\ufeffIf you’re new to Alone, the series drops a group of 10 participants, who must use their wits and only basic survival tools to survive harsh weather, hostile locations and aggressive wildlife and it’s all in the name of winning a $500,000 cash prize.<\/p>\n
![\"Katie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/https:\/\/prod.static9.net.au\/fs\/d67d2cf7-c457-4696-a74f-d8552a0620ae.jpeg\")
From cattle ranches to the world stage. Katie Rydge is an Australian competing on Season 12 of Alone. (Stan)<\/p>\n
Stream episodes of Alone US now, only on Stan.<\/a><\/p>\n Tasked to survive the longest in the rugged terrain of South Africa with only 10 carefully chosen items, Katie is representing not just Australia but a lifetime devoted to living in harmony with the land.<\/p>\n “It felt like the universe tapping me on the shoulder and saying, ‘Come on, it’s your time. Let’s go. We’re going on an adventure,'” she told 9Entertainment.<\/p>\n And what an adventure it’s been.<\/p>\n Katie’s love of nature is anything but new. She grew up between city life and the remote Australian outback, mustering cattle on horseback and forging a deep connection with the land from an early age. <\/p>\n In her 20s, she travelled to the US to deepen her knowledge of primitive living skills and wilderness rites of passage, a journey that would shape her life’s work.<\/p>\n “I’ve been in the survival skills, nature connection, and rite-of-passage world for over 20 years,” she said. “I’ve trained with some of the best survivalists in America and spent years with Aboriginal communities in Arnhem Land. Their way of being, not panicking, not needing to dominate the environment, has really influenced my style.”<\/p>\n READ MORE: Reality star Amy Slaton shares rare glimpse into life with sons and fianc\u00e9 Brian Scott Lovvorn – as fans all say the same thing<\/a>\ufeff<\/p>\n Unlike many contestants who crumble under the intense isolation and physical deprivation of the show, Katie’s calm, grounded presence has stood out. The first five days of the series has already seen four participants leave the show due to severe dehydration, diarrhoea and bloody vomiting.<\/p>\n “I think just because I’ve spent so much time on country, I feel familiar with being out in the bush on my own,” she explained. “The show is definitely a challenge, but I think I just have a good sense of humour, and rather than battling the land, I try to find where I belong in it.”<\/p>\n EXCLUSIVE: Samuel woke from a near-death accident speaking in a Russian accent. His TV job had a unique role in his recovery<\/a><\/p>\n While South Africa’s harsh environment proved too much for some (several contestants tapped out early due to dehydration and illness), Katie’s decades of preparation gave her an edge.<\/p>\n Still, she admits it wasn’t easy.<\/p>\n “You couldn’t take a sleeping bag, just a blanket, and the nights dropped below zero. The land didn’t feel psychologically welcoming. It was ancient, barren and intimidating at times.”<\/p>\n Each Alone contestant is permitted to bring 10 survival items. For Katie, each choice was deliberate and a little emotional. Her list included:<\/p>\n Bow and arrowsFishing line and hooksLeathermanSilky sawWater potAxeFerro rodSaltCanvas tarpBlanket<\/p>\n “You can’t bring personal items, but those ten things become your most personal objects,” she said. “I did sneak in a photo of my kids holding a cake that said ‘Team Katie’. That came with me everywhere.”<\/p>\n While Katie is no stranger to hunting, fishing, and building shelter with limited tools, she says the real test on Alone was mental.<\/p>\n “Survival is mostly a mental game,” she said. “The toughest part was staying resilient after missing a big shot or going days without food. Something like that emotionally affects you out there. It’s not just a meal, it could mean everything.”<\/p>\n She was shown stalking an ibis in a recent episode, but just missed. “It was such a perfect shot, just a little too low. You feel gutted, but you’ve got to dig deep and keep going.”<\/p>\n READ MORE: Travel Guides star Jono Fren and wife Dani introduce Fren family member you won’t see on TV<\/a><\/p>\n While Katie had the backing of her children and community, not everyone was on board initially.<\/p>\n “My mum was slightly terrified,” she laughed. “She hadn’t watched the show and was like, ‘Oh my God, are you going to come back alive?'”<\/p>\n Now safely home on Gumbaynggirr Country on the NSW coast, Katie says the experience was nothing short of transformational.<\/p>\n “This was an initiation into the next phase of my life. I hope my journey inspires women around the world to connect with the natural world and find their strength in it.”<\/p>\n Stream episodes of Alone US now, only on Stan.<\/a><\/p>\n \ufeffNine Entertainment Co (the publisher of this website) owns and operates the streaming service Stan<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Katie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/https:\/\/prod.static9.net.au\/fs\/be3df061-ffa6-4739-98b4-b54253ba6e71.png\")
Katie is calm, collected and completely capable. (Stan)<\/p>\n![\"Katie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/https:\/\/prod.static9.net.au\/fs\/52c67a28-5ed5-48ff-9c00-e6a2d2ff7892.png\")
Katie Rydge is from Emerald Beach, Gumbaynggirr Country, NSW, Australia. (Stan)<\/p>\n