- - Genevieve Mushaluk Faces Challenges as 'Survivor 50' Contestant Without Allies

Mike BloomFebruary 7, 2026 at 8:30 PM

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In one moving scene towards the end of Survivor 47, Genevieve Mushaluk mused on her father's sentiments from a letter from home, realizing she had no friends on the islands. Unfortunately, she's walking into her second season with the same belief. The 34-year-old is one of only a few cast members not connected to anyone on Season 50, which she fears could make her name easy to throw out early on. But if the lawyer is able to get past the opening arguments of this 26-day trial, she has a real shot at a winning verdict. This time, she's eager to cut people with no remorse — and even has a couple of names top of mind already to, much like her hair between seasons, get the chop.Read on for my interview with Genevieve, and check in with Parade daily for interviews with this season's contestants and other tidbits. Survivor 50 premieres on Feb. 25 with a three-hour episode on CBS.🔥Don’t miss our weekly Survivor newsletter! Sign up to get Mike Bloom’s exclusive interviews with the players and the latest news about the show right to your inbox.🔥

Survivor 50 interview with Genevieve Mushaluk

When you and I spoke after your exit in 47, I had asked you the next time you came out, if there was another time, would you be more of Genevieve the player or Genevieve the person? Right? This would this was your entire balance. You had said that you would be fine cutting people now that you understand the inherent emotions in doing so. Do you feel the same thing now? What is your headspace approaching this?I love that I said that, because now I don't have to contradict myself. Because that is exactly how I feel as I sit here, sweaty, pumped to be talking to you. Everyone here knows the deal, and it's not personal or it shouldn't be. I can't control how they're going to interpret it. But I know, one, I want to connect more with people. And two, yes, it does not feel good to get voted out. But I would rather you get voted out than me get voted out, and I don't feel bad about that fact. No apologies there. What's interesting about returning player seasons, though, is how much emotion is baked into it. Yes, most people here have been voted off before. But now there may be relationships baked into every move you make. Is that something you've anticipated?The great thing for me is I have no friends. Not no friends period, but I can see why you might have interpreted it that way. [Laughs.]Never! You're a queen bee.[Laughs.] But as I look around, I'm pretty sure it's only me, Jonathan and Chrissy who haven't played with someone else on this cast before. So there's a lot of history with everybody else. And I'm not sure, is it history like it's your best friend, and so you've got their back? Or is it history like it's your ex, and so you've got a score to settle? I don't know. And I'm hoping that just coming in neutral gives me an opportunity to build a positive connection with people. And listen, there may be friendships that are very scary to me. But you can't split the check with your friends.While you aren't coming in with anyone who played on your season, you're coming in with plenty of people who have watched your season. What do you think your perception is going to be in 50, given what the others saw in 47?I think people are going to expect me to be pretty standoffish. Listen, you tell me! What is your perception of me? [Laughs.]I think people watch your arc and may have seen someone who was able to make these impressive moves in the first half of the game, but had to work her way up from the bottom in the second half. And, if she had made it to the end, she most likely would have won. Which is a reputation that can work for or against you in a returning player season.Yes. Well, thank you! I am hoping as much as 47 is in recent memory, and maybe some of those things about me, 48 is super fresh. Let's focus on 48 because there's three of them, so you don't need to worry about me! Let's talk about the 48ers, because they are so scary. And I am just little old me. I've got no one! I'm a gross, sweaty girl from Canada. I am not someone to be worried about!You have made the (very healthy) choice to not really be on social media. But do you feel like that might make you less connected to all of these players who are commenting on each other's posts and posting photos with each other?Yes, it's tough, because — let me be very clear. Every time I go on social media, I put down my phone a long time after I would have intended to put down my phone, conscious of the time I'm spending, and I just feel worse about myself. So I don't like to spend much time on social media.But now that I'm out here, I am wondering, and I'm a little insecure of, is that gonna work against me? Because people have this ability to connect now. There are good parts to social media, including being able to connect and converse with people who aren't in your immediate vicinity. And if I'm limited to my immediate vicinity, that's the Survivor population in Winnipeg, which is me. And I can't help me much more than one vote! So yeah, I am worried that. Being a private person might not help me out here. But I don't know, every disadvantage has its advantages, sometimes.Quite literally here. You had a big start to your game early on, taking charge with the Kishan vote. Is that a similar mentality you're going into your second season with?See, you say I started 47 like that. But you're talking about Episode 4. I mean, I guess one of the great things about being the Purple Princess of 47 is no one knows how I started the game. But no, it was bad. I won't start that way again. But early days is what I'm worried about. Because I think your relationships, your voting blocs, the people who come in with you from your season, that's gonna protect you in the early days. Because if you're someone from 48 or 46 or Heroes vs. Villains, you've got people that played with you, and so maybe I don't say your name to any of those people.It sort of whittles down the group that you can say without worrying that they've got an advocate amongst the cast. And people can look at me and rightfully guess that I probably don't have a Genevieve advocate out there. So my name is a pretty low-risk name to throw out at the beginning of the game. And so I'm gonna have to get to quick work at making friends and connections, because I think I'm most vulnerable in the beginning of the game. And later in the game, I think those friendships will matter less as it gets a little more cutthroat. But I'm cutthroat from Day 1. Or am I? You don't know.

