but to some extent, I live every day the way Tony plays.
3 words to describe you:Aggressive, astute, audacious.
Pet peeves:I hate judgmental people.
I hate patronizing people who talk down to others.
Oh, and I hate when people wear shoes in my house.
I bought my first home at 24.
I paid off all my student loans ($40,000) by age 26.
I am the youngest associate director of analytics at my company, by age 27.
Most importantly, I’m mentoring my younger brother to ensure he surpasses me in all aspects.
Watching him make strides in school and in his personal life is my greatest accomplishment.
We started in a one-bedroom apartment, shared with another family.
I learned to survive and be resilient from a very young age.
People don’t see that now, but I’ll always cherish those tougher years.
They made me strong.
Who is your hero and why?My mother is my hero.
Cliche answer, but it’s true.
I could only imagine how much courage that takes.
I will realistically be similar to Aubry.
She was just a strategic mastermind.
She understood social rankings and was able to strategize across very nuanced alliances.
She was also not afraid to cross alliance lines and work with people who could further her game.
Don’t rule anyone out.
There is no alternative besides coming home with a million-dollar check.
Lindsay Dolashewich
Hometown:Morganville, N.J.
Current residence:Asbury Park, N.J.
Occupation:Dietitian
Favorite hobbies:Co-ed flag football in the sand at Bar A by the shore.
Interior decorating for the holidays.
Any high-intensity or high-adrenaline activity snowboarding, paintballing, skydiving, wake surfing, etc.
3 words to describe you:Loud!
Growing up, my friends' parents always described me as “the loud friend.”
Talkative all of my report cards every year said “talkative” or “distracts others.”
Intense personality I’m a good person, but I definitely do not mesh with everyone.
Pet peeves:I hate wasted time.
Anything that just eats away time drives me nuts.
I have too much pent-up energy that I need to do something.
I hate slow and quiet talkers.
Spit it out and speak up!
This is why New Jersey is my homeland and the only place people understand me.
We are all cut from the same cloth.
What is the accomplishment you are most proud of?Becoming a dietitian and starting my own business.
I never thought I would be in this position and be taking on this role.
I surprised myself with what I am capable of, and I have more motivation than ever.
I am literally now a boss!
I gathered an accountant, payroll team, billing company, logo person, etc.
And we have been so successful!
We have tripled our revenue in our second year and have been recognized nationally.
My entire personality screamsSurvivor.
Now with this momentum under my belt, nothing is going to stop me.
Watch out, tribe!
What is something we would never know from looking at you?I played tackle football.
It was difficult being on a team where nobody wanted me there, including my coaches.
My teammates would literally hit me harder than everyone else because I was a girl.
I’m not going to lie, it hurt a lot.
But that wasn’t going to stop me from playing and hitting harder back.
Who is your hero and why?I would have to say my younger sister.
She graduated college to work in environmental law.
She is super passionate about saving the environment and making the world safer for people.
She is going to do great things.
She is incredibly charming.
She has this way about her that everyone immediately loves her.
But she is also a very strong person.
Not physically, but mentally.
She does not back down from anyone or get intimidated.
Even though she is my younger sister, I really look up to her.
She has such great morals and is truly so caring and compassionate for others and always puts others first.
She is just as big of a goofball as me.
Which past Survivor will you play the game most like?Lauren Beck.
At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how physically good you are at things.
The social game dictates if you get voted out.
This quality is the most important in my eyes.
I can read people very well and am very good at persuading others.
Plus, let’s be real, people are stupid.
And when people are hungry, they forget how to stay composed.
Once you see the cracks, it gets easier to outwit.
I’m an animal.
I can outlast everyone because I have grit.
I don’t break easily.
I have too much determination to ever think to quit.
I will be the final Survivor!
Mike Turner
Age:58
Hometown:Hoboken, N.J.
Current residence:Hoboken, N.J.
Occupation:Retired firefighter
Favorite bobbies:Working out, sports, and watching great movies.
3 words to describe you:Loyal, loud, fair.
Pet peeves:People ripping open cereal boxes and leaving them open.
People who are late.
What is the accomplishment you are most proud of?Easy!
I know it’s cliche, but it’s true.
What is something we would never know from looking at you?I’m sensitive.
I get my feelings hurt.
I’m smart (at least I think so).
My heart hurts for the less fortunate.
I’m a straight arrow.
Stankiswiez, John O’Brien, Aunt Ruth and Uncle David.
Which past Survivor will you play the game most like?I would love to play like Boston Rob.
I also have the gift of gab!
People will like me (evenJeff).
3 words to describe you:Funny, spontaneous, loyal.
Pet peeve:When people waste my time.
What is the accomplishment you are most proud of?Staying true to myself no matter the circumstance.
Also, riding Mickey’s Fun Wheel at Disneyland despite being afraid of Ferris wheels.
What is something we would never know from looking at you?I am terrified of vacuum cleaners.
Who is your hero and why?Kristen Wiig.
