Rachel LaMont’s victory in Survivor 47 was a dramatic journey, and one that almost slipped away from her after a tense Final Four fire-making challenge. If Teeny Chirichillo had won that challenge, Rachel’s chances of claiming the title of “Sole Survivor” would have been significantly slimmer, as it would have placed her in a final battle with both Sam Phalen and Sue Smey. With Sam’s unexpected victory in the fire-making challenge, Rachel entered the Final Tribal Council with a lot of uncertainty, fearing Sam’s strong social game and impressive fire-making performance might win him the jury’s favor.
Despite her doubts, Rachel was ultimately crowned the champion, and her strong performance throughout the game earned her the title of one of the best Survivor players in the “New Era.” Rachel’s strategic gameplay, coupled with her four individual immunity wins, placed her in an elite category, joining the ranks of past Survivor greats like Kelly Wiglesworth, Jenna Morasca, Kim Spradlin, and Chrissy Hofbeck, all of whom share the female individual immunity record for a single season.
In an exclusive interview with Entertainment Weekly, Rachel revealed her uncertainty heading into the Final Tribal Council. She was confident about securing votes from Caroline Vidmar and Genevieve Mushaluk but was unsure about other key jurors, including Kyle Ostwald, Gabe Ortis, Sierra Wright, Andy Rueda, and Teeny Chirichillo. Rachel admitted that she doubted whether Sierra and Andy, in particular, would support her, feeling like they might lean toward Sam due to his strong fire-making victory.
Despite her nerves, Rachel’s victory was secured when Jeff Probst revealed the jury votes. She had doubts about the outcome, with her stomach in knots as the final moments unfolded. However, her doubts were proven wrong, and Rachel emerged as the Sole Survivor, taking home the million-dollar prize.
Rachel’s journey to victory was a testament to her resilience, strategic gameplay, and ability to navigate the complex social dynamics of Survivor. Now, she can relax at home with her husband, enjoying the fruits of her hard-earned victory. If you want to relive her incredible win, you can stream Survivor 47 (and past seasons) on Paramount Plus.