'Survivor: Philippines': Meet the Cast!

We went all the way to the Caramoan Islands to chat with the 18 new contestants who will be battling each other for the million dollars when Survivor: Philippines kicks off on Sept. 19.

Angie Layton

Occupation: Student
Hometown: Provo, Utah
Age: 20

Miss Utah Teen USA 2010 was recruited for the show via Facebook and claims, "I will win Survivor because I'm awesome." And who's her favorite Survivor? "Boston Rob. Just because he's awesome." Yay, everyone's awesome!!! Angie's age and lack of experience could work against her, however. And you have to worry a bit when someone says, "I'm not looking forward to the bugs."

Malcolm Freberg

Occupation: Bartender
Hometown: Hermosa Beach, Calif.
Age: 25

Why will Malcolm win Survivor? "Because I'm better than all the other idiots out there." A big fan of the show, Malcolm could be a true triple threat in that he appears to possess equal parts brain and brawn, and is funny and likable enough to thrive at the social game as well. But he does already have one complaint about his castmates: "I wish there was more eye candy. There's a couple that are cute. But for primetime? C'mon, you can find something."

Lisa Whelchel

Occupation: Former Facts of Life Actress
Hometown: Dallas
Age: 49

There is probably nowhere prissy Blair Warner from The Facts of Life would rather be less than out on an island in the Philippines, but for the woman that played her, it is a dream come true. A true super fan, Lisa openly campaigned to get on Survivor. And embarking on this journey can't help but remind her of The Facts of Life theme song because, "I have a feeling Survivor is going to be a whole lot of good, but it's also going to be a whole lot of bad."

Jeff Kent

Occupation: Former baseball MVP
Hometown: Austin
Age: 44

"I will win Survivor because I'm the best competitor out here," says Jeff, and considering that he's a former National League MVP, the baseball star may just have a point. The longtime Survivor fan plans to take his intensity from the baseball diamond to the island. "I've been competing my whole life. That's what I do. I'm not here for any TV stardom. Not here to look good on TV." His biggest obstacle, however, may be his fame. How will Jeff handle it if another player recognizes him?

Sarah Dawson

Occupation: Insurance Sales
Hometown: Silver Spring, Md.
Age: 28

Like another recent contestant, Sarah will be going by her last name of Dawson this season. So was she, in fact, inspired by John Cochran? "The only thing he's inspired me to do is never wear a sweater vest," replies Dawson, who could be one of the sassiest sparkplugs this show has ever seen. But will she come on too strong? "Socially, I've got to try to keep as much of my personality under wraps a possible, because sometimes I do have too much energy." Just a tad.

Zane Knight

Occupation: Tire Repair
Hometown: Danville, Va.
Age: 28

While most new players profess their love for Boston Rob, Russell, Parvati, or Ozzy, Zane has a different Survivor hero...Brandon? "I love that kid, man," says Zane. "That's the kind of player I am!" So wait, you'd give up your immunity at Tribal Council, even if it meant they might vote you out? "Oh, yes, sir. In a heartbeat." Ladies and gentlemen, my first Survivor: Philippines prediction: Zane Knight will not win this game.

Katie Hanson

Occupation: Former Miss Delaware
Hometown: Newark, Del.
Age: 22

"I have the total package," says Katie. "I'm hot, I'm smart, and I'm athletic." Wait, you forgot modest! As Miss Delaware 2011, Katie hopes to continue the success had by other pageant girls out on the island. "Obviously, looks—they're not a bad thing to stare at when your out on an island for 39 days, so I think pageant girls really do have the entire package in this game." But Katie's favorite Survivor won't be winning any beauty awards. "Russell is awesome. If anyone doesn't like him, they're crazy."

Artis Silvester

Occupation: Computer Engineer
Hometown: Terry Town, La.
Age: 53

"I'm like a chameleon with the ferocity of a praying mantis," says Artis. I have no idea what that means, but I love it! "'The minute that I feel that you're threatening me, I will chew you up and spit you out." A man who has already beaten stage 4 cancer should be able to handle the rigors of living off the land, but unless Artis is able to adapt socially to his younger tribemates, he may be the one that is spit out.

Abi-Maria Gomes

Occupation: Business Student
Hometown: Los Angeles
Age: 32

"I will win Survivor because I'm charming and bring a lot of sass to the table," says Abi-Maria. (I'm not exactly sure how sass helps you win, but whatever.) Abi-Maria is actually coming to her Survivor party a few years late. "I was supposed to be on Tocantins," she explains. "However they thought I was going to have an advantage over everybody else because I am from that area in Brazil." As if the sass did not give her advantage enough!

