by David McAlpine and Gina Scarpa

 

Semhar started off Survivor: South Pacific on the wrong foot - first, her tribe didn't seem to like that she quickly bonded with Ozzy and then, they blamed her for their loss in the first immunity challenge of the season. After being the first person voted out, she headed to Redemption Island where she ended up losing to Christine in the duel and was sent home. Today, we caught up with her in an exclusive interview to find out more about her thoughts on the game, her spoken word performances, and her feelings of abandonment.

Q. David, RealityWanted: What made you want to audition for Survivor? Were you a fan?
A. Semhar: I wasn't a fan of Survivor at all. The opportunity presented itself... who would say no to a million dollars?

 

Q. David, RealityWanted: You seemed to connect with Ozzy on day one. Why do you think you ended up becoming a target instead of being protected?
A. Semhar: I think I was targeted partly because Ozzy and I had that connection. I was not a huge Survivor fan. These other people are from Middle America and are hardcore about the game. With Ozzy, people were kissing his ass and he was uncomfortable. He'd find himself where I was, we'd talk, he had a vibe that I connected the best with. I think in the long run, they were very jealous of the connection that I had with him.

 

Q. David, RealityWanted: When you recited your poetry, you said it calmed you down. Did you also want to bring attention to spoken word or to your talent when it came to it?
A. Semhar: It was a total calm me down factor. What you don't see is that my hands were very shaky. I said it to myself... no one else could hear me. I forgot about my microphone. Those faces that were made was pure editing.

Q. David, RealityWanted: How would you describe life at Redemption Island, especially when you were by yourself?

A. Semhar: It was bittersweet. It was dark, it was gloomy. I was by myself but on the brighter side of things, I was by myself. I made fire. It does suck to be alone for three days and to be by yourself anywhere in the wild is scary. At camp, I felt like animals were scared of us. On Redemption Island, they would walk right up to me. It was a little scary but rewarding in the long run.

 

Q. David, RealityWanted: You said being voted out the way you were brought up bad memories of abandonment issues that you had. How did you deal with it?
A. Semhar: It was emotional when I was there, not having my telephone or ways to express myself. Every time I spoke, I was letting so much out. It triggered a lot for me. A positive that I got out of it was that I knew that I could survive.

Q. David, RealityWanted: It seemed like you were doing well in the challenge against Christine. What went wrong?
A. Semhar: I still have no idea. When you're in it, you're in it. I learned more by watching it now. I think I just lost it. I was so weak after three days on Redemption - I wasn't really eating, I had one banana in three days. I kept drinking water to try and keep myself hydrated. I think you can kind of tell when you look at me. You have to keep yourself healthy as part of game and that was something I struggled with.

 

Q. David, RealityWanted: What was it like thinking that you would have to be on that island for 15-20+ more days only to go back to a group of people that you didn't like?
A. Semhar: It wasn't an encouraging thing, but I knew there was a whole other tribe that I could have connected with but I'll tell you one thing. If I was going to lose, I'm glad I was the first out. I wasn't a fan of the game. I wasn't a millionaire who wanted to play. I was a girl who had an opportunity for a million dollars, so why suffer?

 

Q. David, RealityWanted: Would you do another reality tv show?
A. Semhar: I don't know if I would do another one, but you should never say never

Q. David, RealityWanted: Anything else you want to add?
A. Semhar: In our first challenge it was cut out but I was upset with Jim for reasons that weren't shown. Jim rejected the opportunity to throw the balls. I stepped up because no one else would, and then he was the first person to get me out for it. I thought it was a mistake on his behalf because we asked him to step up and he didn't, but he was able to turn it around. Maybe he's a smarter player than me.

 

Survivor: South Pacific airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on CBS.

 

(Image courtesy of CBS)

 

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