Dee Valladares on ‘Survivor 50’: Almost Crying Rewatching Her Winning Season

Dee Valladares is bracing for a target on her back. The December 13, 2023 episode of Survivor 45, “The Ex-Girlfriend at the Wedding,” is being re-aired by CBS on February 18, 2026, as the network counterprograms the Winter Olympics in anticipation of the landmark 50th season’s premiere on February 25, 2026. But for Valladares, revisiting that pivotal episode isn’t about strategy or gameplay; it’s about confronting a younger, more anxious version of herself.

“I just rewatched it for the first time in years, and there were a lot of emotions coming up,” Valladares told Gold Derby. “I looked at myself, I looked at my cast, and there was so much innocence playing Survivor for the first time — and the anxiety of having the cameras around.” That vulnerability, she admits, almost brought her to tears. It’s a stark contrast to the confident, calculated player she’s become, and the one returning to the island for Survivor 50.

Valladares’ journey back to Survivor wasn’t straightforward. She was unexpectedly pulled into the mix while competing on The Challenge. “I was voted off on a Friday, and by Monday, I was on a Zoom with Jeff [Probst],” she recalled. Initially, she assumed Probst was interested in her experience on the competition series. “I’m thinking that he maybe wants to hear about my Challenge experience, because there’s no way they were going to have winners on 50. And then he tells me, ‘How does it feel to be on 50?’ And I’m like, ‘There’s no way!'”

The speed of the turnaround – from the physical and mental demands of The Challenge to preparing for another grueling season of Survivor – was jarring. “It was a lot of contradicting emotions,” Valladares explained. “I had to put my emotions aside, and I had one month to train to be on 50.” The pressure is amplified by the unique composition of the Survivor 50 cast: only three previous winners – Valladares, Savannah Louie, and Kyle Fraser – are among the 24 competitors.

“I would say an advantage, because at least I’m not the only one,” Valladares said of being one of the few returning champions. “That is insane to have just three winners — we’re clearly outnumbered.” She acknowledges the inherent risk of being immediately targeted, but embraces it. “I want them to come for me,” she told Entertainment Weekly, a sentiment that underscores her aggressive approach to the game this time around.

Valladares’ confidence stems, in part, from a clear understanding of her strengths. She’s a proven challenge competitor, a skilled strategist, and, as she demonstrated in Survivor 45, unafraid to deceive. She readily admits that lying during Tribal Council is part of her game. “It scared the sh-t out of me,” she said of a specific instance in the “Ex-Girlfriend at the Wedding” episode, where she had to convincingly deny knowledge of a crucial idol play. “It can only go two ways: either people are going to believe you, or they’re not.”

Beyond the gameplay, Valladares’ family plays a significant role in her Survivor experience. She famously swore on their lives during the game, a moment that drew criticism from some viewers. But within her family, it was met with laughter. “Growing up Hispanic, all we do is roast each other!” she explained. “That’s our love language, and we have a very hard shell.” Her mother even playfully posed with wired headphones, pretending to be dead, as a lighthearted response to the oath.

Looking ahead, Valladares has her sights set on joining the pantheon of Survivor legends. She specifically mentioned Sandra Diaz-Twine, the first woman to win the game twice, as someone she aspires to emulate. “It would be a dream,” Valladares said. “When people ask who is on the Mt. Rushmore of Survivor, obviously it is Parvati, Sandra, Tony, and Rob. So, I think that would put me in there with them.”

As she prepares to face a new cast of competitors, Valladares is already sizing up her Kalo tribe. She offered succinct, revealing assessments of her fellow tribemates: Charlie Davis is “smooth,” Tiffany Ervin is “chaotic,” Chrissy Hofbeck is a “Karen,” Kamilla Karthigesu is “sneaky,” Benjamin “Coach” Wade is “intriguing,” Jonathan Young is “a force,” and Mike White simply gives off “vibes.”

And if Mike White were to offer her a role on Season 4 of The White Lotus, set in the French Riviera? “Obviously, I would say yes, but it would have to be a role where I could be myself,” Valladares said with a laugh. “I don’t think I’m a good actor, so I don’t want a lot of pressure on me. Something quick, fun, and easy that I could laugh a lot in. He can put me as a janitor. I think that would be funny.”