‘Survivor 51’: Meet the 21 Castaways on Game-Changing New Season

Cast of the CBS Original Series SURVIVOR, Season 51.

For 50 seasons, Survivor players could study the game. Now season 51’s cast has to prepare for anything.

The Sept. 23 premiere will mark the beginning of the hit CBS franchise’s “Open Era.” During the Survivor 50 finale, host Jeff Probst had explained what that means: “Anything that’s ever happened on Survivor can happen again — at any time, in any order, without warning.”

Now, the cast for the unpredictable season has been revealed. Ranging in age from 24 to 49, the 21-player group includes a professional wrestler, voice actress, federal prosecutor, baseball executive and sociology professor, among many other professions.

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Below is a first look at all of the season 51 castaways.

Name: Aaliyah Puglia Age: 24 Hometown: Gloucester City, N.J. Current Residence: Providence, R.I. Occupation: Chef 3 Words to Describe You: Confident, wise, sporadic Why do you want to be part of Survivor?: Survivor is a show where the impossible happens and it gives everyday people the opportunity to be themselves entrapped in a twisted, chaotic and thrilling game of strategy and who can do the most with what they are given. It’s a huge accomplishment to win and I want the title.

Name: Alexis Levine Age: 34 Hometown: Atlanta, Ga. Current Residence: Atlanta, Ga. Occupation: Criminal defense attorney 3 Words to Describe You: Outgoing, thoughtful, determined. Why do you want to be part of Survivor?: Survivor represents the best of the human spirit – physical endurance, mental toughness and social awareness.

Name: An “Thien An” Nguyen Age: 24 Hometown: Fort Worth, Texas Current Residence: Fort Worth, Texas Occupation: Medical student 3 Words to Describe You: quick-witted, empathetic, outgoing Why do you want to be part of Survivor?: Since watching, I knew I wanted to be on Survivor. Very few opportunities in life let you connect to life in such a raw and authentic way. It’s everything I love! New friends and the outdoors.

Name: Ana Sani Age: 34 Hometown: Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada Current Residence: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Occupation: Voice actress 3 Words to Describe You: Goofy, ambitious, chaotic Why do you want to be part of Survivor?: Survivor is the perfect opportunity to lock into my competitive side. I love games and who doesn’t want to lie and deceive in a setting where it’s totally acceptable to do so?

Name: Angelica “Jelly” Loblack Age: 29 Hometown: Garland, Texas, and Midwest City, Okla. Current Residence: Bloomington, Ind. Occupation: Sociology professor 3 Words to Describe You: Curious, Multifaceted, and Passionate Why do you want to be part of Survivor?: Survivor has been a part of my family and life for as long as I can remember. It was my first exposure to the sociological questions and experiments that would later lead to an entire career. I want to play and win Survivor and experience it with the loved ones who introduced it to me while they’re still here.

Name: Brady Booker Age: 27 Hometown: La Salle, Ill. Current Residence: Knoxville, Tenn. Occupation: Pro wrestler 3 Words to Describe You: Enthusiastic, Intense, Fun Why do you want to be part of Survivor?: Growing up my family loved watching the show together. I love adventure in the outdoors. I love competition. I love being pushed to my limit to show what I am truly capable of doing.

Name: Carter Krull Age: 24 Hometown: Rock Rapids, Iowa Current Residence: Sioux Falls, S.D. Occupation: Livestock farmer 3 Words to Describe You: Adventurous, Competitive, Determined Why do you want to be part of Survivor?: Survivor has been on my bucket list. You never know when your last day will be – so better get rollin’ on the list!

Name: Cristian Chavez Age: 26 Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah Current Residence: Salt Lake City, Utah Occupation: Head of HR 3 Words to Describe You: Fun, Chaotic, Loud Why do you want to be part of Survivor?: I LOVE competition! I also want to test my limits in this game and be pushed past my breaking point just to experience it.

Name: Danny “Kilby” Kilby Age: 30 Hometown: Mount Forest, Ontario, Canada Current Residence: London, Ontario, Canada Occupation: Game designer 3 Words to Describe You: Wacky, Chaotic, Playful Why do you want to be part of Survivor?: Biggest dream of my whole life. When I was a kid, Survivor was my fave show and still is today. Survivor has given me so much already – I met my girlfriend playing a fan made Survivor game. She lives in Florida, we’d never have met if not for Survivor. I am an adventure chaser, and this is the best adventure. All my best friends I met through being a Survivor fan.

Name: Devin Way Age: 33 Hometown: Lufkin, Texas Current Residence: Los Angeles, Calif. Occupation: Actor 3 Words to Describe You: Charming, Playful, Loyal Why do you want to be part of Survivor?: There is nothing else like this in the world. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to play one of the best games in existence! I can not wait!

Name: Eric Macksoud Age: 34 Hometown: Lincoln, R.I. Current Residence: Windsor Locks, Conn. Occupation: Mental health counselor 3 Words to Describe You: Animated, Charismatic, Empathic Why do you want to be part of Survivor?: As someone who loves people and learning about what makes people tick, Survivor is the ultimate celebration of the human experience. It’s a game that breaks people down to build them back up into stronger people, and it’s the ultimate adventure for those looking to grow and test themselves to see who they truly are. For a guy like me who’s always willing to step outside their comfort zone and face themselves to evolve, I just want to be a part of that adventure and celebration regardless of the outcome.

