Meet the new cast of Australian Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains

Australian Survivor will return to screens on January 30.

Filmed in Samoa, the 2023 season of Heroes vs. Villains promises to give fans a lot of excitement.

Mixing veteran castaways with new contestants, the cast includes an Olympian, a beauty queen, a TV star, all willing to outwit and outdo each other.

THE CAST

THE HEROES

Ben Law, 41, author and LGBTQIA+ advocate, NSW

The famed author of the Family Law book series, Ben is an avowed fan of Survivor. The announcer says that he is ready to play dirty if the game calls for it.

David Zaharakis, 32, former AFL star, Victoria

The handsome former hero from Essendon says that when it comes to playing Survivor, there’s no line he’s not willing to cross.

Felicity ‘Flick’ Palmateer, 29, big wave surfer, Gold Coast

New mother-of-one, Flick, a Survivor veteran, says she’s stronger than ever and it’s “time for a hero to win the game.”

Flick was one of the featured contestants on the first season of Australian Survivor in 2016.

She became a fan favorite for her bravery in Australian Survivor: Brain vs. Brawn, when her mother died during filming.

Gerry Geitch, 62, tour pilot, Queensland

A veteran pilot, Gerry, works on Fraser Island. He considers that his time in his cockpit has prepared him for the rigors of Survivor after having survived several plane crashes.

A free climber, free diver, spear fisherman and Latin dancer, Gerry sounds like the perfectly seasoned castaway.

Hayley Leake, 32, academic, South Australia

With a PhD in pain research, Hayley was crowned the winner of Australian Survivor: Brains Vs. Force in the Outback.

Even though she’s a hero, fans can expect her to be a bit of a villain this season, she says.

Matt Sharp, 25, lifeguard, Gold Coast

Matt’s peers describe the Gold Coast lifeguard as loyal and trustworthy. Matt says that he’s gotten into the adventure series to send the villains ‘packing up home’.

Nina Twine, 24, accounts clerk, Florida, USA

Nina returns as a castaway this season after her brutal exit from Australian Survivor: Blood vs. Water in 2022, when she was competing with her mother and former two-time US Survivor winner, Sandra Diaz-Twine.

She says that if the season was made for anyone, it’s for her, as she’s a hero ‘raised by a villain’.

Paige Donald, 26, jillaroo, central queensland

A down-to-earth, down-to-earth countrywoman, new castaway Paige has been working in the bush like Ringer and Jillaroo since she was 18 years old.

She considers that if you think you’re a hero, “you’re an idiot,” and if you don’t think you’re a hero, “you probably are.”

Rogue Rubin, 32, animal activist, Victoria

The Rogue filmmaker worked undercover in Africa for six years to secretly uncover the activities of poachers.

When it comes to Survivor, he says that he can’t understand why anyone would want to be a villain.

Sam Webb, 34, CEO of Charities, NSW

Sam returns as a castaway after his first appearance in the adventure series six years ago.

Sam, a self-proclaimed ‘fighter’, says that everyone loves the underdog, but sometimes you have to change the rules to win.

Sharni Vinson, 39, actress, New South Wales

Known as the ‘Scream Queen’ for her roles in Hollywood horror movies, fans can expect to see a lean, muscular Sharni this season.

The former Home and Away star says her time as a castaway will show viewers Sharni as “the person.”

Shaun Hampson, 34, former AFL champion, Victoria

The former Richmond Tigers star lasted 32 days as a castaway in his last appearance Australian Survivor: Champions vs. contenders.

This time, Shaun, who is married to supermodel Megan Gale, says he’s happy to be a hero, but he won’t act like one.

VILLAINS

Anjali Rao, 48, bnews anchor, Victoria

Veteran reporter and ‘villain’ for Real Housewives of Melbourne, Anjali is a new castaway and says she’s terrified of putting herself in danger.

She says she wasn’t born a villain, but she can’t think of anything more boring than being a hero.

Fraser Lack, 30, estate agent, Victoria

New Islander Fraser works in high-end residential real estate in Melbourne and enjoys running marathons in his spare time.

He says he’ll play the game without ‘whatever it takes to win’.

George Miladenov, 32, political agent, NSW

George, runner-up on Australian Survivor: Brains vs. Brawn, was known for frustrating fans with his habit of giving up on challenges.

But this time, the Bankstown political operative in Sydney says he’s going to return to the jungle as a ‘pure villain’.

Jackie Glazier, 49, WS poker champion, Victoria

After being kicked out of Australian Survivor: Champions vs. Contenders, Jackie returns as a villain this season.

The competitive poker champion says she’ll use her mental skills to win the game.

Jordie Hansen, 26, landscape designer, Victoria

Jordie became a fan favorite during Australian Survivor: Blood vs. Water, and is known for his big smile, leaving the series with the nickname ‘the Joker’.

This time he says that he is willing to play the Villain, because they are always more fun than the Heroes.

Liz Parnov, 28, Olympic champion pole vaulter, WA

New castaway Liz is used to tough competition after representing Australia in the pole vault at the Barcelona Olympics.

Describing her personality as ‘larger than life’, Liz, who now works in marketing, says that Survivor is the ultimate test for any competitor.

Michael Warren, 44, journalist, New South Wales

Journalist Michael says that media professionals are often seen as villains.

He says villains are read to get their hands dirty and “lie, cheat and steal” to win the game.

Mimi Tang, 30, owner of a luxury car brand, Victoria

PR veteran Mimi has been an amateur boxer since she was 19 years old.

As a villain, she believes that there are no limits to winning challenges and no expectations.

Sarah Marschke, 23, former Miss World Australia, NSW

Former beauty queen Sarah is also a semi-professional rugby league player and has played state competitions for Queensland.

“I look like that dumb blonde,” she says in a trailer for the show, “but you should always fear a beauty queen.”

Shonee Bowtell, 30, HR assistant, Queensland

Known as the only castaway to have played the game three times, Shonee has survived a total of 89 days in her previous two seasons.

Describing the Heroes’ tribe as a ‘siesta fest’, he describes the Villains as ‘his people’.

Simon Mee, 33, carpenter, Queensland

Returning to the jungle after being kicked out of Australian Survivor: Brains vs. Brawn, Simon says that villains “thrive in chaos.”

After playing the game as a hero last time around, Simon says that this season he’s ready to “unleash his full potential.”

Stevie Khouw, 62, independent politician, NSW

A former food delivery driver and now independent politician who is also a volunteer firefighter, Stevie has completed an MA in environmental law since appearing on Australian Survivor: Champions v Contenders.

Stevie says fans can expect him to play the game as a “master villain.”