Fort Worth
Thien An Nguyen is hoping to be the sole “Survivor” and take home a million-dollar prize.
The 24-year-old Fort Worth native and TCU graduate is one of nearly two dozen contestants on “Survivor” season 51, which premieres via CBS on Wednesday, 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.”
Nguyen grew up watching the show and has applied every year she’s been eligible to do so.
“I think that they probably saw a little girl with a very big dream, and they’re like, ‘Let’s see how this goes,’” Nguyen said on being cast in the show.
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Nguyen spoke to the Star-Telegram about the show ahead of the premiere.
The conversation ranges from her earliest memory of “Survivor” to how she trained to be a contestant. Nguyen also shared how she’s balanced continuing her education at TCU while competing on the show.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length. There are no spoilers for the show.
Star-Telegram: Do you remember your earliest memory of “Survivor” and what got you hooked on the show?
Thien An Nguyen: Yeah, so I actually think my parents watched a lot of “Survivor” [while I was] growing up. As a kid, I never really comprehended what was on the TV. I just saw a lot of people having a lot of fun on an island, and years later I forgot about that. But then during COVID, when Survivor was on Netflix, I rediscovered it and was like, “Wait, this is the show that [I watched] growing up.”
During COVID, when the world was so isolated, it was something that brought our families together every single night. It was something that we would look forward to. Like we would do our Zoom classes during the day, and at night, no matter what, we would always watch one, probably two, because we’d be like, “Please, one more episode, Dad.” It was great for our family, bringing us together during a time of so much disconnect in the world.
S-T: You applied several times for the show over the years. Did you do anything special this time around in your submission? Why do you think you were chosen this time?
TAN: As life moves on, you never know, but you continue growing. You think you’re at a maximum, and you just keep growing. Life finds a way to humble you somehow, and you’re like, “You know what? It’s time to expand on myself and pass through any challenges I have.” I started applying during college. Looking back in college, I didn’t realize what a 180 it was. I came into college being a very shy individual, too nervous sometimes to be in a friend group. I remember I would strategically put myself on the side of a friend group, [because] I don’t want to ruin the vibes.
But as I go through college, TCU was such a supportive community in building me into who I am today, challenging my beliefs during school. But at the same time, [I had] such a supportive community of friends, lifelong friends that I have now, that shaped my personality day-by-day, class-by-class. I think in “Survivor,” they’re like, “You know what? Let’s just see how this goes.” I am a super fan. I’ve been applying for a little bit. I applied since I was eligible to apply [at 18 years old]. I think that they probably saw a little girl with a very big dream, and they’re like, “Let’s see how this goes.”
“Permanent Uncertainty” – Castaways marooned in remote Fiji embark upon the Open Era of “Suvivor” and battle to win $1 million. The catchphrase of the season, “permanent uncertainty,” comes into play as soon as the castaways reach the beach and discover that one player must leave to go on a mysterious journey. Then, the first tribal council pits two allies against each other in a dramatic battle of wills, on the two-hour 51st season premiere of “Survivor,” Wednesday, Sept. 23 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on-demand for Paramount+ Premium plan subscribers, or on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs)*. Pictured: Thien An Nguyen. Robert Voets CBS
S-T: I know that our high school sports reporter Charles Baggarly is a friend of yours that you met at TCU, where you graduated and are a current medical student. When did this season of “Survivor” film and did you have to take time off from school to appear on it?
TAN: TCU has a fantastic curriculum where they’re always finding novel ways to build on our education. With a lot of working with the school, they were very kind enough to let me go. I’m forever thankful because they were gracious enough to let me go. I am still making up shifts from the time I was gone [laughs], but I was very thankful. This was back in the spring while I’m doing my clinical rotations, so the school worked with me and were very kind enough to be like, “Hey, we’re gonna find the time to make up your shifts. We’re gonna make this work because, yes, medicine’s your dream, but a person’s not limited to just one dream in life. If ‘Survivor’ is your other dream, you go for it.”