Related: Meet the Full Cast of Survivor 50Let's talk about your prep between your two seasons.No! I was so worried you were gonna ask me about this. No, skip past. The next one. Genevieve, did you practice firemaking?I did. I did. I did. I did practice firemaking. That was so many "I did"s, it's probably suspicious I practice firemaking a little bit enough to know that if I had a whole day to practice, I could do it. But, have you played Expedition 33? I didn't play it because, specifically for you, I was like, "I'm not going there again." But I made my husband download it and played it and I watched him.I meant to not. But it's like, you know, when someone's watching a TV show, and you're like, "I'm not interested." And then you walk by, and you catch like a line of dialogue, and you're like, "Oh, it's interesting." You turn, and then before you know, you're leaning, and before you know it, you're sitting. And before I knew it, there's four hours that I could have been doing something else. That game is amazing. So as soon as I get home, I would highly recommend it. It looks amazing. Shout out to Mark and video games and being unprepared. [Laughs.]We're gonna play a game called "Friend or Foe." I'm going to give you a name of someone on the cast, and you have to tell me if they're someone you want to work with, or someone you see as an enemy or threat.Gut instinct. Because I literally have no friends out here. But I don't want to call them all Foes. It's gonna be gut instinct. No one take it personally.There we go, very lawyerly of you. Let's start with Jenna.Friend. Good vibes, great vibes. Never spoken a word to her. But great, great vibes.Colby.Foe. He's no Jenna. [Laughs.][Laughs.] Stephenie.Friend.Cirie.[Pause.] Foe. I can't tell if my like initial impression of vibes is influenced by an intimidation factor. It's probably more me than her, but I'd say Foe.Ozzy.Friend. I'm just going off a hunch right now. Let me be clear, this is not from what I've seen. This is in leading up to the game and the exposure that I've had to people. I haven't spoken to them, but it's just the initial vibe of how people present, like nonverbal body language communication, that's what I'm going off of right now. So almost nothing. These are not well-informed opinions! [Laughs.]Well, how about Coach?Friend! Him and Jenna, the vibes are so good.Aubry.You know what? If you asked me yesterday, I would have said Foe. But today, the vibes are Friend.What was she doing yesterday that was so different?[Pauses, then laughs.] I had a good breakfast sandwich this morning, I don't know! I have Friend vibes today.

Genevieve Mushaluk on 'Survivor 50'Robert Voets/CBS (Robert Voets/CBS)

