Survivor has always been the pickup for pickup truck driver Elaine Stott. The 41-year-old Kentuckian stands small at 5’2″ with a big personality, as you’re about to read. Donning a camouflage Red Sox hat–unintentionally creating a talking point for one of her surprise mentors–her affability and confidence radiate from the get-go. Her outer shell of leadership and work ethic contains a softness inside and an uninhibited love for the people in her life. Elaine prides herself on her charitability in her day-to-day, but make no mistake. She’s ready to spear both fish and the competition on the way to claiming some more gold for Kentucky.

Read on for my chat with Elaine, and make sure to check in with Parade.com every day for interviews with this season’s contestants and other on-set tidbits. Survivor: Island of the Idols premieres on September 25 with a special 90-minute premiere on CBS.

Tell me about yourself.

I’m 41, I know I don’t look it. I’m from Woodbine, Kentucky, which is a small, redneck town. I work in a car parts factory. I drive a Ford truck. I worked the floor for twelve years, but now I drive a truck.

What led you to that factory?

I went to college and I graduated. I have two degrees in Psych and Movement and Leisure Studies, and nobody knows what they’re for. I joke that it’s a “lesbian” major. (Laughs.) My girlfriend was a freshman at the time. When I graduated, I kept doing the same old college thing. I was basically a perpetual college student without having to go to class. So I realized I had to get a job. My buddy worked at the place I worked now and told me I’d make good money. So I went, and I’ve been there for fifteen years.

And how do you feel about it?

I hate it! (Laughs.) It pays the bills, though. My grandpa partly raised me and told me, “It don’t matter if you like it. If it pays the bills and puts food on the table, it’s what you have to do.” So I had that mentality. I generally don’t quit stuff; once I do it, then I’m in it. I have the best job in the building right now. I get to kick back and ride easy.

So what brought you out to Survivor?

I’ve actually tried out for the show four times. I tried out in my twenties, thirties, and now my forties. I was always in a different headspace every time I try out. The first time, I just graduated from college. I had a “me against the world, I can do anything” kind of attitude. Then my thirties came around, and it was a different story. My grandpa had passed; I had taken care of him when he was sick. I got lost in my head, in a bad space. I spent two years working on his farm that I now live on, drowning myself in work. My godmother came to me and said, “They’re having Survivor tryouts; you need to try out again.” It had been ten years and I kind of pushed past it. But it broke me out of myself. I’ve always told people that Survivor has been like my pick-me-up. We did a video and had a great time, and I went to a casting call.

This time around is for my godmother. She had her daughter, husband, and dog pass, and she had a stroke all in eight months. My godmother has been a mother to me. She’s everything to me since my mother just passed three months ago. Before having her stroke, she asked me to go out dancing just like we used to with her family. I haven’t partied since the first time I applied. So I said, “Let’s just stay home and play cards.” After her stroke, she hasn’t been able to dance since. She saw Survivor tryouts coming around again. The messed-up thing is that she used that against me! (Laughs.) She said, “Laney, they’re having tryouts in Bowling Green. You didn’t take me dancing when I asked you to.” She basically said, “If you don’t do this, I’m gonna die.” (Laughs.) So I decided the day before I would go one last time, to give her something to look forward to. As soon as I found out, I called my godmother, and she started bawling. It’s been pretty cool. The only bad thing about the situation is that when I first tried out, she’s always been my loved one. Now she can’t. So even though I’m on it and we’re living the dream, she can’t come out.

You’re succeeding some notable Kentuckians on Survivor, including Donathan Hurley and David vs. Goliath winner Nick Wilson. How does it feel to be the next one up?

Nick’s from my hometown! If he was a few years older, he could have been my lawyer. I’ve been in a little bit of trouble. (Laughs.) It’s actually kind of aggravating. I wanted to be the first Kentuckian to win. But being the second winner’s great too!

I know Nick has spoken about how a Southern accent might warm people to you and give them a sense of trustworthiness.

I actually think I don’t have one! (Laughs.) I think there’s something to that. It’s endearing. People equate being from the South to trust and hospitality. It all goes hand-in-hand. But we can still be lying, cheating, rotten, and dirty.

What do you think people are going to perceive you as?

Right now, we’re not able to talk to one another. But I’ve been bumping into things and knocking things down. So I think they get the sense that I’m a little bit of a jokester. But they’re probably like, “Oh, she’s probably a bitch.” I give off a rough exterior.

Yeah, you wrote in your bio, “People think I’m a real hard-ass, but I’m actually a big softy.”

I really am. I cried in my first interview. Even before Day 1, at ground zero! It’s because when I talk about my mom or my godmom, those emotions are fresh. It brings up a lot for me. I guess I don’t deal with my emotions very well. I’m already figuring out I may need to handle stuff a little better.

You said you’ve been a shoulder to cry on for many people in your day-to-day. Are you going to try to replicate that in the game?

I want to be everyone’s sidekick. I am so cool with being Robin or Barney Rubble or whatever. (Laughs.) My favorite example is Ricky Bobby and Cal Naughton. I want someone to be my Ricky Bobby because Cal Naughton wins in the end. I want to shake and bake. I’m pretty good with connecting with people and pretty easy to talk to.

