By John Powell – GlobalTV.com

She may have had a little stumble with her use of the Knowledge Is Power but Sophi Balerdi more than redeemed herself by playing an intense and compelling final phase of Survivor. She not only won the final immunity challenge but she finished in second place. A surviving member of the doomed Kele tribe, Sophi evolved her game to become one of the biggest comeback stories in Survivor history.

John Powell: It’s great to be talking to you today. How are you?

Sophi Balerdi: I’m so good! I’m on cloud nine right now, I can’t lie!

John Powell: I have to say, finishing second isn’t shabby at all.

Sophi Balerdi: No, and I feel like I finished on a high note and hopefully redeeming myself a little after last week. I’m proud of myself. I feel like I did the best I possibly could. Obviously, when you lose Survivor, you have regrets. There’s always something you wish you’d done differently, something you could’ve or should’ve done. But considering the start I had and how I finished, I can’t be mad. We have a deserving winner, and she’s one of my best friends. I’m proud of her, I’m proud of myself. I’m proud that the final three were all women. Yeah, I’m happy now.

John Powell: At the final tribal, you actually expressed surprise that you got a couple of votes. Were you not aware of the impression you had on the jury?

Sophi Balerdi: I’m a very self-aware person and a big superfan of Survivor. Sitting next to someone who won four immunities, tying the record for how many times a woman has won immunity, and also winning fire, I knew it was going to be an uphill battle. If I were on the jury, I would’ve voted for her too, so I knew, but I gave it my all at final tribal. I was just so surprised when jurors told me afterward that some were 50/50. Savannah even turned to me before Jeff read the votes and said, “You just won.” When I kept hearing my name, I was like, “What? Did I really do that?” I knew I played a good game. probably better than was shown, and I proved that at final tribal, which I think swayed a couple people. I’m proud of myself. I’m glad I got second because I think Savannah deserved the win but I also think I deserved second place.

John Powell: Look at your journey. You were on a tribe that was devastated, you couldn’t have been lower, and yet you finished second. You have to take a lot of pride in that accomplishment. Playing from the bottom is really hard and you were stuck there almost your entire game.

Sophi Balerdi: The entire game. I never truly felt euphoric except when I won that immunity. I was like, “Is this what it feels like to win?” It was surreal. Winning that last immunity was a full-circle moment, and I feel like I earned my spot in the final three after everything I went through, my best friend in the game being bitten by a snake, being in the minority from the first vote at the merge, losing every challenge before the merge. If Savannah didn’t win, I think I definitely deserved second.

John Powell: When you came to the fire-making challenge, you had a big decision to make. You took a different route, deciding not to listen to anyone else and go with your gut. How did you come to that decision and why?

Sophi Balerdi: I had made some moves with my heart that might’ve cost me the game. I didn’t want to hear anyone’s input. I needed to act for myself. I didn’t want to feel bad about putting someone in fire. I had two options: putting Rizo in fire or putting myself in fire with Savannah. Ultimately, I convinced myself that I had earned my spot in the final three. I thought if Rizo beat Savannah in fire I’d still have a good chance to win. I stand by that decision now.

John Powell: This season, it was a battle of the Sophies. I spoke to the other Sophie, and she said she was hoping you’d go home so she’d be the only Sophie. What was that like?

Sophi Balerdi: (laughs) I’ll never forget the first day when she said her name, and I was like, “There’s another Sophie?” There was already another Sophie who had won. I had to make a name for myself. I was bummed but I loved working with her. She helped us make moves but I was also happy to vote her out. I left my mark on Season 49 and she’s amazing. If she had stayed, she could’ve won. I’m glad I got her out for multiple reasons.

John Powell: Let’s get a little spiritual. My grandfather passed away when I was younger and he was more like a father to me. You spoke a lot about your grandmother and how much she meant to you. Did you ever feel her presence out on the island?

