It’s incredible to think that the TV show Survivor has been airing for around 24 years. When the first season premiered in 2000, there was a contestant who left a lasting impression.
Sonja Christopher, a participant in Survivor: Borneo, was one of the original contestants. Sadly, she recently passed away at the age of 87.
She moved into a retirement community at 63, but she felt there was more for her to do. When Sonja read a newspaper article about Survivor, she sensed a new adventure awaited her. She joined the show but, unfortunately, was the first to be voted off.
Sonja kept up her spirited fight, but she sadly passed away at 87 earlier this year. Jeff Probst, the show’s host, honored her on the Survivor Instagram page.
He mentioned her as one of the kindest people ever to play the game and reminisced about their positive interactions over the years. He feels very fortunate to have known her.
Rob Cesternino, another former contestant from season six, also paid tribute to Sonja on social media, acknowledging her significant impact on the show.
Although she was voted off early in the competition, Sonja’s love for Survivor remained strong. In 2017, she shared that she hadn’t missed a single episode in the 17 years it had been on.
Before retiring, Sonja was a music therapist. She was diagnosed with breast cancer three years before joining Survivor and continued to fight that battle while competing on the show.
As we reflect on her contributions, we honor the history she helped create. We hope Sonja rests in peace and that her legacy endures.