{"id":32015,"date":"2025-09-19T19:45:09","date_gmt":"2025-09-19T19:45:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/32015\/"},"modified":"2025-09-19T19:45:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-19T19:45:09","slug":"influencer-experience-came-to-be","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/32015\/","title":{"rendered":"Influencer Experience’ Came to Be"},"content":{"rendered":"

Phaith Montoya<\/a> has long been a diehard fan of \u201cSurvivor,\u201d<\/a> the hit CBS reality show that will premiere Season 49 later this month. So when she had the opportunity to actually go to the island as part of the very first \u201cSurvivor: Influencer Experience,\u201d she jumped at the chance.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was insane. A dream come true, a dream that many people might not understand but a few that do can really appreciate it,\u201d Montoya told TheWrap. <\/p>\n

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Released on Thursday, the \u201cSurvivor\u201d influencer experience took eight influencers and did what this series does best: challenged them to survive the island. In addition to Montoya, the cast featured Hannah Kosh, Alyssa Amoroso, Davis Burleson, Karl Jacobs, Mon\u00e9t X Change, Sean Klitzner and Tommy Scibelli. And though the event only lasted 36 hours, CBS didn\u2019t offer an easier version of its crown jewel.<\/p>\n

Contestants had to build their own shelter, earn rice, survive the night during a serious storm and dive into the mud for challenges. There was even an immunity idol as well as a shocking twist. It was classic \u201cSurvivor.\u201d The difference was that all of its contestants were recognizable from YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.<\/p>\n

During the COVID-19 pandemic, CBS president and Chief Marketing Officer Mike Benson realized that more people were watching \u201cSurvivor\u201d across multiple generations. The pandemic especially saw a wave of younger viewers discovering the show.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe were talking about, from marketing perspective, how do we continue to grow this audience?\u201d Benson told TheWrap. He and his team also noticed that there were several influencers and content creators who were \u201cSurvivor\u201d superfans.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe thought, \u2018Well, why don\u2019t we bring them and invite more?\u2019 It kind of happened organically,\u201d he added. \u201cWe really looked at this and we thought, let\u2019s give people who are media influencers the opportunity to experience \u2018Survivor\u2019 in the only way we know how they could experience it \u2014 by doing it.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Thus, the first \u201cSurvivor: Influencer Experience\u201d was born. It was crucial to Benson and the entire \u201cSurvivor\u201d team that this truncated experience was as authentic as possible to the real deal. Casting was handled by Emily Schwartz, CBS\u2019 senior director of innovation, talent and specials, and her team to make sure the creators they selected both respected the show and would make for great entertainment. Benson also noted that the casting process was \u201cvery similar\u201d to the one used for actual seasons of \u201cSurvivor\u201d; the show was serious about not cutting corners for its Internet celebrities.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve never been camping before,\u201d Montoya revealed. What made the experience worse was that her first-ever camping trip happened in the middle of a terrifying thunderstorm. \u201cThat was definitely the hardest thing I\u2019ve ever done in my entire life, and I was questioning quitting a few times, like, how can I do this? I was so cold, my hands were white and my feet, too. It was the hardest night of my entire life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Karl Jacobs<\/a>, who\u2019s worked with MrBeast, noted that the challenge was \u201cmuch harder\u201d than a MrBeast challenge because it was so concentrated. \u201cBut then over the span of a whole week challenge, at least, [a MrBeast challenge] is definitely a little harder,\u201d Jacobs told TheWrap.<\/p>\n

The event exceeded the expectations of both Montoya and Jacobs, who were thrilled to meet host Jeff Probst in person and surprised by how quickly they bonded with their castmates. It also exceeded the expectations of CBS.<\/p>\n

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\u201cYou go there and you think it\u2019s going to be one thing, and it always surprises you. We joke with Jeff, the island surprises you,\u201d Benson said. \u201cIt was just so fun to watch because it\u2019s fun to see how people react to what it is. You really see this group of people go in and discover, not only things that excite them, but discover what is within them and in others and how \u2018Survivor\u2019 brings out both the best and the worst in people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Looking ahead, Benson feels positively about CBS\u2019 latest experiment<\/a> and is possibly open to trying other types of experiences in the future.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to make sure, if we did create these types of experiences, doing it for a show like \u2018NCIS\u2019 versus maybe \u2018The Bold and the Beautiful\u2019 would be a very different type of experience,\u201d Benson explained. \u201cWe want to make sure that whatever we do is not only authentic to the IP that we have, but also to our brand.\u201d<\/p>\n

As for Montoya, she has a theory about why \u201cSurvivor\u201d has such a special place in the hearts of so many creators. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the type of show that strips you of everything and brings you back to humanity. I think in this day and age with social media, we lack that. As influencers, we lack that, probably more than anybody,\u201d she said. \u201cWe always have the cameras on us. We always are caring about engagement. This is all about who you are, how you outplay, outwit, outlast.\u201d<\/p>\n

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