It’s been eight years since Miami’s Sophia “Sophi” Balerdi first applied to join the rugged, isolated, and occasionally nude group of castaways on Survivor, one of the longest-running television series in American primetime. Her history with the program dates back to early childhood, when she began watching the series with her grandmother. “I started watching Survivor at seven years old with my abuela,” Balerdi tells New Times. After her grandmother passed away in 2020, Balerdi persevered and continued to apply in her honor. Balerdi began watching ‘Survivor’ when she was just seven years old.