Meet the 'Survivor 46' Cast! Venus Vafa Has a High Threshold to Trust
Venus Vafa is looking up to the bright night sky of Fiji, aiming to be the newest planet in the Survivor solar system. The 24-year-old is currently a data analyst but aims to go into immigration law, helping those like her parents who struggled to move from Iran to Canada. A life of bullying has left Venus with a high threshold to trust, leaving an often cold first impression from the Canadian, though she affirms she's a "secret softy." But make no mistake, even if she's not the Regina George you see from looking at her, she's more than happy to let someone else get hit by a bus to get the win.
Read on for my interview with Venus, and check in with Parade.com daily for interviews with this season's contestants and other tidbits. Survivor 46 premieres on February 28 with a two-hour premiere on CBS.
Related: Meet the Full Cast of Survivor 46
Interview with Venus from Survivor 46
To start, give me your name, age, and occupation.
My name is Venus. I'm 24 years old, and I'm a data analyst.
So, I have the most obtuse image of a data analyst, which is staring at a spreadsheet and deriving meaning from it. How accurate is that?
Quite accurate. A lot of just random numbers and SQL Python. A lot of boring crap.
How did you end up becoming a data analyst?
So I went to business school. I went to McGill University and got my Bachelor of Commerce there. And this was just a natural next step. But obviously, I'm in a very transitional period of time. I'm pivoting towards a law degree in potentially immigration law. That is my dream and hope. My parents immigrated to Canada from Iran. So, immigration law is something that's really near and dear to my heart. I volunteer a lot with refugees. So that's definitely something that I'm aiming to turn my career towards.
That's a really noble cause, wanting to help those who, due to systemic procedures, need that assistance to help live the lives they want.
Definitely. I know my parents had a really difficult time immigrating to Canada. So, if I could just be a step in the process to make that easier for the next person, that would be great.
So now let's talk about yet another transitional period of your life, as you're now becoming a Survivor contestant. What made you decide to come out here to Fiji?
A call for adventure! A yearning for a million dollars. I don't know. Honestly, as a young Persian woman, for me, something that's really important is representation. It sounds trivial, but representation is truly a really powerful thing. Growing up as a young girl, I didn't see anyone on my screen who looked like me or had the same background as me. And that can be pretty isolating and alienating. You feel as though you don't have a space or a voice, and your opinion doesn't matter. So I feel as though if I can just help nudge the needle along and be that source of representation for the next young Persian girl, then that would bring me so much joy.
What's your history with Survivor?
So obviously, during the pandemic, it popped up on my Netflix suggested, like so many other people. But I didn't watch the seasons that were on Netflix. I started from the very beginning. I watched the first 20 seasons and fell in love with the show. I watched those two seasons on Netflix. Completely different pace, completely different show. But I still loved it, obviously. And now the new era, which is even more amazing. So, it just evolved in so many different ways.
That's so interesting. So you decided to start watching Survivor, but you adamantly wanted to start from the beginning rather than a couple of popular seasons.
Oh, 100%. I don't do things half-assed. I had to go full force. Full-tilt boogie, as Jeff likes to put it, whatever that means.
[Laughs.] You might find out now that you're out here. So, from your Survivor viewing, give me one winner and one non-winner who you identify with the most.
Well, Parvati, obviously. I'm absolutely obsessed. She is the definition of being a strong woman. You use your skills to your advantage, and she demonstrated that amazingly. But one non-winner who I am also obsessed with is Courtney Yates. Her wittiness, her sarcasm. I just identify with that humor so much, and she's just a huge inspiration.
You picked two of the most villainous women in the first 20 seasons!
Listen, we need to bring villains back into Survivor. I don't know why people are so scared.
Do you really feel that way? You're ready to start dumping out the rice when you hit the beach?
A little. Oh my goodness. I'm gonna hide the machete. We'll build the shelter. And then I'll consider it.
What is your favorite moment in Survivor history?
Oh, that's such a big question. Okay, this isn't this big moment. But honestly, for me, it was such a key strategic moment that really is a huge source of inspiration I hope to emulate in some way in my game. Season six, Amazon, Rob C. He was caught between a rock and a hard place. It was between him and Jenna. One of them was about to be voted out. Christie was the one in the middle. She had all the power, and he just circumvented all of that. He was like, "You know what? I'm going to take your power from you. I'm gonna go straight to Jenna. And we'll just kick you out instead." And I found that to be such a smart move. And it sounds small, but I feel like it's such a good representation of how a strategic mind can get you out of a really tough place in Survivor.
