Michelle "MC" Chukwujekwu almost didn't get the chance to outwit, outplay or outlast.

After applying to compete on season 49 of Survivor , the 29-year-old was initially made an alternate. But after two contestants were removed ahead of filming for breaking rules regarding pre-game player communication, she and Jason Treul were upgraded to take their place just 12 hours before the game began.

"When they first called me and gave me the news that I wasn't on the cast but I was an alternate, it was disappointing at first," MC said in an interview with Austin news outlet KXAN that was posted Sept. 24. "They were like, 'Take the day to think about being an alternate.'"

After consulting with her sister, the San Diego-based fitness trainer didn't have to think about th

See Full Page