Rachel LaMont, a 34-year-old graphic designer from Dexter, Michigan, has emerged victorious on “Survivor 47” after enduring 26 days in the jungle on the island of Fiji. Now residing in Southfield, Metro Detroit, LaMont clinched the $1 million grand prize by securing six out of seven votes from the Tribal Council.
Among the finalists, Sam Phalen from Tennessee received the remaining vote, while Teeny Chirichillo from New Jersey and Sue Smey also competed, with Sue finishing in third place.
“I feel like I’m having an out-of-body experience,” LaMont expressed during the “Survivor 47” after-show, which aired at 9:30 p.m. following the finale. “It’s just so surreal that this show, which I fell in love with the moment I watched it, led me to think, ‘I have to do that.'”
This season also included another contestant from Michigan: Kyle Otswald from Cheboygan.
LaMont was born in Thailand and lived there until she was seven, after which she moved to Michigan. She currently resides in Southfield with her husband, Derek. They have a dog named Eva and a cat named Maeby.