Sandra wins Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains

Sandra Diaz-Twine became the only 2 time winner in Survivor history on Sunday night when she was crowned the winner of 'Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains.'


The 34-year-old bank teller from Fayetteville, N.C. beat Parvati Shallow and Russell Hantz to win the million dollar prize and also claiming the ultimate bragging right by becoming the only 2 time winner.  The final vote was 6 votes for Sandra, 3 votes for Parvati, and 0 for Russell.

"It makes me the queen," Diaz-Twine said of her two-time win.

Sandra also has the distinction of winning the game twice without EVER winning a single challenge.  "If she can win the game twice, there is a flaw in the game," a disgruntled Russell said.

Russell, who many (including me) thought should have won last season, did win an audience-voted prize worth $100,000 for the Player of the Season.

Now, i'm not quite ready to call Sandra the best Survivor ever.  I know she is the only 2 time winner.  But for my money, Parvati convinced me this season that she owns the title of best ever.    Russell was well on his way to being the best ever after last season, but he really let his ego get the best of him this season.   He alienated his fellow players, not really getting close to any of them.  His lack of a social gameplay strategy hurt him last season and it hurt him again this season.

I'm not a big fan of someone who plays the game by riding the coattails of other players.  Many people say that is a valid strategy, and it may be.  However it's not a strategy that I respect as a fan of the game.  Parvati made some real game changing, risky moves.  The moves paid off.  Sandra really made no "moves" in the game.  She really took no risks.  Yes she won.... AGAIN, and good for her.  Sandra seems like a great person, and of the 3 finalists this season, she is probably the nicest of them all.  But Survivor is not about being nice.    Much like last season, in my opinion, the jury made the wrong decision.  My vote would have gone to Parvati.

But when it comes right down to it, you are supposed to Outwit, Outplay, and Outlast everyone else in order to win the game.  Sandra certainly did that, and she did it for the 2nd time.

I will say that after 20 seasons, Survivor came through with it's best season ever.  It was an amazing season and I for one cannot wait until the fall when 'Survivor: Nicaragua' premieres.