Survivor 44: Meet the 18 New Castaways (Video, Photos)

Pictured (L-R): Top Row: Lauren Harpe, Carson Garrett, Matthew Grinstead-Mayle, Claire Rafson, Danny Massa, Heidi Lagares-Greenblatt, Bruce Perreault, Sarah Wade, and Brandon Cottom. Bottom Row: Jaime Lynn Ruiz, Kane Fritzler, Carolyn Wiger, Josh Wilder, Frannie Marin, Matt Blankinship, Maddy Pomilla, Yamil “Yam Yam” Arocho, and Helen Li. Photo: Robert Voets/CBS ©2022

On Tuesday (Jan 31) Survivor announced the 18 new castaways who will compete against each other when the Emmy Award-winning series returns for its 44th season with a two-hour premiere, Wednesday, March 1 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. The series is also available to stream live and on demand on the CBS app and Paramount+*. The show is hosted by Emmy Award winner Jeff Probst.

Stranded on the beautiful islands of Fiji, these new players must form a society and adapt to their physical and social surroundings, forcing them to decide what is more dangerous: the environment or navigating the complex social game and placing trust in their tribemates.

Three Tribes of Six

The participants will be divided into three tribes of six and face a faster, more dangerous season from the moment they step on the beach. The moral dilemmas and mysterious new layers of this complex game will push even the strongest competitors to their limits, and the mental and physical challenges require players to constantly adjust their strategies in order to make it another day.

In the end, only one will remain to claim the title of Sole Survivor and win the $1 million prize.

Survivor Season 44 Castaways

Name: Yamil “Yam Yam” Arocho

Yamil “Yam Yam” Arocho from SURVIVOR Season 44. — Photo: Robert Voets/CBS

Age: 36
Hometown: Bayamon, Puerto Rico
Current Residence: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Occupation: Salon owner

Name: Matt Blankinship

Matt Blankinship from SURVIVOR Season 44. — Photo: Robert Voets/CBS

Age: 27
Hometown: Albany, Calif.
Current Residence: San Francisco, Calif.
Occupation: Security software engineer

Name: Brandon Cottom

Brandon Cottom from SURVIVOR Season 44. — Photo: Robert Voets/CBS

Age: 30
Hometown: Newtown, Pa.
Current Residence: Newton, Pa.
Occupation: Security specialist

Name: Kane Fritzler

Kane Fritzler from SURVIVOR Season 44. — Photo: Robert Voets/CBS

Age: 25
Hometown: Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
Current Residence: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Occupation: Law student

Name: Carson Garrett

Carson Garrett from SURVIVOR Season 44. — Photo: Robert Voets/CBS

Age: 20
Hometown: Rome, Ga.
Current Residence: Atlanta, Ga.
Occupation: NASA engineering student

Name: Matthew Grinstead-Mayle

Matthew Grinstead-Mayle from SURVIVOR Season 44. — Photo: Robert Voets/CBS

Age: 43
Hometown: Pickerington, Ohio
Current Residence: Columbus, Ohio
Occupation: Barbershop owner

Name: Lauren Harpe

Lauren Harpe from SURVIVOR Season 44. — Photo: Robert Voets/CBS ©2022

Age: 31
Hometown: Port Arthur, Texas
Current Residence: Mont Belvieu, Texas
Occupation: Elementary school teacher

Name: Heidi Lagares-Greenblatt

Heidi Lagares-Greenblatt from SURVIVOR Season 44. — Photo: Robert Voets/CBS

Age: 43
Hometown: Ponce, Puerto Rico
Current Residence: Pittsburgh, Pa.
Occupation: Engineering manager

Name: Helen Li

Helen Li from SURVIVOR Season 44. — Photo: Robert Voets/CBS ©2022

Age: 29
Hometown: Wayland, Mass.
Current Residence: San Francisco, Calif.
Occupation: Product manager

Name: Frannie Marin

Frannie Marin from SURVIVOR Season 44. — Photo: Robert Voets/CBS

Age: 23
Hometown: St. Paul, Minn.
Current Residence: Cambridge, Mass.
Occupation: Research coordinator

Name: Danny Massa

Danny Massa from SURVIVOR Season 44. — Photo: Robert Voets/CBS

Age: 32
Hometown: Bronx, N.Y.
Current Residence: Bronx, N.Y.
Occupation: N.Y.C. firefighter

Name: Bruce Perreault

Bruce Perreault from SURVIVOR Season 44. — Photo: Robert Voets/CBS

Age: 46
Hometown: West Warwick, R.I.
Current Residence: Warwick, R.I.
Occupation: Insurance agent

Name: Maddy Pomilla

Maddy Pomilla from SURVIVOR Season 44. — Photo: Robert Voets/CBS

Age: 28
Hometown: Huntingtown, Md.
Current Residence: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Occupation: Charity projects manager

Name: Claire Rafson

Claire Rafson from SURVIVOR Season 44. — Photo: Robert Voets/CBS

Age: 25
Hometown: Highland Park, Ill.
Current Residence: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Occupation: Tech investor

Name: Jaime Lynn Ruiz

Jaime Lynn Ruiz from SURVIVOR Season 44. — Photo: Robert Voets/CBS

Age: 35
Hometown: Mesa, Ariz.
Current Residence: Mesa, Ariz.
Occupation: Yogi

Name: Sarah Wade

Sarah Wade from SURVIVOR Season 44. — Photo: Robert Voets/CBS

Age: 27
Hometown: Rochester, Minn.
Current Residence: Chicago, Ill.
Occupation: Management consultant

Name: Carolyn Wiger

Carolyn Wiger from SURVIVOR Season 44. — Photo: Robert Voets/CBS

Age: 35
Hometown: North St. Paul, Minn.
Current Residence: Hugo, Minn.
Occupation: Drug counselor

Name: Josh Wilder

Josh Wilder from SURVIVOR Season 44. — Photo: Robert Voets/CBS

Age: 34
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
Current Residence: Atlanta, Ga.
Occupation: Surgical podiatrist 

About mj santilli 34845 Articles
Founder and editor of mjsbigblog.com, home of the awesomest fan community on the net. I love cheesy singing shows of all kinds, whether reality or scripted. I adore American Idol, but also love The Voice, Glee, X Factor and more!