Orato.com: Natalie, Everyone’s talking about your question to Parvati this morning! How did you come up with that question?
Natalie: I know people are really confused right now. The thing is I had 12 extra days to bond and connect with Parvati. I got some insight into who she was as a person. She kept her word to me and she honored our relationship, and therefore I knew she was going to get my vote.
I thought, ‘Ok cool, but I’m not just going to hand her a million dollar cheque; I’m going to make her sweat and make her think quickly on her feet.’ I wanted to try to embarrass her just a little bit, and if she answered quickly, then she earned my million dollar vote. That’s all that was – just to shake her up a little bit.
Orato.com: Amanda, how are you coping with not winning the million dollars?
Amanda: Things happen for a reason and Survivor isn’t my life; I have other things going on. It is kind of upsetting to make it to the finals two times in a row and you lose both times. You get over it.
Parv and I both knew when we made it to the final two that we each had a 50/50 chance. I’m happy for Parvati.
Orato.com: You mentioned you have a lot going on. We all couldn’t help but notice that Ozzy declared his love for you in front of the whole world and you just said “Thank you.” What were you thinking?
Amanda: They didn’t show this, but when Ozzy said that I was pausing for like 20 seconds with my mouth open. I was really shocked. I didn’t know what to say. But yeah, he’s adorable and we’re still together. We’re doing great.
Orato.com: Cirie, what about you…how are you coping with the disappointment?
Cirie: When I found out it was down to final two, it was like the air was let out of my balloon. It was devastating because I knew there was no infiltrating between Parvati and Amanda. I knew if I didn’t win the challenge that I would be going home. I think I was so focused on the fact that it had to be a final three that I didn’t give much consideration to "what if" it was a final two.
Like Amanda said, things happen for a reason, and I feel like I can hold my head up high because people didn’t expect me to make it as far as I did, this time or the last time. I don’t think I’d have done anything differently except maybe make a plan for the final two. (laughs) Outside of that, I love the game that I played, and I have no regrets.
It is kind of hard to hand a million dollars to the person who took a million dollars from you. I love Amanda, and she knows that, but I don’t see anything that would have changed my vote.
Orato.com: What about when you dropped the ball during that final challenge…what were you thinking, or did you just lose your concentration?
Cirie: If blinking is considered losing concentration, then...I can’t even tell you. I’m going to watch that over and over and over again, because I don’t know what happened. I may have blinked, and that’s all it took.
Orato.com: Amanda, Eliza called you mean and superficial during the jury questions…what did you think of that?
Amanda: I know. That was so mean! I mean seriously!
Orato.com: How hard is it when you’re in the hot seat and you’re having to suck up to the jury? What did you really want to say to her in that moment?
Amanda: Honestly, I’ve gotten that my whole life – girls being petty and mean with me. Just because I’m pageant doesn’t mean I’m superficial. Just because you don’t talk all the time doesn’t mean you have nothing to say. It’s just frustrating.
Maybe it’s just the wrong game for me, because I don’t like to hurt people’s feelings, and I’m like a genuinely nice person. I would never sit up there and ridicule someone for making it further than me because they played the game better than me.
Orato.com: Natalie, how did you make your decision to vote for Parvati?
Natalie: I can’t emphasize enough that I completely respect the position of final two. They played a mad, crazy game. I got to spend 12 more days with Parvati than I did with Amanda, so I got to know Parvati. Had it been Amanda on my switch, it could have easily gone the other way.
Orato.com: Amanda, we noticed that Ozzy was still really sore with Parvati at that last jury. Is that still the case?
Amanda: He wasn’t good at the social part of the game the first time around, and the second time everyone knew he was a threat. He really had the odds against him.
I think he was more hurt with Parvati than anything. He understands it’s a game. He has more going on in his life too. Forgive and forget.
Orato.com: Reality TV doesn’t define you, but how does Survivor now define your life?
Amanda: I’ve learned a lot about myself and people in general. It’s definitely an experience that made me grow.
Orato.com: What do each of you miss most about the jungle?
Amanda: Actually I miss the jungle a lot. You hate it when you’re there, but when you leave, there are so many things you miss…just the simplicity and the feeling of just being able to take care of yourself and not having materialistic things.
I came home and got rid of half of everything I owned and moved to the beach. (laughs). I simplified my life.
Cirie: She took my answer.
Orato.com: What don’t you miss about the jungle Cirie?
Cirie: Let’s see…the rats, the bats in the caves, the little things that float around in the water that we drank, having to swim, the heat…shall I go on? (laughs)
Natalie: You know, when we’re in our daily lives we have cell phones and TVs and cars, and we are pretty blessed with what we’re given on a daily basis to make our lives function.
When you’re thrown into a situation where you have to show up yourself, raw, and survive everyday, it’s kind of instant gratification because everyday you see the coconut you’re going to eat, you see the trees and the fire that you’re going to have to make, you boil the water that you’re drinking for eight hours…
Now, in daily life, you’re working for a goal, but you really don’t see it for a while. It’s just really gratifying to show up stinky and smelly and know that you’ve survived one more day.
*****
Check out these other Survivor interviews:
Survivor Micronesia Finale: Parvati Plays The Flirt Card All The Way To The Bank [1]
Survivor Micronesia: Erik's Comedy Of Errors [2]
Alexis And James Blindsided By Injury [3]
Ozzy Outsmarted [5]
