{"id":419085,"date":"2026-08-28T09:00:19","date_gmt":"2026-08-28T09:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/419085\/"},"modified":"2026-08-28T09:00:19","modified_gmt":"2026-08-28T09:00:19","slug":"fort-worth-native-among-castaways-in-survivor-season-51","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/419085\/","title":{"rendered":"Fort Worth native among castaways in \u2018Survivor\u2019 season 51"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fort Worth<\/p>\n

A Fort Worth native will compete for the million-dollar prize on \u201cSurvivor\u201d this season.<\/p>\n

CBS announced this week<\/a> the 21 castaways that will be on the show\u2019s 51st season, ahead of its special two-hour premiere on Sept. 23. This season\u2019s theme is \u201cOpen Era,\u201d in which \u201cevery twist, every idol, every advantage in the series\u2019 history may come into play in any order and without warning.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thien An Nguyen<\/a>, 24, will bring some local notoriety to the show, since she is a Fort Worth native and TCU graduate currently enrolled at the university\u2019s medical school.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2019Survivor\u2019 is my dream, it\u2019s my once in a lifetime,\u201d Nguyen said in a \u201cSurvivor\u201d promotional video<\/a>. \u201cI know I can do this game, and I\u2019m gonna have a lot of fun doing it, as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fort Worth native cast in \u2018Survivor\u2019<\/p>\n

Nguyen grew up watching \u201cSurvivor\u201d with her parents and said that she\u2019s applied ever since she was eligible at 18 years old.<\/a><\/p>\n

In the promo video, Nguyen continued that she is good for the show since she\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Although, she said being nice may make the game harder for her.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople doubt that I am able to do this, stab someone in the back,\u201d Nguyen said. \u201cIt\u2019s going to hurt a lot, I\u2019m gonna feel that knife going in, as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\u201cSurvivor\u201d \u201cSurvivor\u201d 51 contestant An \u201cThien An\u201d 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 \u00a92026 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Robert Voets CBS <\/p>\n

As for her playing style, Nguyen says she hates losing and will play the most \u201cauthentic, cutthroat game possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m trying to garner all that courage to just believe in myself,\u201d Nguyen said. \u201cYou don\u2019t know what around you is gonna disappear one day, so I wanna enjoy my life to the fullest.\u201d<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfac In case you missed it: <\/p>\n

\u201cSurvivor\u201d season 51 premieres Sept. 23 on CBS.<\/p>\n

Related Stories from Fort Worth Star-Telegram<\/p>\n


\n \"Profile
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

Brayden Garcia<\/a><\/p>\n

Fort Worth Star-Telegram<\/p>\n

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.\n <\/p>\n