She’s so funny, adaptable, and paves the way for herself and writes.
Which past Survivor will you play the game most like?I think Tom Westman.
He was honest, but still a great player.
She is a great social player.
I’ll carry my own in challenges but dominate socially.
Maybe a little crazy like Debbie?
Time will only tell.
I’m young, but still super capable of holding my own.
I’m honest, but willing to make big moves that change the game.
3 words to describe you:Thankful, calm (except when driving), faithful.
Pet peeves:Drivers who do not use their turn signal.
Someone who thinks they know everything.
What is the accomplishment you are most proud of?I’m most proud of my family.
Also being the first in my immigrant family to graduate from a four-year college.
Always being faithful to my wife, kids, family, and friends.
What is something we would never know from looking at you?I’m an environmental scientist.
I have been to over 20 countries.
I love watching golf.
Who is your hero and why?My hero has been, and always will be, my mom.
She raised me in the heart of Brooklyn during a time of crack cocaine, murder, and poverty.
With her love and help, I am the man I am today.
Which past Survivor will you play the game most like?John Cochran.
He understood his weakness the second time around and it strengthened him to compete and win.
The sum of which would be a life-changing amount for my family.
3 words to describe you:Direct, open, compassionate.
Pet peeves:Arrogant people and those with a sense of entitlement.
I worked in a metal shop for a year.
I’m crafty and good with my hands.
Who is your hero and why?My husband is my hero.
He’s not afraid to try something different and take risks.
He saved me from settling in life and inspires me to always strive for more!
I don’t give up!
Lauren Beck because she really studied and watched people to understand their motives.
I love to study human behavior.
This means I know how to read people well and understand what they are feeling.
I’m also a great listener and leader and know I will be able to gain trust.
Daniel Strunk
Age:30
Hometown:Cincinnati
Current residence:New Haven, Conn.
Occupation:Law clerk
Favorite hobbies:Movie fanatic, LEGOs, keeping track of things, andSurvivor.
Words to describe you: Ebullient, driven.
What is something we would never know from looking at you?I collect signed pocket U.S. Constitutions.
Roddie Edmonds, for putting his life on the line to do what was right.
The most natural way is to embrace my inner goofy, like Fabio.
And then, obviously the winners I would model my game after are Yul and Todd.
It is all going to be a matter of threat management.
I’m going to leave it all on the table.
Cancer survivors don’t go anything less than full throttle.
3 words to describe you:Energetic, empathetic, chaotic.
Being able to use my voice for change that not only benefitted me was so empowering.
What is something we would never know from looking at you?I am a great listener!
Just because I talk a lot, it does not mean I am not listening.
Who is your hero and why?My hero is my mother.
She was born into poverty in a village in Kenya as the youngest of five.
I aspire to be like her.
She changed my life.
Which past Survivor will you play the game most like?Davie.
Davie was someone who had loyalty to many people, had a strong core alliance, and was social.
Davie had the path to sixth place, and I will perfect it to first.
I have lived in diverse cities and also been in situations where I was the only Black person.
But in every situation I thrived, andSurvivoris another place where my resilience and personality will shine.
Also, I never go down without a fight.
I am going onSurvivorto win, and I will do everything in my power to do so.
3 words to describe you:Clever, competitive, storyteller.
Pet peeve:People who don’t tip.
I used to deliver pizza, so it’s a pretty big deal for me.
I get to keep your nickel?
Wow, thank you so much!
It was really rewarding.
That couldn’t be further from the truth.
I am a hustler.
I’ve worked hard for my grades, my scores, and competitive success.
I wanted to go to a top-tier school, so I worked hard to get in.
I have worked hard for what I have, and I’m proud of it.
Who is your hero and why?My parents.
They’ve supported me in every way imaginable and I’m so unbelievably lucky to have them.
And for non-family hero, Ethan Zohn.
And beyond that, he’s just such an inspirational person.
Which past Survivor will you play the game most like?Todd Herzog.
He played a brilliant game in China, where he controlled every single vote from the shadows.
I’m extremely personable and make friends easily.
I’m super intelligent and strategic, with a vast knowledge of the game.
I’m athletic enough to not be a liability, but not enough to be a threat.
And most importantly, I am willing to work harder than anyone to win.
In speech and debate, I competed against hundreds of students from around the country every weekend.
These people were just as smart as me, just as well-spoken, and just as talented.
But I beat them because I worked harder and because I wanted it more.
And the same will be true forSurvivor.
3 words to describe you:Resilient, ambitious, caring.
Pet peeve:Dishonest people.
What is the accomplishment you are most proud of?Becoming an all-American track runner.
What is something we would never know from looking at you?I have a fear of death.
I think it stems from losing some very important people in my life at a young age.
Who is your hero and why?My mom!
She is the bomb dot com.
Which past Survivor will you play the game most like?Kelley Wentworth.
She contributes to her team and sets up alliances while still being a competitor in the competitions.
I am able to see where different personalities fit in my life and utilize them when it fits.
