by Gina Scarpa

 

And we thought Cochran was a big fan of Survivor! This season, on Survivor: Philippines, Dawson could barely contain her excitement to be in the game. Her Kalabaw tribe had gone undefeated for four challenges, she formed an all female alliance, and things were looking pretty good for her! Then, things took an unexpected turn when Dana left the game after become very ill, and then her tribe blindsided her at tribal council following their first loss of the season. Before she left though, she gave us a memorable moment when she planted a big kiss on Jeff Probst's cheek, much to his surprise! We chatted with Dawson today in an exclusive interview to talk about her love of the game and if playing Survivor lived up to her expectations.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: When did you first decide to try out for Survivor?
A. Dawson: About six years ago, there was a blizzard in Maryland. We were all snowed in and of course, I have every season of Survivor here with me! I sat down and decided to spend my time with my favorite people. I sat and watched season after season of Survivor for four days. Seeing the snow outside blowing and seeing the people in their bathing suits, I knew. I was like, "Why haven't I applied? I'm sitting here when I could be out there with Jeff Probst!" It was that day, six years ago, that I decided to apply. I have done so much research trying to figure out how to get on my favorite show. Randomly, a month before the Philippines started to film, I sent in an application. Within ten hours, I had casting on the phone. Everything happened so fast but I started as a fan!

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What do you love most about the game of Survivor?
A. Dawson: I just love how dynamic it is. It's pretty simple concept. You put some strangers out on an island and see what they do socially and then, give them some challenges. But there are so many different angles and twists that you can apply to every new cycle, that it's refreshing!

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Being such a fan of the show, what was it like to actually be out there, see Jeff Probst, compete in challenges, and so on?
A. Dawson: Oh my gosh! As a superfan, I think I should've been the most exhausted person out there just because every time anything would happen Survivor related, my heart would just jump out of my chest! I was just so excited to be there. It was completely surreal. Anytime I can get close to Jeff, I'm gonna try to let him see what a fan I was.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: And what was your opinion of the returning players? You must have had conflicting emotions about it!
A. Dawson: Exactly! I was torn between the two. As a fan, I'm like, "Oh cool! It's Skupin! He survived!" and it was really cool seeing them. But then as a player, you're thinking, "Ahhh, these guys again?" I wanted to play a really fresh game and they did add a huge twist that I didn't anticipate. I wanted the newbies to take it.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You were part of an all female alliance on Kalabaw. Is that something that you wanted?
A. Dawson: Once I saw Dana, I knew that she was hardcore and committed and could strategize through this game. She was the top woman in our alliance. Once I got to know Katie, I knew she was loyal, bubbly, and sweet, and wasn't looking to backstab anyone. A lot of the guys were being kinda shifty. Once we got our hands on Denise, it was locked. We had a strong alliance of four women.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: So you feel that if Dana had stayed, that Denise would've stuck with you and a guy would've been voted out?
A. Dawson: Oh, the game completely changed when Dana left! Completely! I am certain that one of the guys would've left if Dana had been at tribal. It was so hard watching someone that I care so much about be that sick and be so hurt, and then leave the game. And then on top of that, then I get voted out! Everything in that entire episode was filled with so much emotion.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You never told everyone that Jeff was a former MLB player. Do you regret it or are you glad you didn't blow up his spot?
A. Dawson: Actually, I'm so glad that I left it alone because at the end of the day, I want everyone to know why they left the game. I want everyone to be able to attribute it to some flaw. I'm not gonna give him an out and have him say, "I didn't win because Dawson said I was a baseball player." He's gonna play as a normal person, as far as I know and if he loses, it's of his own actions. He can lose on his own!

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Did the experience of playing live up to what you hoped it would be?
A. Dawson: Oh, it was everything and more! I mean, the passion of being out there... everything is so beautiful and then you've got real life people who have been helping keep my show on the air, you have Jeff Probst, and just being out there and feeling the energy that 25 cycles of Survivor has created, the history - it's just magical for me! It's awesome. I could've been hallucinating because I was also starving but it blew away every other experience in my life!

 

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

 

(Image courtesy of CBS)

 

Follow Gina @ginascarpa