Name: Jenna Doore Age: 30 Hometown: Perrysburg, Ohio Current Residence: Toledo, Ohio Occupation: Wedding photographer 3 Words to Describe You: Empathetic. Determined. And energetic. (my family’s nickname for me is NENERGY) Why do you want to be part of Survivor?: WHERE TO BEGIN? For starters – it’s my lifelong dream. I’ve watched with my fam since I was 7 years old. I was the kid begging my parents to let me stay up to watch the finale past my bedtime (literally negotiated by making up my own immunity challenge – a 1 min, long handstand – that I finally accomplished after hours of trying). But more than that – Survivor is all about putting yourself outside your comfort zone and seeing who you become when you do. That is why I want to play this game.

Name: Kristin Flickinger Age: 49 Hometown: Ketchum, Idaho Current Residence: Santa Barbara, Calif. Occupation: Crisis management 3 Words to Describe You: Determined, Joyful Why do you want to be part of Survivor?: I have been applying for Survivor since the middle of Season 1. It has become the lens through which I view and navigate the world – however, dysfunctional that may be. I am excited for the adventure, competition, and challenge. And excited to play big, fully, and propulsively to the end.

Name: Lewis Kelly Age: 28 Hometown: Dublin, Ireland Current Residence: Puerto Rico, USA Occupation: Farmer 3 Words to Describe You: Cheeky, devilish, charming Why do you want to be part of Survivor?: I love the show. Once I became a US citizen, I owed it to myself to apply, to take this new opportunity and really live and be an example of my American dream. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take and even if I don’t have a notion of what’s going on, I’ll always put myself forward and give it a go.

Name: Linnea Capobianco Age: 25 Hometown: Kearny, N.J. Current Residence: Jersey City, N.J. Occupation: Entrepreneur 3 Words to Describe You: Rational, outgoing and optimistic. Why do you want to be part of Survivor?: This life, this limited time on earth, is all I am certain of. With that, I seek to experience as much as possible, saying yes to a challenge, to be uncomforted, to grow. Survivor provides all those things and more. It’s the ultimate challenge and opportunity of a lifetime that I am so ready for.

Name: Maggie Nestor Age: 40 Hometown: Middleway, W.Va. Current Residence: Charlestown, W.Va. Occupation: Farmer 3 Words to Describe You: Joyful, intentional, Redneck Why do you want to be part of Survivor?: I’ve loved Survivor since I was 15. I’ve been watching for 25 years and waiting for this opportunity of a lifetime.

Name: Mike Pinsky Age: 32 Hometown: New York City, N.Y. Current Residence: New York City, N.Y. Occupation: Baseball executive 3 Words to Describe You: Enthusiastic, strategic, driven Why do you want to be part of Survivor?: When I was 8, I used to play Survivor with my friends in our New York City apartments. When I was 18, my college friends and I would drop everything for our sacred Wednesday night viewings. When I was 28, my marriage proposal to my wife Becky incorporated a Probst catchphrase. Getting to actually live this dream for real is a one-of-one life experience, and the thrill of this type of adventure sets my heart on fire!

Name: Ori Jean-Charles Age: 27 Hometown: Spring Valley, N.Y. Current Residence: Spring Valley, N.Y. Occupation: Personal trainer 3 Words to Describe You: Consistent – never too high or too low. I am a rock my family and friends know they can rely on. Anomaly – I am more than what meets the eye, I have a little edge I am different. Hustler – I will find a way to make it happen! Why do you want to be part of Survivor?: My older brother once told me “You don’t owe us anything” when it looked like my NFL career wasn’t going to be what I thought. But he is wrong I owe them everything and that’s why I am here. To change my families’ lives. They carried me in their hearts on their minds and shoulders. They sacrificed everything for me to be here today. And right here right now is an opportunity to pay that back for all they have done.

Name: Patt Cannaday Age: 33 Hometown: Tampa, Fla. Current Residence: Washington, D.C. Occupation: Federal prosecutor 3 Words to Describe You: Goofy, loyal, intense Why do you want to be part of Survivor?: I love challenge and new adventures. This show is the challenge/adventure of a lifetime.

Name: Rob Antonson Age: 40 Hometown: Johnston, R.I. Current Residence: Cumberland, R.I. Occupation: Airline gate agent 3 Words to Describe You: Competitive, funny, loving Why do you want to be part of Survivor?: I’m a total city boy, I have never been an outdoors type. I want to show my three young kids that you can get out of your comfort zone, take chances and still succeed. I want to prove to myself that I can push myself like I never have before and came out on top.

Name: Sharonda Cox Age: 34 Hometown: Pompano Beach, Fla. Current Residence: Richmond, Ky. Occupation: Resident, OBGYN 3 Words to Describe You: Charismatic, Resilient, Reliable Why do you want to be part of Survivor?: Survivor has a way of forcing people to be vulnerable, reflect and see themselves in a new light. I would love to encourage those little Black boys and girls, those in low economic areas and my family and friends what we can do despite our disadvantaged beginnings. I also want to stop going through the motions of life and meet the new, unapologetic Sharonda.