5 Masterful Moves: How Natalie Anderson Engineered The Ultimate Revenge To Win Survivor: San Juan Del Sur

The question of "who won *Survivor* Season 29" is a timeless query among fans, and the answer is one of the most celebrated strategic victories in the show's history. As of December 2025, the legacy of Sole Survivor Natalie Anderson and her legendary "revenge game" in *Survivor: San Juan del Sur — Blood vs. Water* remains a benchmark for aggressive, late-game strategy. Her victory was not a quiet, social win, but a fiery, calculated sprint to the finish, culminating in a decisive 5-2-1 vote over finalists Jaclyn Schultz and Missy Payne. Natalie Anderson’s win in Season 29 is a masterclass in turning personal devastation into strategic power. After the blindside of her closest ally, she transformed her game from a solid social player to a relentless, move-making threat, orchestrating a series of blindsides that dismantled the majority alliance and paved her path to the $1 million prize. This deep dive explores the woman behind the victory and the five iconic strategic plays that secured her place in the *Survivor* Hall of Fame.

Natalie Anderson: Full Biography and Reality TV Profile

Natalie Anderson is an American reality television personality, best known for her appearances on multiple competitive shows. She is the twin sister of Nadiya Anderson, with whom she first gained fame.

• Full Name: Natalie Anderson
• Season Won: *Survivor: San Juan del Sur — Blood vs. Water* (Season 29)
• Sole Survivor Vote: 5–2–1 (over Jaclyn Schultz and Missy Payne)
• Original Tribe: Hunahpu (Yellow)
• Merge Tribe: Huyopa
• Hometown/Residence: Edgewater, New Jersey / New York (Born in NYC, raised in Sri Lanka)
• Occupation (at time of Season 29): Crossfit Coach / Physical Therapy Student
• Education: Attended Fordham University
• Other *Survivor* Appearances: *Survivor: Winners at War* (Season 40, Runner-up)
• Other Reality TV Appearances: *The Amazing Race* (Seasons 21 and 24, with twin sister Nadiya Anderson), *The Challenge: Double Agents*
• Key Allies: Jeremy Collins, Missy Payne, Baylor Wilson
• Game Stat: She is one of only a handful of Sole Survivors to win the game without a single vote cast against them throughout the entire season.

The Catalyst: Jeremy Collins' Blindside and The Birth of a Revenge Game

Natalie Anderson started *Survivor: San Juan del Sur* as a strong physical and social player, forming a tight bond with fellow contestant Jeremy Collins. Their alliance was the core of the majority. However, the game changed dramatically when the majority alliance, led by the power couple Jon Misch and Jaclyn Schultz, blindsided Jeremy at the Final 10 Tribal Council.

This betrayal was the pivotal moment that defined Natalie’s entire strategy for the rest of the game. Instead of crumbling, she immediately went into "revenge mode," vowing to take out Jon Misch, the architect of the blindside. Her subsequent game play was a relentless, calculated pursuit of this goal, transforming her from a loyal ally into a solo strategic force.

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5 Masterful Moves That Secured Her Victory

Natalie’s path to the Final Tribal Council was paved with high-risk, high-reward moves that shocked both the castaways and the viewers. These five plays are considered the most ingenious of her winning game:

1. The "Accidental" Alec Vote (Final 9)

After Jeremy’s elimination, Natalie needed to appear non-threatening and emotionally unstable. At the next Tribal Council, the majority alliance planned to split votes between Keith Nale and Alec Christy. Natalie, feigning confusion and distress, "accidentally" cast her vote for Alec.

This move was a brilliant piece of misdirection. It convinced Jon Misch and Jaclyn Schultz that Natalie was too emotional and strategically inept to be a real threat, making them comfortable keeping her around. In reality, it was a subtle message to the minority that she was willing to flip, while protecting herself from being the next target.

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2. The Jon Misch Blindside (Final 7)

This was the ultimate revenge play. At the Final 7, Jon Misch and Jaclyn Schultz believed they were in complete control. Natalie, building on her "emotional" persona, convinced Baylor Wilson and Missy Payne to join her in blindsiding Jon. She orchestrated the vote to go against Jon, using the majority's own split-vote plan against them.

Natalie convinced the Jon/Jaclyn alliance that she was still upset and crying on the beach, making Jon feel completely safe. At Tribal Council, the votes against Jon Misch were enough to send him home with an Immunity Idol in his pocket, a move that is considered one of the most satisfying revenge blindsides in *Survivor* history.

3. The Perfect Immunity Idol Play (Final 5)

Natalie’s most legendary move came at the Final 5. She found a Hidden Immunity Idol and, with the final four in sight, she had a critical choice. The alliance of Missy, Baylor, and Jaclyn were targeting Keith Nale, while Keith was targeting Baylor. Natalie realized that if Baylor went home, Jaclyn would be forced to align with her.

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In a move never before seen, Natalie played her Hidden Immunity Idol for Jaclyn Schultz, stunning the entire tribe. This move was a triple threat: it guaranteed Jaclyn's safety (a strategic ally for the moment), ensured Baylor Wilson went home (taking out a potential threat), and earned Jaclyn’s trust, which was crucial for the next vote.

4. Winning the Final Immunity Challenge (Final 4)

After her risky Idol play, Natalie had to solidify her position. At the Final 4, she won the crucial Final Immunity Challenge, giving her the power to choose who to take to the Final Tribal Council. This victory was the final nail in the coffin for her opponents, as it rendered any remaining strategy against her moot.

5. Securing Her Finalist Spot and the Final Vote

With guaranteed safety, Natalie chose to take Missy Payne and Jaclyn Schultz to the Final Tribal Council. Missy was viewed as a less deserving player due to a mid-game injury and a perceived lack of strategic moves, while Jaclyn was a threat but was now indebted to Natalie for the Idol play.

At the Final Tribal Council, Natalie delivered a phenomenal performance, detailing her aggressive, move-making strategy, including the Jon Misch blindside and the shocking Idol play for Jaclyn. The jury, impressed by her control of the endgame and her ability to win without a single vote cast against her, awarded her the title of Sole Survivor with a 5-2-1 vote.

Natalie Anderson's Life After San Juan del Sur and Legacy

Natalie Anderson’s win in *Survivor: San Juan del Sur* cemented her status as one of the most dominant female winners in the show’s history. Her career in reality television did not end with her million-dollar prize.

She was invited back for the all-winners season, *Survivor: Winners at War* (Season 40), where she was the first person voted out. However, she famously survived on the Edge of Extinction for 33 days, returned to the game at the Final 6, and made it all the way to the Final Tribal Council, ultimately placing as the runner-up to Tony Vlachos. Her performance on *Winners at War*, despite the early exit, further solidified her reputation as a formidable physical and strategic threat.

Beyond *Survivor*, Natalie has also competed on MTV’s *The Challenge: Double Agents*, continuing her career in high-stakes reality competition. Her ability to consistently perform at an elite level across multiple franchises is a testament to her competitive spirit.

The story of Natalie Anderson is a powerful example of how a player can completely flip the script on their perceived weaknesses. Her emotional reaction to Jeremy Collins’ blindside was the fuel for a strategic fire that burned down the majority alliance, making her a deserving and unforgettable Sole Survivor of *Survivor* Season 29. The season is now widely regarded by fans as a fantastic demonstration of late-game strategic mastery.