For an original Malolo, the writing was on the wall. Literally.

In the shelter on Ghost Island where Stephanie Johnson was exiled, a sign is posted which reads, “One bad decision can haunt you forever.”

It wasn’t apparent that Stephanie had made any bad decisions at all though. The Ghost Island game-offering urn didn’t yield a game for her to decide upon. She seemed to be socially adept. Her inevitable ousting seemed to be nothing but circumstance.

She was simply ​on the wrong side of the numbers.

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After the emotional episode, we caught up with the second Stephanie to be voted out of season 36.

The superfan triathlete talks to ET Canada about her experience in Fiji being on Global’s “Survivor: Ghost Island”, the show she had dreamt about for so many years.

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Why do you think the old Naviti decided to keep Michael and Jenna over you?

I really feel like I was at a disadvantage being away for 24 hours at Ghost Island. They had the bonus of being able to strategize, to build relationships with these five that I just wasn’t able to do. They were able to come up with plans and say we’ll do anything to save ourselves and I just didn’t have that time and ability to do that. They were at a huge advantage.

If you could go back to that Tribal Council, how would you argue to keep yourself in the game?

I wouldn’t have said anything different, I left everything out there. I didn’t leave anything unsaid, so there was really nothing else that I would have done different[ly].

Did you come to Tribal with your bag packed? Or are we going to see your tribe mates wearing bright neon?

(Laughs) I came to Tribal with my bag packed. I definitely knew it was my time to go and so I packed up everything that I had and headed out.

Who was the most frustrating person to strategize with out there?

Bradley! Absolutely Bradley because he wouldn’t strategize with me! He was so arrogant and he knew he was in a power position, so he wasn’t giving the time of day to any of us from Malolo. On a very personal level I loved talking about our personal lives, but as far as game and strategy, he was so infuriating to talk to.

Other than not winning, what “Survivor” milestone are you most upset you won’t be able to experience?



Oh, the loved ones visit! My mom is massive superfan as well, she’s never missed an episode and so not being able to have her come out so she could experience that. Also for me to find out that my boys were okay. That was heartbreaking, that was one of the hardest things… I wasn’t able to experience that loved ones visit with my mom.

Were you able to appreciate the experience of Ghost Island?

Once I found out that couldn’t play the game and had a belly full of rice, I had an inkling that it may be my last night in Fiji. So I went down to the beach and I did yoga and I meditated and climbed up on some rocks and I watched the sunset and I just really soaked in the experience. I did some strategizing about what I could when I got back, but I’ll never forget that time that I had completely alone during the game just to reflect on myself and life and the game and my kids and family, on everything.

After applying to be on the show for all those years, what was it like watching yourself this season as a castaway from your couch?

It was kind of surreal at first. I don’t know, you dream about this for so long and all of the sudden you’re on the screen and talking and strategizing. We as players are watching it for the first time as viewers so we don’t know what’s going to air. You forget that you said a lot of stuff and then some of the time you think, ‘Oh my gosh, did that just come out of my mouth?’ It’s a fun experience being able to watch back and just relive the memories and the relationships that are being formed. It was surreal to me. It was absolutely surreal to be able to watch that transpire.

How has your “Survivor” viewing ritual changed?

It hasn’t changed at all. For the premiere we had a big party, we order[ed] pizza and every other week we’ve just been ordering pizza had a few friends over and watching with my boys. They’re my number one. Nothing’s changing, you know, next week, we’ll order another pizza and we’ll watch “Survivor”!

How has your perception of the game changed now that you’ve seen what it’s like from the other side?

I have such a deep respect for every player. I always did but I watched them as a fan and as a viewer and more as a character than an actual human. So living it, you realize how raw it is out there. And you realize how important these relationships become really quick. It’s very different when you look at someone as human verses a character and I think that that’s definitely changed for me now.

What did your 86-year-old triathlete best friend think of your performance?

He loved it! He thought it was great. He was shocked last night and he called me like five times until I finally got a hold of him. He was so sad and he didn’t really understand why they would’ve voted me out, because he thought I was such a great asset. Then he said, ‘You gotta move on and we’re just going to train for the next race.’”

What bad decision did you make that will haunt you forever?

I don’t know if I made a bad decision! I mean, I’m sure there were a lot of decisions that could’ve been a little different but I really feel that I played to my full potential. And there is nothing I really regret.

If they were to do another Second Chance season, and you were in the running, what would you say to campaign to go back?

Oh gosh, I would be campaigning all over the place! I didn’t get a chance to show my full potential because I kept getting hit hard with bad luck. I need to go back and redeem myself with these “Survivor” Gods, and have them show me some luck and mercy next time.​

Watch “Survivor” Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Global and catch the full episodes here.