Sonja Christopher made history in 2000 as one of the first contestants on the reality television series “Survivor: Borneo.” At the age of 63, Sonja, who had recently moved to a retirement community, saw a story about “Survivor” in the newspaper and knew she wanted to try something new.
Although Sonja’s time on the show was short-lived, she will always be remembered as the very first person ever to be voted off of “Survivor.” Her early departure from the competition made her a memorable figure in the show’s history.
Earlier this year, at the age of 87, Sonja Christopher passed away. In honor of her memory, Jeff Probst, the show’s host, shared heartfelt words about her on the official “Survivor” Instagram page. Probst described Sonja as one of the kindest individuals to ever play the game and reminisced about their positive interactions over the years. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to have crossed paths with her.
Rob Cesternino, a former contestant on season 6 of “Survivor,” also paid tribute to Sonja on social media. He acknowledged her significant contribution to the show, stating that she paved the way for every person who followed in her footsteps. In his tribute, Cesternino included a ukulele emoji, symbolizing Sonja’s memorable performance on the show when she played the ukulele and sang “Bye Bye Blues” to fellow contestant Richard Hatch, who eventually won the season.
Despite being voted off early in the competition, Sonja’s love for “Survivor” did not waver. In fact, she proudly revealed in 2017 that she had not missed a single episode in the past 17 years. She expressed her intention to continue watching the show for another 17 years before gracefully departing to the “giant Tribal Council in the sky.”
Before retiring, Sonja worked as a music therapist. Three years before her appearance on “Survivor,” she was diagnosed with breast cancer. During that difficult period, Sonja’s significant other sought refuge elsewhere, leaving her alone to confront her battle as a survivor. It was during this time that she stumbled across an article in the morning paper announcing CBS’s appeal for Americans to engage in a 39-day desert island adventure. Sonja’s unexpected journey began at that exact moment.
Sonja Christopher will always have a special place in the epic history of “Survivor.” Her daring energy and bold outlook on life continue to inspire both show viewers and future participants.