What's one life experience you feel has prepared you most for the game?
There are so many to choose from. I think one thing that's really important for Survivor is to be able to stay calm when you're caught in a corner and be able to talk your way out of it. And, like I mentioned before, I'm an Iranian woman. And every summer I would go to Iran, there's something called the "morality" police there. So, obviously, I'm very Westernized; I was born and raised in Canada. And I did not really take good care of wearing my hijab and fitting into those rules and standards.
So there was a time where I was actually stopped by the morality police. And it's a very scary situation. It's a situation where they can take you away, and it has serious implications. And I was thankfully able to stall them as long as I possibly could and distract them until I was able to get help from family and friends, who were able to catch up to me and pull me out of that situation. So I feel like, if I'm able to stay calm, cool and collected under those circumstances, I feel like there's nothing Survivor can throw at me that I can't handle.
How do you think you're going to be perceived in this game?
Oh my God, I hate this question. Because I feel like it's gonna be negative. I feel like people are gonna see me, and they're gonna think," Oh, she's some princess. She doesn't wanna get her hands dirty." Queen of Sheba, whatever you may say. But that couldn't be further from the truth. I can get my hands dirty. I handle my own [expletive]. I'm a very independent woman. So I'm excited to flip the script and show people exactly what I made of.
Well, to that point, you said in your bio that your friends would describe you as "someone with a really tough exterior (think Regina George from Mean Girls), but a secret softy." But I would imagine you're hoping to promptly show people you're more than just that first judgment.
I mean, I'm actually such a crybaby. My best friend and my roommate told me before coming on the show, "Don't cry on camera. Promise me you won't cry on camera." But it's bound to happen. It's such a big part of who I am. [Laughs.] A very emotional being. So let's see.
I mean, the new era has proven that authenticity can win you a million dollars at the end of the day.
Vulnerability is key, truly. So we'll see. I have a tendency to put up walls. So hopefully I can bring those down just for a moment.
Is that instinctual? Does that come from a particular experience you had?
I mean, as a kid, I was bullied quite a bit. So you have a tendency to hide who you really are. Because for so long, I was judged and criticized for who I was, and it made me feel as though there was something wrong with me. Like there's something I need to change about myself. But in reality, as you get older, you realize that you can only be yourself. Everyone else is already taken; you can just be who you are. And s,o hopefully, I can show a little bit of that vulnerability in the game.
You also wrote in your bio, "The threshold to earn my trust is quite high BUT I become fast friends with the few people who meet it." How much are you taking that into the game?
If someone becomes my enemy, they're just going to be voted out. So, I don't think it'll be much of an issue. [Laughs.]
[Laughs.] Well, speaking of making those friends, is there anything in particular you're looking for in an alliance partner?
Oh, definitely. There's some eye shifting about. I feel like there are some areas where I may lack that other people might make up for. And so I feel like I'll probably look for people who fill in those gaps. Like a meat shield. I'm a tiny girl. I think I can handle my own [expletive]. But it doesn't hurt to have some muscle to help you out.
Anyone sticking out to you with that criteria right now?
Yes, there's one guy in particular. I wrote [him] in my notes as "Honest Abe." He looks like Abraham Lincoln. I swear to God, I've seen him on my pennies. I feel like I could trust him. So definitely looking to be my number one. [Laughs.]
What about the other side of the penny? Anyone you're picking up some not so good vibes from?
I am not going to describe them. But I feel like some people have that resting bitchface. I have the same thing, so I don't want to judge preemptively. But there are a few people who, when I smile at them, they don't smile back. And that just rubs me the wrong way.
What would you say is your biggest superpower in your life, and how that may play into your game?
My persuasiveness. I have a way of bringing people around to seeing my point of view. So I feel like that'll help me out.
Is there a particular thing you do to persuade someone?
Just batting my eyelashes! [Laughs.] No. Honestly, because I have such a high threshold to earn my trust., I feel like when people do get to see that vulnerable side of me, they feel more invested in me. And so they feel more of a loyalty to me. And I feel like, in that way, I'm able to persuade them more.
What about your biggest piece of kryptonite? Is it those walls you put up that you mentioned before?
Yeah, definitely. I feel like I want to be vulnerable. But I am also afraid that I'm probably gonna be a little cold to start off with. It's gonna be hard for me to warm up to people. So hopefully that doesn't hold me back.
With that in mind, do you have any game plan for approaching those crucial first days?
The game plan is just to be likable. You don't want to be the bitch people hate the first day., I'm trying to smile and laugh at people's jokes and be as pleasant as possible. Hopefully, that works. Hopefully, that's enough.
