LONG-SHOT castaway Sandra Diaz-Twine, who almost no one figured would make the final two on the seventh edition of “Survivor” on CBS, was the surprise winner of $1 million, plus a new SUV, on the series finale last night.
The vote, tallied live on national TV, was six for her and only one for the other finalist, 51-year-old Cincinnati Scout leader Lillian Morris.
After the vote was announced, Diaz-Twine, a 29-year-old office assistant and married mother of two, wept and embraced relatives at the show’s live finale, telecast from CBS’s Television City studios in Hollywood.
“I represented myself the way I really am,” said Diaz-Twine, crediting her honesty with getting her to the finals of the most treacherous edition of “Survivor” yet.
To reach the final two, Diaz-Twine faced off against three of the most steadfast competitors.
Besides Morris, who wore her Scout uniform throughout the 39-day ordeal in Panama’s Pearl Islands, the other two finalists were Mississippi mortician Darrah Johnson, 22, winner of three consecutive immunity challenges, and cunning Jon Dalton, 29, of Danville, Va.
Dalton had even gone so far as to lie in an earlier episode about his grandmother’s death in order to garner sympathy during a crucial vote.
The cocky Dalton, who was confident he would win it all, was bested in the final physical challenge by Morris, who was able to balance herself on a raft in choppy water longer than he.
Johnson was voted off in the evening’s first tribal council early in last night’s show.
It was Morris who looked like the favorite going into last night’s three-hour finale telecast, but she likely lost crucial votes during the interrogation by the jury, which was made up of former castaways, many of whom she had helped vote off.
It was clear from some of the jurors’ reactions that they appreciated the outspoken Diaz-Twine’s candid answers to key questions about the various strategies she employed during their days stranded on the islands.
Indeed, even respected tribe member Rupert Boneham questioned Morris’ honesty and likely swung some jurors toward Diaz-Twine.
By the time the show returned from a commercial break for the final vote count, it was easy to predict who the winner would be.