Fort Worth
A Fort Worth native will compete for the million-dollar prize on “Survivor” this season.
CBS announced this week the 21 castaways that will be on the show’s 51st season, ahead of its special two-hour premiere on Sept. 23. This season’s theme is “Open Era,” in which “every twist, every idol, every advantage in the series’ history may come into play in any order and without warning.”
Thien An Nguyen, 24, will bring some local notoriety to the show, since she is a Fort Worth native and TCU graduate currently enrolled at the university’s medical school.
“’Survivor’ is my dream, it’s my once in a lifetime,” Nguyen said in a “Survivor” promotional video. “I know I can do this game, and I’m gonna have a lot of fun doing it, as well.”
Fort Worth native cast in ‘Survivor’
Nguyen grew up watching “Survivor” with her parents and said that she’s applied ever since she was eligible at 18 years old.
In the promo video, Nguyen continued that she is good for the show since she’s small and has a big smile, which will lead other castaways to open up to her. To that end, she said making genuine connections with people is how she operates in life.
Although, she said being nice may make the game harder for her.
“People doubt that I am able to do this, stab someone in the back,” Nguyen said. “It’s going to hurt a lot, I’m gonna feel that knife going in, as well.”
“Survivor” 51 contestant An “Thien An” Nguyen. Season 51 is set to premiere Wednesday, Sept. 23 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Robert Voets/CBS ©2026 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Robert Voets CBS
As for her playing style, Nguyen says she hates losing and will play the most “authentic, cutthroat game possible.”
“I’m trying to garner all that courage to just believe in myself,” Nguyen said. “You don’t know what around you is gonna disappear one day, so I wanna enjoy my life to the fullest.”
🎬 In case you missed it:
“Survivor” season 51 premieres Sept. 23 on CBS.
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Brayden Garcia is the entertainment reporter at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, where he mainly writes about how the film and TV industry impacts North Texas, from Taylor Sheridan shows to the Fort Worth Film Commission and everything in between.