Dee Valladares: Survivor 45 Winner Reflects on Season 50 Journey

Dee Valladares: A Fearless Journey Through Survivor 50

Photo: Robert Voets/CBS

By John Powell – GlobalTV.com

If there’s one word to describe Dee Valladares as a Survivor player, it’s “fearless.” The Survivor 45 winner harbors no regrets about bringing her all-in, full-throttle gameplay to the milestone 50th season. While a target from the moment she stepped onto the island, Dee does wish she hadn’t whispered the wrong thing to the wrong person.

Reflecting on a Complete Survivor Experience

John Powell: Hey, Dee! It’s great to be talking to you. Thanks for taking the time.

Dee Valladares: What’s up, John!

It was tough to see you go last night, but you can take solace in the fact that this season was full of firsts for you: the first time you’ve been voted out, and the first time you’re on the jury. You’ve truly experienced the whole Survivor circle now.

Dee Valladares: I did! I see it as completing the Survivor circle. I come from a place of privilege having won, but I’m at peace knowing I’ve experienced something new – being part of the jury. Seeing Jeff snuff my torch was iconic! I get to sit front-row and watch the game unfold without worrying about my own fate. It’s truly cool to witness Survivor in person. Plus, I get to wear ‘jury cute,’ shower, and even get a little screen time at the end of each episode.

Legacy and the Freedom of a Win

John Powell: As a former winner, did you ever worry about how this season might affect your legacy? Did you feel you’d already proven what you needed to prove?

Dee Valladares: To be fair, I didn’t worry about my legacy. If I focused on perception or reputation, I would have lost the game. I wouldn’t have had fun. I knew Season 50 would be tough, but even if I’d been the first boot, nothing that happened would diminish what I achieved in Season 45. I felt at peace with that.

I was journaling at Ponderosa and realized I had nothing left to prove. I didn’t come back to be a better player; I came back to be even more myself, free from the pressure of needing to win. Jeff always says to play your first time as if it’s your second. I finally understood that – you have to let go of what others think, have fun, and play hard. I think I did that this season, and I’m grateful.

Navigating Alliances and Trust

John Powell: You fought hard until the very end. Did you think your targeting of Coach resonated with anyone?

Dee Valladares: (laughs) No, not at all! I thought I whispered it, but Coach heard me! He said, “I heard you say my name!” My bad! I had absolutely zero power in there. You can never say never on Survivor, but I knew I was going home and wasn’t going to go down quietly. I was going to fight because that’s what I do.

John Powell: You mentioned the “floaters” at Tribal. Who were they?

Dee Valladares: From my perspective, the floaters were Rizo, Ciri, Ozzy, Christian, Rick, and Emily. They could go either way, making them dangerous. Stephanie, Chrissy, Joe, and Coach were a solid block.

Trust, Alliances, and the Fast Pace of the New Era

John Powell: Which hurt your game more – revealing Rizo’s idol or the argument with Jonathan?

Dee Valladares: It was a combination of everything. The blow-up happened after I already knew I was going home. But it affected me more with Rizo and Cirie, shattering trust in an alliance. On Survivor, breaking your word is unforgivable. Stephanie, Chrissy, Coach, Jonathan – they wanted me out, so why would they risk their game for me? The New Era is so fast-paced. I didn’t have much time to build deep relationships after the merge. Maybe I could have tried harder, but I didn’t want to align with certain people. It is what it is. Maybe it’s because I won and knew I had an expiration date, and I was okay with it. I even joked at Tribal that I was going to go drink while they debated!

Pre-Gaming and the Impact of Alliances

John Powell: There’s a lot of talk about pre-gaming this season. What are your thoughts?

Dee Valladares: I think it can both help and hurt, depending on who you pre-game with. Everyone talks, some more than others, in groups or one-on-one. There’s no right way. You don’t know what Jeff will throw at you. The Blood Moon twist is a perfect example. I think the less you pre-game, the better. For future seasons, don’t call me! I won’t call you! (laughs) You can’t promise someone something and then screw them over. You lose a friend for life.

Final Thoughts on Season 50

John Powell: What do you think of Rizo?

Dee Valladares: I love Rizo! I’m a Rizo fan! He’s extremely self-aware, funny, and doesn’t have an ego. He’s one of the girls. After everything blew up, we had a conversation. I apologized, even though I knew he knew I was lying. He was so understanding. He’s mature and more mature than many on the cast.

John Powell: Tiffany had your back until the very end.

Dee Valladares: That’s my girl! She even said, “I’m sorry, sis.” Survivor brings people like that into your life, and you hold them close. Kamilla too!

John Powell: What are some of the aspects you were looking for in picking a winner?

Dee Valladares: At the end, it comes down to the jury. We decide who best represents the season, who played hard, and who had a full-circle moment. Someone who can represent 50 seasons of Survivor. Everyone was worthy, but not everyone could represent.

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