Sonja Eve Christopher

About

Contestant on the very first season of Survivor: Borneo, member of the Tagi Tribe and first to be eliminated in the entire franchise. She was well liked by her teammates, but her struggle to perform during the first Immunity Challenge caused the tribe to lose, and she was eliminated on Day 3 with 4 votes against her. 

Before Fame

She studied at Whitman College, the University of Oslo, the University of Washington and the University of California, Berkeley. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology and a teaching credential. She worked as an investment counselor, tennis coach and elementary school teacher. 

Trivia

She is the first lesbian Survivor contestant and the oldest woman to play Survivor. She used her $2,500 consolation prize to finance the expansion of a Walnut Creek church. In 1997 she was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, from which she is in full remission. In 2010 she attended the Survivor's 10-year Anniversary Party. She worked part-time as a music therapist and led sing-a-longs at Alzheimer's centers. 

Family Life

She was abandoned by her long-term partner during her cancer treatment. She has a son. 

Associated With

Her "luxury item" on the show was her ukelele, which she played and entertained other contestants such as Richard Hatch, Survivor's first winner.