Roberta "R.C." Saint-Armour

Occupation: Investment Banker
Hometown: New York
Age: 27

"I'm the total package of athletic [ability] and brains," says Wellesley college's 112th hoop rolling champion as to why she'll do well on Survivor. She also has a laugh that is very...uh, boisterous. (See her video for proof.) As for returning players, R.C. welcomes them. "If we can get one of them on our team that can guide us in the right direction, I think that would be very beneficial for us. And it's just that certain point of keeping them around long enough until they're no longer useful."

Carter Williams

Occupation: Track Coach
Hometown: Shawnee, Kan.
Age: 24

"I will win Survivor because I will not underestimate anyone," says Carter. And while the 23-year-old may be underestimated himself due to his Jeff Spicoli vibe, the running coach's conditioning and social game makes him a viable threat to win. It's no surprise that he counts Ozzy as his Survivor idol. "I told myself I want to get on that show and do what he did. And I know those are big shoes to fill, but I want to get out there and try my hardest."

Dana Lambert

Occupation: Cosmetologist
Hometown: Winston-Salem, N.C.
Age: 32

This season of Survivor will have a lot of challenges in the water, which could pose a bit of a problem for Dana. "I've never really swam in the ocean," she says, "so this will be interesting." Interesting, indeed. And even though Dana has been through rehab for amphetamines, she doesn't think toughing that out will prepare her at all for the hardships she's about to endure. "Being on a deserted island is gong to be hard no matter what."

Pete Yurkowski

Occupation: Engineering Graduate
Hometown: Holmdel, N.J.
Age: 24

Wait, I didn't know Taylor Lautner was playing Survivor this season! But the Twilight lookalike has a plan for how to deal with returning players. "You have to use them to the merge," says Team Jacob. "Learn what you can from them as fast as you can and then get rid of them. Because if you keep them around, they win fan favorite. I want $100,000!"

Roxanne "Roxy" Morris

Occupation: Seminary Student
Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Age: 28

Roxanne doesn't need any luck in this game, because "I believe I have God on my side," she says. "I really don't believe he brought me all this way for no good reason. And I think a really good reason would be to not only meet some really cool people, but to win a million dollars." Not surprisingly, she's a big fan of Matt from Redemption Island, less so of Coach.

Denise Stapley

Occupation: Sex Therapist
Hometown: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Age: 41

Please welcome Iowa's only certified sex therapist! Could Denise's training help her out on the island? "I have a way of disarming people and getting them to tell me things that are really uncomfortable," she says. However she's already a bit concerned about some of the other female contestants. "Some of the women, I don't know how the hell they're going to last out here. They're doing the cuticles and they're painting their nails, and I'm like, 'Seriously? What the hell are you doing here?!?'"

Michael Skupin

Occupation: Professional speaker, author, and coach
Hometown: White Lake, Mich.
Age: 50
Previous Season: Survivor: The Australian Outback

All three of this season's returning players were medically evacuated (and in episode 6, no less!), but Survivor fans from way back will probably recall Michael's forced exit as the most harrowing of all. While tending the Kucha tribe's fire, he passed out and fell into the flames, becoming the show's first castaway ever to be choppered out for emergency medical attention. Michael, a father of seven, says if he could have three things on the island, they would be animals to hunt for food, an impenetrable shelter, and an unbreakable alliance. Sounds like he's got his priorities in order.

Russell Swan

Occupation: Environmental attorney
Hometown: Glenside, Penn.
Age: 45
Previous Season: Survivor: Samoa

Like Michael, Russell was eliminated too early—due to dehydration. Unlike Michael, he thinks the most valuable thing to have on the island would be his Pittsburgh Steelers "Terrible Towel." Unless Russell is planning to mesmerize competitors with yellow-and-black terry cloth, he should probably re-evaluate his alliance-building strategy.

Jonathan Penner

Occupation: Writer
Hometown: Los Angeles
Age: 50
Previous Seasons: Survivor: Cook Islands, Survivor: Micronesia

Despite a fairly strong seventh-place finish in Cook Islands, Jonathan was fallen in Micronesia by a nasty knee infection. He holds the distinction of being the only Oscar-nominated Survivor vet—in your face, Jerri Manthey!—for his 1993 live-action short Down on the Waterfront, starring Jason Alexander and Edward Asner.