Outwit, outlast, outplay, out of this world

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This article was published 16/09/2024 (722 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

By her own measure, Genevieve Mushaluk isn’t a typical outdoorsperson.

“I mean, I have my nails done and I carry hand sanitizer in my purse,” the 33-year-old corporate lawyer from Winnipeg says with a laugh. “And I’m not into anything that is yucky in any way, but that didn’t stop me and I don’t think it should stop anyone.”

Mushaluk is the first-ever Manitoban selected to compete on Survivor, the 47th season of which premières tomorrow (Wednesday, Sept. 18) at 7 p.m. on Global and CBS.

The local castaway has been a dedicated fan of the long-running reality competition since she was a kid — even skipping a Grade 8 dance to watch the show with her parents and sister.

“I was much more interested in living in my fantasy world of Survivor instead of my middle-school reality. (I was) blown away at how ordinary people put in this extraordinary situation could do things they didn’t even expect of themselves and I found it so inspiring,” she says.

She continues to watch religiously with her husband while debriefing with the rest of her family after each episode.

Survivor — which sees contestants dropped in isolated locations to fend for themselves and compete in challenges to avoid elimination — first started allowing Canadians to apply for the show in 2018.

Mushaluk has sent in an application every season since; she credits this year’s success with authenticity.

“I had a clear sense of who I am. It’s by no means a perfect person, but it is an authentic version of me and I think that was the key,” she says.

Despite “dying” to participate, actually getting the callback was a different story. Excited but terrified was her reaction to making it through the audition process.

“You’d think I’d be jumping for joy, but it was a mild panic attack. What if it’s a don’t-meet-your-hero type of situation? I got to hold onto this amazing fantasy of what it would be like to play Survivor and now that I’m going to get to play I can’t hold onto that fantasy anymore,” she says.

Thankfully, meeting perennial host Jeff Probst was a positive encounter.

“He was just as warm-hearted as he presents on the show,” she says.

To prepare for filming, Mushaluk focused on honing her mental and physical game, perhaps to the detriment of some necessary survivor skills.

“I did not practice firemaking as much as I would’ve liked,” she laughs.

As a longtime watcher, Mushaluk wanted to make sure she was ready to handle the stress of the experience without the comforts of home — such as the support of friends and family or outlets like the gym.

“None of those coping mechanisms are going to exist when you’re on the island,” she says.

Filming for Survivor takes place under strict secrecy and Mushaluk had to come up with several cover stories to account for the extended absence from her work and social life.

She received a raft of shocked and excited messages from friends and colleagues when the official trailer was released for this season.

Mushaluk is the only Canadian of 18 castaways sent to Fiji to battle it out for the US$1-million prize. She starts the season as a member of the Lavo (Red) tribe. Her overarching goal was to wear her emotions on her sleeve, while letting her title speak for itself.

“People assume (lawyers) are good at negotiating and we are organized, methodical and that we’ll be persuasive and strategic, but, shocker, lawyers are people too, and I have lots of weaknesses, so I went in thinking my title of lawyer is going to be scarier to other people than it is an asset to me,” she says.

While Mushaluk can’t reveal any spoilers, the experience provided a beneficial escape from technology and a reminder of what’s important in life, she says.

“I’m a very confident person — or so I thought — but I realized so much of my confidence comes from my community and my family and my friends and just the feeling of safety and security that I have here at home in Winnipeg,” she says.

Mushaluk hopes to make her hometown proud and plans to watch this season of Survivor, which airs 90-minute episodes every Wednesday, with her inner circle.

eva.wasney@winnipegfreepress.com

X: @evawasney