A new season of OG reality-TV series Survivor is set to premiere later this month, and with it the opportunity for local viewers to cheer on Toronto resident Venus Vafa.
Vafa, who grew up in Richmond Hill and attended Bayview Secondary School, is looking to follow in the footsteps of Survivor season 41 champion Erika Casupanan, also from Toronto and Ajax’s Maryanne Oketch who won season 42.
Canadians had dominated the game to such an extent that, when asked about it, legendary Jeff Probst said, “That’s a fun and funny question. I have no idea, but you’re right, they are kicking ass!”
Vafa is listed as a data analyst, and we have gleaned that she has an interest in law and attend McGill University.
“They would describe me as a someone with a really tough exterior (think Regina George from Mean Girls), but a secret softy,” said Vafa, in her introductory interview. “I am actually a crybaby under my tough girl façade and am very emotional and empathetic to the tiniest of things.”
She noted her hobbies as playing poker, creative writing, and making short films.
In her pre-show Survivor interview, she notes that her looks might lead her fellow contestants to make assumptions about her, which she can use to her advantage.
“I am very observant and can see right through people’s facades,” she adds. “The threshold to earn my trust is quite high BUT I become fast friends with the few people who meet it. I can tell when someone is authentic and on the same wavelength as me and quickly become as thick as thieves with them. This should come in extra handy on Survivor!”
She also says she comes from a long line of Iranian women who have struggled and are, well, survivors. And, although she adds that she didn’t have a lot of people who looked like her in high school, she wants to inspire others.
“I want to be that representation that I didn’t have growing up with what’s going on in Iran and the women they’re fighting for their freedom and dignity,” she says. “If I have those women in my blood, there’s nothing I can accomplish. You know, I can be the next Sole Survivor.”
Watch Venus Vafa as Survivor 46 premieres on Feb. 28 at 8 p.m. on Global and STACKTV.