Each weekday, EW will post the answers from a different player.
I felt like a total fraud.
I spent the whole first part of the game feeling like I wasnt enough.
Robert Voets/CBS via Getty Images
But then a reward challenge on day 22 along with some kind words of encouragement changed everything.
And that toughness extended to off-camera as well.
Read on for all the intel!
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: First off, give the update as to what youve been up to since appearing onSurvivor.
CHRISSY HOFBECK: Life is good!
Ive been enjoying my family a ton.
My work was highlighted in Ron Howards critically acclaimed National Geographic documentary television seriesBreakthrough.
Its not aboutSurvivor,but I do talk aboutSurvivor.
CBS was very gracious in providing me permissions to talk about my experience and include quotes and pictures.
(The rest of his quote and others are on Amazonhere.)
Im still waiting on your endorsement, Dalton!
What is your proudest moment ever from playingSurvivor?
Tying the record for the most individual immunity wins by a woman in a season (four).
Im also really proud of being a runner-up.
I know I didnt win but I got SECOND!
No shame in that!
Oh heck the whole thing.
The fact that I even got cast in the first place makes me really proud.
Honestly the entire experience is a dream come true, and I am truly thankful.
What is your biggest regret from yourSurvivorexperience?
I regret that I spent the whole first part of the game feeling like I wasnt enough.
I felt like I was surely going to do poorly and I took a spot from someone more worthy.
I wanted to make it true.
I acted confident on the outside but inside I felt like a total fraud.
It left me spending that whole first part of the game just waiting.
Waiting for the next meal.
Waiting for the challenge to be over.
(Cue the vomit.)
Its a terrible way to live life just waiting for tomorrow because you dont feel good enough today.
Then we hit day 22.
JP looked me calmly in the face and said, Just dive in and swim your little heart out.
Those words actually changed my life.
I realized that all I had to do was my best.
I dove in and I swam my little heart out.
Turns out the producers saw something in me that I hadnt seen in myself.
Its a life lesson, really.
You are enough dont waste even a second of the good stuff thinking otherwise.
Day 38 right before the final four challenge, I was giving a confessional.
One of the production guys forgot to put sandbags on the lighting equipment to stabilize it.
A strong breeze came and a heavy piece of lighting equipment crashed down on my leg.
I burst out crying and remember saying, Oh my gosh, I think you just broke my leg.
Of course, this is behind the scenes how would the show even explain this?
They offered me ice, but mostly I just tried to push through it.
They felt absolutely terrible.
The guy who forgot the sandbags was very young.
He kept apologizing over and over.
Somehow, I got it together and went to the challenge.
I felt like he was willing me to win.
I swear I won that challenge for him.
I dont even know his name.
Four weeks after returning home, my leg was still swollen and tender.
How do you feel about the edit you got on the show?
I was thrilled to be invited to play and am completely happy with my edit.
It was super fun being the villain on a tribe of heroes.
Next time Id love to be the hero on a tribe of villains.
What was it like coming back to regular society after being out there?
Was there culture shock or an adjustment coming back?
When I asked my employer for an unpaid leave of absence to playSurvivor, I was let go.
Rehab was the rumor of choice.
I ended up staying home a lot that summer.
It was easier than lying.
It took a good year to resume full mobility of my left arm.
All of this was worth the experience of playing the greatest reality television game in history.
Whom do you still talk, text, or email with the most from your season?
I talk most regularly with Dr. Mike and Ben.
Were older and married with families so I think we just get each other.
Ill get down to see her for a visit in the next couple years for sure.
My very closestSurvivorpeople are some of theSurvivormoms.
Leslie Nease fromSurvivor: China(season 15) is one of my closest friends on the planet.
The entire extendedSurvivorfamily is a gift.
I could name 50 more people.
And once you playSurvivorthen theBig BrotherandAmazing Raceworlds open up.
Honestly, this entire experience is the gift that keeps on giving.
Im a reality TV freak.
The cast is magnificent.
I recently did a re-watch and the music and cultural aspects are so moving.
The conditions were horrible; the cast is great.
I guess those are my favorite seasons but lets be real Survivoris like pizza.
When its great, its amazing, and when its not great, its still pretty amazing.
Except the Edge, which is the sardines that ruin the pizza.
Whos one player from anotherSurvivorseason you wish you could have played with or against and why?
There is no way to narrow this down to one!
If you could make one change to any aspect ofSurvivor,what would it be and why?
There are FAR too many idols and advantages.
Production needs diversity in race and gender.
Yes, this is a very big deal.
Players should receive mandatory psych/therapy through the airing of their season and probably a couple months beyond.
That’s more than one.
Finally, would you play again if asked?
Yes, in a heartbeat.
