As followers of “Survivor” are more likely to be well-aware of after the victory of Toronto denizen Erika Casupanan within the forty first season again in December 2021, Canadian residents are actually eligible to compete on the hit CBS actuality show. 61-year-old retired hockey participant Tom Laidlaw grew to become the primary Canadian to reap the benefits of this new rule again in 2019, when he competed on season 39, “Island of the Idols,” although he was eradicated pre-merge.
Season 41 noticed Canadians Erika and Shan Smith compete (although Shan represented Washington D.C.), and season 42 will see three Canadians compete on the show collectively – extra so than some other season. So who’re the three Canadian contestants? Like the remainder of the “41” and “42” cast, Maryanne Oketch, Omar Zaheer, and Drea Wheeler are all superfans, and able to play the sport. Here’s all the things it’s essential find out about them heading into the season premiere tonight:
Maryanne Says Erika’s Win Takes the Pressure off Her
23-year-old seminary pupilMaryanne Oketchis from Ajax, Ontario, a city situated within the jap Greater Toronto Area (GTA). In an interview Monday with EW Canada, Maryanne spoke about her pleasure in representing Toronto (since “folks do not know the place Ajax is”), which she loves for its range. This was showcased by means of the 5 Canadian contestants on “41” and “42,” who she described as all such completely different folks.
“[Erika and Shan] are fully completely different than who I’m,” Maryanne mentioned, including that when it got here to Omar and Drea, “We’re all fully completely different folks…all of us have completely different tales, and that simply exhibits how large and various Canada is.” Toronto is certainly probably the most various metropolis on the planet, being acknowledged as such by each the UN and the BBC. Interestingly, 4 of the 5 Canadians of “41” and “42” hail from Toronto or the GTA.
Additionally, Maryanne spoke of her pleasure at seeing Erika’s win final season, including that having a Canadian win “41” takes the strain off her, Omar, and Drea to carry out as effectively:
Seeing that Erika gained, as a Canadian, I’m pumped! Like, you go Erika! Take it residence! … Toronto representing! … And you realize what? She took it residence, in order that signifies that I haven’t got to!
Omar & Maryanne May Work Together
Omar Zaheer, a 30-year-old veterinarian, is initially from Kitchener, Ontario, however now lives within the close by city of Whitby (additionally within the GTA). He additionally spoke of his pleasure in representing not solely Canada, but additionally Indians and Muslims on “Survivor” in his ownEW interview:
I’m so proud to be a Canadian, and in addition to be a Canadian minority. I by no means noticed a whole lot of Indians or Muslims on the massive display screen rising up, and it made me marvel, perhaps I’m not a part of that neighborhood, perhaps I’m not celebrated or embraced…I hope that little children will likely be actually excited to see any individual that is like them, whether or not it is as a result of I’m Indian, Muslim, or Canadian.
He added that there has by no means been an Indian or Muslim winner of “Survivor,” so “the strain is excessive to carry out on my favourite show of all time. Most folks will lose the sport however you higher give it your all making an attempt.”
Omar and Maryanne will likely be beginning off on the identical tribe (Taku), and the primary trailer launched for the season again in December confirmed the 2 of them looking at one another in shock whereas studying what seemed to be an idol clue or benefit of some variety, main many followers to take a position a couple of potential alliance between the 2.
Drea Wheeler: This Season Will Be ‘One of the Best’
Drea Wheeler, 34, is a San Antonio native who now lives in Montreal, Quebéc. She may even be the one Canadian on the season to start on a unique tribe than the opposite Canadians. Drea is a health advisor who works with actors to assist them bodily put together for roles by gaining or reducing weight, and so forth., in accordance with her EW Canada interview.
Drea, who moved to Montreal as an grownup, has now lived in Canada longer than she has in Texas, and says she will likely be proudly representing Canada on the season. “I do know Montreal,” she mentioned. “Montreal is my residence, Montreal is who I relate to, I’m Montreal.”
Drea added that Canada has a whole lot of “hardcore” “Survivor” followers, and that it is even like a “faith” there. “Like, it is a faith in Canada,” she mentioned. “I at all times say that, as a result of that is how my Texans know that it is severe. ‘Survivor’ is faith in Canada.” She added that the messages from Canadian followers are “nonstop,” and go one thing alongside the strains of, “Drea, you higher rep us in Canada otherwise you’re gonna get deported.”
Drea, who mentioned in her CBS bio that her pet peeve is “Dishonest folks,” acknowledged very bluntly that she is ready to see by means of folks when they’re mendacity. “There’s solely so many lies that folks can inform earlier than they find yourself revealing themselves, and I’m actually good at catching folks in these lies,” she mentioned. “I’m good at asking questions, I’m good at listening, and I’m good at studying physique language.” It stays to be seen whether or not these abilities will certainly repay for Drea.
In addition, Drea teased the upcoming season as “among the best.” When requested to offer three phrases to explain “Survivor 42,” she responded:
Challenging, very unpredictable, and the perfect. It’s in all probability gonna be among the best seasons folks will watch. I’m sorry, but it surely’s the reality. It’s a very good one.
Will any of those Canadians have what it takes to outwit, outplay, and outlast all the remainder, and grow to be the second Canadian winner in a row? Tune in Wednesdays at 8 p.m. Eastern on CBS to seek out out. The two-hour season premiere will air tonight at 8.