I can get people to open up to me. My insurance guy broke down to me about his porn addiction while I’m signing up for insurance. (Laughs.) We just started talking on a personal level, and it expanded. I’ve got this ability to make people feel comfortable. I don’t know if I’m someone familiar to them or whatever. But I think that makes me relate to a lot of different people. And with that, they’re going to be comfortable, and I won’t be a threat. Then I can say, “I’m your ride-or-die. If I don’t win, I want you to win.”

What’s your game plan when you touch down on the beach?

My biggest thing is to hit the ground running on Day 1. I want to make a shelter with the dudes. It’s easier to build relationships with guys. If you get in with the dudes, they’re looking over you. I’m a short person anyway, so they’re already looking over me. But they’re looking past you, saying, “I ain’t gonna worry about this one.” And once I get in good with the dudes, the pretty girls come. I am in a committed relationship, but I am a bit of a flirt. So I’ve got to keep that [expletive] in check because she warned me and threatened to cut my throat. (Laughs.) “I’ll murder you if you let some girl put your hair up or if you sleep next to them in the shelter.” I would never do anything to put my relationship in jeopardy.

Tell me a bit more about your relationship.

We’ve been together for four years. I stole her from her husband. I think that’s why there are some insecurities. It’s like, “Look what you’ve done before!” (Laughs.) I can’t get away from it. At the same time, if I flash somebody a smile and they take it a certain way, I’m okay with it. It doesn’t mean anything to me. My old lady just doesn’t feel that way. (Laughs.)

Give me a Survivor winner and non-winner you want to play like.

Cirie. She was so good socially, like when they tricked Erik to give up immunity. A bunch of people get credit for that, but that was her speaking straight to him. If you’ve got that personal relationship with people, you’ll do well. Even though she’s never won, she’s come so close. Also, Sandra. Because I can be an ass too! I’ve got that mentality like, “If it ain’t me, I’m cool. Let’s roll with that.”

Speaking of returning players, you said in your bio that you resonated with Rupert Boneham. Can you elaborate on that?

Rupert was such a big personality, and I’m that too. But he was such a kind soul. I know after he played once or twice, he started to get portrayed differently. But I think the core of him was still the same. And that’s what I am. People who know me on the surface-level would say, “Oh, Elaine’s crazy. She’s mean.” But if you know me on the inside, you’d say, “Oh, Elaine’s one of the nicest people I know. She’d give me the shirt off her back and not even think about it.”

I’ve paid my friends’ bills before. I’m good-hearted like that. I’ve gotten burned a lot because I help and sometimes don’t get it back. But I’m alright with that. If someone came up to you at Walmart and asked, “Do you have $20?”, nine times out of ten they’re lying about needing it. But I give it to them anyway. Because there’s that 10% chance that it’s right. It’s that idea of “angels among us.” What if you were wrong?

What line will you not cross morally in the game?

None. (Laughs.) That’s terrible. I’m not pulling a full-on Parvati because of the threats from back home. It’s a reality show. There’s going to be lying and cheating. I’d hate to be persecuted if I wore a Scout uniform. It’s a freakin’ game, dude! I can see people being bitter if you build relationships with them, then damaged them. You still should be able to look past it. But I’ll probably be one of those people. (Laughs.)

I want to do to the Hawaiian sling so badly. I can’t remember women doing that in the past. Have you seen some of these dudes? They’re built! I’m 5’2,” and they’re 6’5″. I’m gonna tell them, “I’m going!”

It’s clear you have a healthy work ethic. Are you going to bring that into the game as well?

I’m a worker. If we were living here, I’d be cleaning stuff up. I like stuff organized. I am really bossy because I’m strong and independent. I’m used to things going my way. If I can check that, I won’t have problems. My work ethic won’t bother people. But if I’m barking at people telling them what to do, that’s different. Like Natalie [Cole].

You’re definitely not like Natalie. You would give people the jacket off your back.

(Laughs.) Right, that’s true.

When your tribe visits Tribal Council, would you rather vote on strength or loyalty?

You’ve got to keep your tribe strong. If you don’t make it to the merge with numbers, then what good is it? I know they’ve mixed it up a lot, so maybe that’s not so true anymore. But I would vote for strength. Unless someone was pissing me off and getting on my last nerve.

When you’re at your lowest low, what’s one memory you’ll pull from to boost your spirits?

I’ve had a lot of struggles. They’ve been way worse, and I’ve pushed through them. This is something that I’m choosing to do, not something I was forced to do. I want to stay humble and keep that in mind. This is an opportunity for me to grow and learn about myself, as well as win a million dollars. I’m gonna say, “You chose to be here. Suck it up, buttercup! Let’s go.”

If you could bring one celebrity or fictional character out as your loved one, who would you pick?

I don’t know why, but the first thought that popped into my head was Jerry Springer. (Laughs.) I love Jerry Springer, he’s great. I try not to be a part of drama, but I like drama. Keeps it entertaining. That’s part of the reason why I watch Jerry Springer.

PREVIOUS: Dean Kowalski

NEXT: Elizabeth Beisel