BURLINGTON, Vt. — Kathy Vavrick-O’Brien had never watched “Survivor” when she submitted an audition tape in 2002. Twenty-five years later, she is still the first and only full-time Vermonter to appear on the show, which premieres its 50th season Wednesday night on WCAX .
A Leap of Faith
Reporter Ike Bendavid asked the obvious question: “Did you know what you were signing up for?”
Vavrick-O’Brien’s response was candid: “No. I did not know what I was signing up for. I did not watch the show. This was just a double dare” .
Despite her initial unfamiliarity with the format, Vavrick-O’Brien ended up being picked to compete on Season 4, “Survivor: Marquesas” . After a rocky start, she became a fan-favorite and ultimately finished in third place .
Life-Changing Experience
Vavrick-O’Brien said the experience reshaped how she approached people. The social dynamics and strategic gameplay required by the show taught her valuable lessons about human interaction that she carried with her long after leaving the island .
A Milestone Season
As “Survivor” celebrates its 50th season, Vavrick-O’Brien’s place in the show’s history remains unique among Vermonters. No other full-time resident of the Green Mountain State has followed in her footsteps to compete on the long-running reality competition .
The milestone season premieres Wednesday night on WCAX, marking a quarter-century of the show that made “the tribe has spoken” a household phrase .
