Sonja Christopher etched her name into the annals of television history in the year 2000 when she stepped onto the iconic stage of the reality TV phenomenon, “Survivor: Borneo.” At 63 years old, Sonja, a recent resident of a retirement community, caught wind of the show through a newspaper article and felt an immediate pull towards the adventure it promised.
Though her time on the island was brief, Sonja’s legacy was cemented as the inaugural contestant to be voted off “Survivor.” Her early exit left an indelible mark on the show’s narrative.
Earlier this year, at the age of 87, Sonja Christopher passed away, prompting heartfelt tributes from the “Survivor” community. Jeff Probst, the show’s venerable host, took to the official “Survivor” Instagram page to share fond memories of Sonja, describing her as one of the kindest souls to grace the game. He reminisced about their interactions and expressed gratitude for having crossed paths with her.
Rob Cesternino, a former contestant on a later season of “Survivor,” also paid homage to Sonja on social media, acknowledging her pioneering role on the show. He credited her for paving the way for all who followed in her footsteps, punctuating his tribute with a ukulele emoji, a nod to Sonja’s memorable performance serenading her fellow contestant Richard Hatch with “Bye Bye Blues.”
Despite her early exit from the competition, Sonja’s dedication to “Survivor” remained steadfast. In 2017, she proudly declared that she hadn’t missed a single episode in 17 years and expressed her intent to continue watching for another 17 before joining the “giant Tribal Council in the sky.”
