Survivor: South Pacific – Christine Shields Markoski
Christine Shields Markoski, 39
Teacher
Merrick, New York
She was voted out of the Upolu tribe in the second episode, but Christine Shields Markoski showed amazing tenacity to win five duels on Redemption Island. Eventually, she was defeated by Savaii’s Ozzy Lusth, following his risky plan to evict himself in order to make his tribe stronger once the two teams merged. Here’s what Christine had to say about her time on the show.
How do you feel about being off the show?
I feel sad. Mostly I feel sad for my kids because they loved watching me on TV. And they loved being the celebrities at school.
How tough was it on Redemption Island?
It was a lot harder than I thought it was going to be. At first, it was really lonely and I focused a lot on what I did wrong and what happened while I was on the beach. And I learnt you have to keep busy or you’ll really sink into a hole. Once I got through that and got used to it and learnt how to really live there it was OK. I thought I even might even build a summer home. The Hamptons are so last year.
Was it weird to welcome new people into your tent or whatever you had and then duel with them the next day?
I wish I had a tent. It was just a mattress of bamboo. It was a little strange that they’d come Redemption Island and we’d bond in the night and by morning it was kill or be killed. We all just knew that and there weren’t any hard feelings.
What was the plan, to make it to the merge or were you only thinking duel by duel?
At first, it was duel by duel. But by the fourth and fifth, I said, “This is it. Now I’m going to have get a back in.” I paid my dues.
Had you made it back in, what would you have done first?
I think I would have gone right to Dawn and see what we could have done together, she and I. That would have been my first plan of attack. We’re both mums. I just thought we had a kinship.
When Ozzy came in, did you believe his story that he was blindsided by Cochran or did you think it was all “BS”?
I bought it every word of it. I had no reason not to. Who would voluntarily say, “Vote me off.” It was completely believable.
Regardless, you still had to face him, right?
God’s honest truth, whenever people came through I just let them get all their anger out. I listened to see if I could gather any information to bring back into the game. With Ozzy, I just let him talk, because we would have to duel no matter what.
You took a stance against Coach which backfired and saw you voted out. If you had your time again, would you change what you did?
No. Coach should have been temporary. I’ll say it again and again. I was calling him out on his excessive laziness, his absences from the beach and absences from doing manual labour. He used what I said as an excuse to put a target on my back.
Why has no-one else questioned Coach’s actions?
On the first day he created an alliance. He picked five people who would follow him without question.
What’s your relationship with Coach like now?
I don’t really feel much for him. I don’t find laziness, arrogance and forcing people to do things they don’t want to do good qualities in a friend. I don’t see a friendship anytime soon.
It was fascinating to see Cochran going against his own tribe. How can you see things unfolding now?
If history shows us anything it’s that Cochran flips and they pick off Savaii tribe members one by one, unless somebody else flips and there is a change in the majority vote.
Morally, was Cochran right to go against his own tribe?
It’s a game. I kept repeating that to myself while I was out there. You do what you have to do to further yourself. He did what he had to do. I think he survived longer than he thought he would.
What’s next for you?
Two loads of laundry and dinner. What do I have in my future? I would do
Survivor again. I’d love to do
The Amazing Race with (fellow contestant) Stacey. That’s like a comedy team from heaven.
•
Survivor: South Pacific, 9.30pm, Tues, Nine
Read our other Survivor interviews!
Semhar Tadasse
Mark “Papa Bear” Caruso
Stacey Powell
Elyse Umemoto