Related: Everything to Know About Survivor 46
Let's say a boat shows up at your camp on Day 2, asking one person to go on a journey. How would you approach the situation?
Okay, normally, I would say I would volunteer as tribute. I want to step up. But seeing how the new era has been going, I would probably want to send someone I would want to maybe screw over a little bit. You have the chance of losing your vote. And for me, your vote is your voice in the game. I don't wanna throw someone under the bus. But I would take a step back and let them get hit by it.
In general, how much do you plan on incorporating journeys into your game?
Listen, I'm gonna go big or go home. I will take whatever risk there is. Because Jeff even said it to us. On the first day, when he saw us at Ponderosa, he was like, "Listen, just understand, accept the fact that you're probably not going to win. You're definitely not going to win. You'll probably be the first one out. So you might as well play as hard as you can, because you don't want to leave with regret." And that's my mentality.
What's your usual decision-making process in life? Are you someone who tends to think everything through when making an important choice, or do you go more with your gut?
No, screw my gut. I'm very logical. I'm very systematic. There's a full checklist in my mind. And the gut, it plays a role into it. But if I don't feel completely confident on paper, I'm not gonna go through with something.
Are you going to be making checklists out here when you need to make big decisions?
I've been making a checklist. I will listen to my gut when it comes to the social game. But when it comes to the actual strategic part of who to vote out, what blindsides to take risks on, that will probably be more strategic.
Have there been any decisions made on Survivor that you've disagreed with?
Lately, people haven't been playing their immunity idols correctly. And I don't know if it's just like what I'm seeing on my screen. But I kind of want to scream at them and shake them, like, "Why did you play it? You didn't need to!"
How are you going to try to gauge that now that you're playing the game rather than watching it?
I'm trying to use [the idol] for other means. We'll see. You don't just have to use the immunity idol at Tribal. You can use it to get your way in other ways at camp.
Are you talking Russell Hantz wearing the idol around his neck type of behavior?
Oh, absolutely not. That's just crazy behavior. I have some ideas in mind. I don't want to spoil them just yet. But you're gonna have to watch. I'm definitely going to be like Russell Hantz in the sense that I'm going to be looking everywhere.
What excites you most about the new era of Survivor?
Purely [from] a player standpoint, I am so obsessed with the fact that diversity is something that takes a huge part in who gets to play Survivor. I enjoy noticing similarities with people, but I enjoy even more learning in my differences with others. And I feel like, gameplay aside, I'm so excited for this journey. Learning from all these people and gaining a new family. I feel like, at the end of the day, we're gonna hate each other, we're gonna love each other. But we're gonna be family.
Talk to me about representation. Because, as you mentioned, you're from a culture we really haven't seen on Survivor up to this point. Is there any pressure at all from you to feel like how you play as a representative of the Persian community?
Oh, 100%. That's a conversation I had with myself. But I need to remind myself of the fact that, sure, I want to play a part in representation. But I am just one person of a very diverse culture. It is a tapestry of different people. I am not the representative of all Iranian women. I'm just one person to just remind you guys, "Hey, we exist. We have a voice. We belong here, too." I'm not going to be the ambassador for an entire nation. [Laughs.]
I completely agree. It's the difference between being a voice and being a mouthpiece. You're highlighting a cultural perspective, not the cultural perspective.
I know that's an issue Yul had with his season. He was afraid that he was representing l all Asian people, like he had like an entire culture on his back. And I don't want that to impede me. I still want to play a hard game, even if that means I'll be a villain. And I'll backstab and I'll do whatever. Cheat, lie, steal, barter, I'll do it all. But I'm just gonna play the game as myself.
What celebrity or fictional character would you want to come out for a Loved Ones visit?
There's so much to choose from. Oh my god. I guess I would want someone strong who would be able to win the challenge for me, like The Rock or something. I'll do The Rock.
Finally, what's your emotional cocktail right now? How are you feeling as the big day gets closer and closer?
I feel very frenetic right now. There's a lot of excited energy, but there's also a lot of nervous energy. I'm excited to play the game. But I'm also nervous as to how I'm going to come off. I do want to represent myself authentically, but that's obvious. I think that's a fear everyone has. We had one of our first sit-down interviews today. And I feel like there's a lot of nervousness to come prepared with lines, little quippy remarks. There's so much pressure to perform and be a character. But then I just have to realize that you can just be yourself and to just be comfortable with who you are and not come prepared.
Next, check out our interview with Survivor 46 contestant Tevin Devis.
