by Gina Scarpa

 

Last night, on Survivor: Samoa, the tribes competed in a food challenge that proved to be more difficult than some players might have expected. One by one, the players drank a smoothie concocted by Jeff Probst, containing various items from sea slugs to octopus to milk. Ashley, of the Foa Foa tribe, was unable to finish her drink and cost her team the reward challenge. When Foa Foa later lost the immunity challenge as well, they decided to send Ashley home. Today, she spoke to RealityWanted in an exclusive interview about her experiences on the show.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: How did you end up being part of Survivor: Samoa?

A. Ashley: Well, I applied for Amazing Race with one of my friends and I got a phone call two days later, asking if I’d be interested in Survivor. I’ve seen every season of Survivor. I went through the entire process, all the interviews, paperwork, made a video, and all of a sudden I was in Samoa!

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What did you do to prepare for Survivor?

A. Ashley: I rewatched a couple seasons and I ended up doing lots of puzzles. I did a lot of weighlifting and working out a lot more than I already was. You prep as much as you possibly can.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You were tight with Russell on the Foa Foa tribe. How did you feel when you watched the episodes and saw what he was really like?

A. Ashley: I was honestly shocked, I was disappointed, and I could not believe some of the things that he said about me. I did think he was my ally. It was disappointing but it’s a game. We definitely will not be friends. I would honestly be happy if I never had to talk to him again.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Who are you going to talk to outside of the game?

A. Ashley: Natalie is definitely someone that I want to stay in touch with. I’m so excited to talk to her again at the finale and I’m really excited to see how far she makes it. We were best friends out there. She seemed trustworthy and genuine. I'll talk to Jaison as well and Mick.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: That storm on the episode last night looked so brutal. Can you try to describe what it was like to be out there in that?

A. Ashley: It literally got to the point… your hands were so pruny and nasty… that you would touch the bamboo and your hand would like, crack open or chunks would fall off. It was horrible. I could not even explain how horrible it was. You’re sitting there freezing. My body shook the entire four days that it rained. You can’t escape it.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: There had to be part of you that was a little bit happy to get voted out and get warm.

A. Ashley: Right! It sucked to be voted out but at the same time, it was like, I get a hot shower. I get to eat! Those were the two things.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: How awful was that smoothie that you had to drink in the food challenge?

A. Ashley: My best description would be when you go to the ocean and you smell rotten fish mixed with seaweed. Multiply that times a hundred and that’s what it tasted like. There were chunks of stuff in there.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You made it so far drinking it and then quit at the last minute. What happened?

A. Ashley: My body was literally rejecting it. I would take a little down and it would come right back up and the rule was that you needed to keep that down. We didn’t have a time limit but I was probably up there for a while!

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: It came down to you or Liz on last night's vote. Why do you think your tribe should've gotten rid of her instead?

A. Ashley: Liz is extremely untrustworthy. You can’t trust her for a second. What if the merge happened the next week? If you go into the merge with Liz, she’s going to flip flop. You won’t have as many tribemates to go with.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: I can't get over how alienated Shambo is on the Galu tribe. You spent time with her. What do you think of her?

A. Ashley: I absolutely love Shambo! I think she’s an amazing woman. She is the very best and she was great when she came to our tribe. We wanted to do a trade. We’d trade Ben for Shambo and we would’ve been happy.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Who are you hoping goes far in the game?

A. Ashley: Based on my time in the game, I’m rooting for Natalie. We experienced something out there that only the people with us could understand. I also love Jaison. He’s a really amazing guy. I would LOVE to see Shambo go far. I guess it would be those three.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What are you taking away from the experience of being on Survivor?

A. Ashley: Honestly, I’m just so proud of myself for being able to do that. Going on an island with a bunch of random people you’ve never met and you have no idea what they’re going to be like… I’m just very proud o f myself for making it as far as I did with what I had to deal with. I’m so happy, just in general, now with myself. I realize I’m a lot stronger than I ever thought I was. I seriously think I can do anything now!

 

 

Survivor: Samoa airs Thursdays at 8pm ET on CBS.

 

(Image courtesy of CBS)

 

 

Follow Gina at twitter.com/ginascarpa

 

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