Sophi Balerdi: 100%. She was a mother figure too, raising me as much as my parents did and losing her was devastating. Survivor became a connection to her. I felt her presence throughout all the hardships at the beginning of the game. I felt her most when I won that immunity. I knew she was proud of me and playing on Survivor made me feel more connected to her after her death than ever before. It was priceless. Even if I hadn’t won the million, I felt like I had won something just through that connection.

John Powell: You said you wish more of your game was shown. Was there anything in particular, a move, a bond, that you wish had been highlighted more?

Sophi Balerdi: Yeah, Savannah and Rizo are incredible players and I contributed just as much to our trio. My pre-merge and post-merge game was active. I wasn’t sitting on my hands. Rizo and I tag-teamed a lot of votes. Sometimes the show highlighted only his impact. I wish they showed more of my strategic side, not just my social game but honestly, I can’t complain. If they had edited me to be a monster, I would’ve been thrilled. (laughs)

John Powell: Watching the entire season, what surprised you most?

Sophi Balerdi: That’s a good question. Honestly, my social game was really strong. I always knew what was happening. I even knew about Steven’s block of votes before tribal. I had a pretty good read on the game the whole time. What did surprise me was how much Rizo talked. Every time, I was like, “Rizo, really?” But I love him; he’s the most marketable Survivor player ever. I’m obsessed.

John Powell: At final tribal you had to put your two allies into fire. How hard was that?

Sophi Balerdi: Incredibly hard. I lead with my heart, which has gotten me this far in life and on Survivor, but it might have cost me the win. I truly love them, as people, friends, allies. It was hard but I knew I had to do it. I kept thinking about my family and what they’d say. I knew it was necessary, especially after the “Knowledge is Power” situation. I’m glad I did it.

John Powell: What did you learn about yourself on Survivor?

Sophi Balerdi:I learned I’m more of a bad ass than I give myself credit for. I’m usually self-deprecating and hard on myself but I feel an extra layer of confidence now because of what I accomplished. I know I can do really hard things. I also realized I care about people, maybe too much sometimes, like with Savannah and Rizo. I should’ve looked out for myself a bit more but that’s who I am and I’m proud of it.

Reader Alert: Viewers got to see a sneak peek of the upcoming Survivor 50 which is all returning players throughout the history of the show during last night’s finale. From the footage it was clear that Rizo and Savannah will be playing again as well. Two Canadians will also be playing again: Genevieve Mushaluk (47) and Kamilla Karthigesu (48).

The rest of the cast are:

Angelina Keeley (David vs. Goliath)
Aubry Bracco (Kaôh Rōng, Game Changers & Edge of Extinction)
Charlie Davis (46)
Chrissy Hofbeck (Heroes v. Healers v. Hustlers)
Christian Hubicki (David vs. Goliath)
Cirie Fields (Panama – Exile Island, Micronesia – Fans vs. Favorites, Heroes vs. Villains & Game Changers)
Benjamin “Coach” Wade (Tocantins, Heroes vs. Villains & South Pacific)
Colby Donaldson (The Australian Outback, All-Stars & Heroes vs. Villains)
Dee Valladares (45)
Emily Flippen (45)
Jenna Lewis-Dougherty (Borneo & All-Stars)
Joe Hunter (48)
Jonathan Young (42)
Kyle Fraser (48)
Mike White (David vs. Goliath)
Ozzy Lusth (Cook Islands, Micronesia – Fans vs. Favorites, South Pacific & Game Changers)
Quintavius “Q” Burdette (46)
Rick Devens (Edge of Extinction)
Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick (Palau, Guatemala & Heroes vs. Villains)
Tiffany Nicole Ervin (46)

For the first time ever, the game is “In the Hands of the Fans”. Earlier this year, fans voted on key elements of the game, including “Idols or No Idols,” “Final Four Fire Making: Keep It or Lose It” and “Live Finale and Reunion Show in L.A. – or Keep the Winner Reveal and Aftershow in the Jungles of Fiji.” The players won’t know what the fans voted for until they are competing on the island.

Survivor 50 will premiere on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, on Global TV. To celebrate the season 50, during the two weeks before the three-hour premiere, 10 encore episodes will air celebrating the iconic cast and some of their most memorable