It’s funny that you bring up Charles, because he knows how much I love “Survivor.” For my 21st birthday, I actually did a “Survivor” themed party where my dad was [”Survivor” host] Jeff Probst, and Charles was in the group of us that played “Survivor.” We had our challenges, we voted people out every like 15 minutes, it was so fun. We even brought like blue eggs to try. He can tell you how disgusting that was.
S-T: Who won at the party?
TAN: That one was me. It was my birthday party, so I probably had some leniency. It wasn’t my birthday on “Survivor,” so we’ll see how that fares for me [laughs].
S-T: Going into “Survivor,” I’m sure there are some things you can train for like making fires and other survival tactics. But, how do you train and prepare for something like this when you don’t know what the show is going to throw at you?
TAN: Yeah, in a season where “Permanent Uncertainty” is the theme, how can one even train for that? I kind of just leaned on my background. Growing up, I was actually in Boy Scouts. I come from a family of over 100 cousins, a very big family, all in the DFW area. So big that we made our own Boy Scouts troop. And so growing up, I learned a lot of knots. I learned how to start fires. A lot of wilderness skills, like pitching a tent. Well, out there we didn’t have tents, but you work with what you have and you make the most of it.
I think the most creative thing in Boy Scouts we did was, we didn’t have bowls and plates, so we cooked eggs in orange peels. It’s using whatever you have to the best of your ability and making it functional, making it practical. I didn’t have the same tools in Boy Scouts camp as I did out on “Survivor,” but that creativity had to transpire over. I made the most of my environment.
“Permanent Uncertainty” – Castaways marooned in remote Fiji embark upon the Open Era of “Survivor” and battle to win $1 million. The catchphrase of the season, “permanent uncertainty,” comes into play as soon as the castaways reach the beach and discover that one player must leave to go on a mysterious journey. Then, the first tribal council pits two allies against each other in a dramatic battle of wills, on the two-hour 51st season premiere of “Survivor,” Wednesday, Sept. 23 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on-demand for Paramount+ Premium plan subscribers, or on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs)*. Pictured (L-R) Rob Antonson, Linnea Capobianco, Mike Pinsky, An “Thien An” Nguyen, Brady Booker. Robert Voets CBS
S-T: What was the most surprising thing about being on set and being part of this show?
TAN: You know, I think you have to stay tuned and find out [laughs].
S-T: I’ll take that. You mentioned Fort Worth and TCU already. What’s the reaction been like for you from your family and friends about this whole experience?
TAN: Everyone has been so supportive. Fort Worth is a fantastic place, and sometimes people might be like, so what is in Fort Worth? What is in Fort Worth is my family of over 100 cousins who I love so much, who have supported me throughout my whole life. Then also this community that I’ve been building basically since birth. I haven’t left Fort Worth because I went to TCU for undergrad, and now I’m at TCU’s medical school. It’s somewhere where I’ve truly not built just a place, but a home, building upon the community in itself. I’ve gotten a lot of unrelenting support from the community, and it’s been so exciting.
I was actually at a wedding this weekend, and everyone was just like, “Cheers to ‘Survivor!’” Everyone’s just so positive around me, and it’s just been really encouraging. You know that there’s people around you that love you, but then when you have like a reason to bring it up, it reminds you of how amazing your community is.
“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
S-T: I heard you’re having a watch party for the premiere. What can you say about that?
TAN: Yeah. I wanted to honor all the people that have been with me my whole entire life. The people who supported me, they don’t realize, but in a way, they were out with me on the island as well because they’ve made me into who I am today. They’re part of like how I think and navigate this life, so I wanted to honor my loved ones and friends and just watch it together, and be like, “Hey, it’s me on the screen, but it’s actually all of us playing together out there. It’s a journey we’re taking together.”
S-T: Last thing for you: What can you tease about this season?
TAN: The theme of the season is permanent uncertainty, and all I gotta say about that is that I hope we don’t let you guys down [laughs].
“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.