Niagara Falls native ‘outwits, outplays, outlasts’ competition to became first Canadian to win Survivor

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Published December 16, 2021 at 12:16 pm

Last night, Niagara Falls native Erika Casupanan became the first ever Canadian to win the TV show Survivor. Photo: CBS Entertainment Inc.

A Niagara Falls native has become the first ever Canadian to win the TV show, Survivor, last night.

Now a Toronto resident who is a communications manager, Erika Casupanan, 32, outlasted the competition, breaking a seven year drought for winning women competitors.

Afterwards in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the Canadian was asked which accomplishment meant the most to her.

“I wanna say that it’s actually a three-way tie between breaking the drought of a woman winning, being the first Canadian winner, and being the first person of Filipino descent to win American Survivor,” she told the infotainment outlet.

She added that she was planning on taking care of her parents with the $1 million US grand prize.

Local accolades poured out for the winners from Niagara Falls officials.

“Congratulations to Erika Casupanan on winning Survivor 41!” exclaimed Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati. “She played a great, smart, tough game throughout and all of us in her hometown of the City of Niagara Falls couldn’t be prouder! How exciting for Erika to be the first Canadian to win Survivor too! Woohoo!”

Niagara Falls MP Tony Baldinelli was equally effusive in his praise. “Congratulations on winning Survivor, Erika! What a great effort and game you played. You made your hometown – and our country – very proud!”

While previous seasons saw the winner announced in a live finale – usually months after the rest of the season was shot but the show had to adjust amid the pandemic so Casupanan celebrated her win following along with the broadcast on Twitter.

Since the finale wasn’t shot live, the TV show instead assembled a video which had the other contestants congratulating Casupanan on her hard-earned win.

“You’re an icon in my eyes,” said one cast member to Casupanan. Added another: “You played an incredible game.”

Casupanan posted the below image on Twitter, joking that this was the face she made whenever show host Jeff Probst came to the cast with a “special announcement” – which traditionally means a huge twist.

 

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