Chrissy.Friend. Because I was a Chrissy fan. Let's get to our David vs. Goliath block here.All Friends. I have such complicated feelings about Mike being here. I am worried that people are not going to want to vote him out. And I'm worried he's in addition to having the benefits that come with people from your season and being in the community longer, so having the opportunity to make more connections, I'm worried, because of The White Lotus of it all, people are not going to want to vote him out. And I'm like, "Let's then maybe let's get him out extra early! Let's get him out before the game even starts then!" It's not too soon to get rid of someone that no one wants to get rid of.So Angelina and Christian are both Friends for you?The only thing that makes me nervous about Angelina is that I'm wearing this beautiful coat. [Laughs.] And I could just hear already. "Genevieve? Genevieve?"Would you give it to her?I would, I would! Of course I would. If she asked. I wouldn't offer it. [Pause.] I might. But I would want her to ask me, and then I would give to her.How about Rick?Ooh…[Pause.] Friend. I didn't think that I would say Friend. Having watched him, I didn't we would click. But then out here, I'm getting, I'm optimistic that we will click.Let's get into your fellow new era contestants. Starting with Jonathan.Well, I hope he's on my tribe! If he's not, how are we ever gonna win? He's huge. In real life, he is huge.Dee.Friend. I said I wanted to play like her for Season 47. We get asked who we want to play like. And I gave different answers for every interview, because I'm a driven person. But she was one answer that I gave over and over again.Yeah, I remember you writing in your bio that you could be "Dee on one day and Sydney on another." How about Emily?Friend. I've met Emily at one "Rob Has a Podcast" event.Charlie.[Pause.] Hmm. My knee-jerk reaction was Friend, but I think Foe.What made you change your tune?I don't know. My knee said one thing, and my gut said another. [Laughs.] We'll see. When people open their mouths, then I'll really know. When people cast their votes.

Related: The 50 Best ‘Survivor’ Challenges Ever — According to the People Who Made Them (Exclusive)Q.I love chaotic men. So Friend. [Laughs.] Best friend! [Laughs.] Who would be my best friend? Jenna. She doesn't know it. Her vibes are amazing. You'll see, the vibes are amazing.Tiffany.Friend, but also foe. Because out of everyone here, I'm most afraid of Tiffany. Tiffany and Joe. Because I think Tiffany and Joe are exactly the type of people who would win a season like this. Because we've got the 49ers, who stand out because we don't know them, right, and they've seen all of us. So there's that. And then you've got sort of these Survivor figureheads larger than life, Cirie, Ozzy, Colby, we'll put on this end of the spectrum. And everyone's gonna be looking at them for other reasons. So there's people that draw attention. And then there's people in the middle who are capable and clever and strong, but are just sort of in this sweet spot where you might overlook them and find yourself leaving the game before they do. And I think Tiffany and Joe are the type of players who can play with old era, new era, any group of people. And they're going to be difficult to get rid of, and that's why I'm afraid of them.You spoke about Joe. What are your thoughts on Kamilla?Friend. She just seems so likable.Kyle.Friend. Good vibes. You see why he won. How do I bottle that up? Give me some Kyle vibes!You mentioned the 49 players before. What's your sense of them as unknown entities?Well, I saw the trailer. I don't remember if she spoke in it, but he did, because it made a lasting impression on me, the "RizGod." I don't generally get along well with men who add "God" to their name. I mean, I haven't met many who do. [Laughs.] But maybe that's not fair. Because maybe he's gonna fall into this bucket of chaotic men who I find fascinating in a clinical way. [Laughs.] Listen, I'm not standing on a soapbox saying that, so please, don't get me wrong.Which previous player do you wish were out here on the island with you right now?Jerri. But it's probably for the best. Because if Jerri was out here, I would just be like, "Oh, sorry, Jeff. Let me interrupt this marooning." Walk over, bend the knee. "I love you.""JerriGod" is your one exception.[Laughs.] Women who add God to their name, now them's my people! They say sometimes when a player returns, they take from the game of the person who won their original season. Is there anything from your "frenemy" Rachel that you're taking from her 47 game into 50?We were at an event, and another former Survivor player who's not here, sort of described Rachel as someone she felt like she's known her whole life, and me as someone who she would do what I say, because I'm intimidating. And I want to channel more of that. Like you've known me your whole life, safe, warm space to be comfortable. I will still try to turn on the "do what I say" when it comes to Tribal. But I want people to feel comfortable with me and go along with what I want because they want to, not because they're intimidated. I want to be wanted. Don't we all! Finally, what celebrity or fictional character would you bring out for a Loved Ones visit? Last time, you said Dumbledore. Do you want to double Dumbledore down, or pick somebody else?No, I don't want to double Dumbledore down. [Laughs.] I want Joy from Inside Out. That's a great movie, too. If you haven't seen it, everybody go watch. Or Amy Poehler. Or Leslie Knope, or any version of her. [Laughs.]

This story was originally published by Parade on Feb 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the TV section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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