Canadians on Survivor are smart, strategic — and underestimated, ex-champ says

When Erika Casupanan of Toronto won the popular reality TV game show Survivor in 2021, she did it by flying under the radar, and working in the shadows.

"I really brought in my experience as being an underestimated Asian woman who went through the corporate world and so many professional settings where no matter how capable I was, people really wanted to underestimate me," said Casupanan, winner of Survivor's 41st season. 

"I thought, OK, you know what, I'm going to take that and use that to everybody else's downfall."

And she did — outlasting other competitors, winning the $1 million prize and earning the title of sole survivor. The win made her the first Canadian to ever win the CBS reality game show, even though Canadians have only been allowed on the show for just a couple seasons. 

The very next season, Maryanne Oketch of Ajax, Ont., put the Canadian win count to two.

It invites the question; are Canadians the best at Survivor?

"If you look at the data objectively, we kill it. We're great," said Casupanan.

According to podcaster Philip (J.E. Skeets) Elder, Canadians on average are more low-key than Americans, and that gives them an advantage in the game.  

"They are a little more quiet. And I mean that as a compliment," said Elder. 

"They'll sort of remain in the shadows a little bit more, more interested in just not talking, maybe as much about me, me, me, and listening and asking questions. And I think that really helps in a game of Survivor and has helped some of the winners."

Elder, originally from Stratford, Ont., hosts a podcast for The Athletic called No Buffs, which runs weekly recaps of Survivor episodes when the show's on the air.

He says there's a certain likeability factor that Canadian winners have used to get that final victory.

"It's a game where you vote people out, you backstab them, and then you turn around and ask them for a million dollars. And what it comes down to usually is, 'Do I like that person enough?'" said Elder. 

Canadians' reputation as "fairly affable, likable people" holds true, for the most part, he said.