Survivor Season 1 Contestant Sonja Christopher Passes Away at Age 87

Sonja Christopher, a contestant on the first season of Survivor, has sadly passed away at the age of 87. The news was confirmed by host Jeff Probst in a statement on Instagram, expressing his fond memories of Christopher. Probst described her as one of the kindest people to ever play Survivor, always greeting others with a smile and joy in her heart.

The announcement of Christopher's death came from current Survivor contestant Liz Wilcox on social media. Wilcox shared that she had the pleasure of meeting Christopher on Christmas and praised her spunk and love for Survivor. Wilcox hoped that Christopher was now singing and playing her heart out somewhere beautiful.

Sonja Christopher was part of the original cast of 16 contestants sent to live on a remote beach in Borneo for the first season of Survivor, which aired on CBS in the summer of 2000. Known for her charming personality and ukulele playing, Christopher unfortunately suffered an injury during an immunity challenge. This setback led to her tribe perceiving her as the weak link, and she was the first to be voted off the show, hearing the iconic phrase, "The tribe has spoken," from Jeff Probst.

Despite her early exit from the show, Christopher's tribemate Richard Hatch went on to become the winner of Survivor Season 1, claiming the $1,000,000 grand prize. This inaugural season of Survivor marked the beginning of a cultural phenomenon and paved the way for the rise of reality TV. Currently, Survivor is in its 46th season and continues to captivate audiences, airing Wednesdays at 8/7 on CBS.

Sonja Christopher will be remembered as a beloved contestant, bringing her unique spirit and talent to the world of Survivor. Her contributions to the show will not be forgotten, and her passing leaves a void in the Survivor community. Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones during this difficult time.