Meet the all new cast of Australian Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains

Australian Survivor is set to return to screens on January 30.

Filmed in Samoa, the 2023 Heroes vs. Villains season promises to give fans plenty of excitement.

Mixing veteran castaways with new contestants, the cast includes an Olympian, a Beauty Queen, a TV star – all out to outwit and out do each other.

Australian Survivor is set to return to screens on January 30 with Heroes (top) v Vilains

THE CAST

THE HEROES

Ben Law, 41,  author and LGBTQIA+ advocate, NSW

Famed author of the Family Law series of books, Ben is a self-confessed Survivor fan. The broadcaster says he is all set to play dirty if the game requires it.

David Zaharakis, 32, ex-AFL star, Victoria

The hunky former Essendon hero, says when it comes to playing Survivor there’s no line he isn’t willing to cross.

Felicity ‘Flick’ Palmateer, 29, big-wave surfer, Gold Coast

New mother-of-one Flick, a Survivor veteran, says she’s stronger than ever and it’s ‘time for a hero to win the game’.

Flick was one of the standout contestants on the first season of Australian Survivor back in 2016. 

She became a fan favourite for her courage on Australian Survivor: Brain vs Brawn, when during filming her mother died.

Ex-Home and Away star Sharni Vinson

Ex-AFL star David Zaharakis

Gold Coast big wave surfer Felicity ‘Flick’ Palmateer

Gerry Geitch, 62, tourist pilot, Queensland

A veteran pilot Gerry works out of Fraser Island. He reckons his time in the cockpit has prepared him for the rigours of Survivor having lived through several air crashes.

A free climber, free diver, spear fisher and Latin dancer, Gerry sounds like he’s the perfectly seasoned castaway.

Hayley Leake, 32, academic, South Australia

A PHD in pain research, Hayley was crowned winner of Australian Survivor: Brains Vs. Brawn in the Outback. 

Even though she’s a hero, fans can look forward to her being a bit of a villain this season, she says.

Matt Sharp, 25, lifeguard, Gold Coast 

Matt’s mates describe the Gold Coast lifeguard as loyal and trustworthy. Matt says he has gone into the adventure series to send the villains ‘home packing.’

Gerry Geitch, tourist pilot, from Queensland

Hayley Leake, academic, from South Australia and Australian Survivor winner

Nina Twine, 24, accounts clerk, Florida, USA 

Nina is back as a castaway this season after her brutal exit from Australian Survivor: Blood vs. Water in 2022, when she was competing with her mother and former two-time US Survivor winner, Sandra Diaz-Twine. 

She says if the season was made for anyone it’s her, as she is a hero ‘raised by a villain’. 

Paige Donald, 26, jillaroo, Central Queensland   

A plain-speaking down-to-earth country woman, new castaway Paige has been working in the bush as a Ringer and Jillaroo since she was 18. 

She reckons if you think you are a hero ‘you are a d**khead’, and if you don’t think you are a hero, ‘you probably are one’.

Rogue Rubin, 32, animal activist, Victoria

Filmmaker Rogue worked undercover in Africa for six years secretly uncovering the activities of poachers. 

When it comes to Survivor she says she can’t understand why anyone would want to be a villain.

New castaway, Gold Coast lifeguard Matt Sharp

Nina Twine,  accounts clerk, Florida, USA

Paige Donald, j illaroo, Central Queensland

Sam Webb, 34, charity CEO, NSW

Sam returns as a castaway after his first appearance on the adventure series six years ago.

A self-professed ‘battler’, Sam says that everyone loves an underdog – but sometimes you have to bend the rules to win. 

Sharni Vinson, 39, actress, NSW

Known as the ‘Scream Queen’ for her roles in Hollywood horror films, fans can look forward seeing a muscled and lean-looking Sharni this season.

The former Home and Away star says her time as a castaway will show viewers Sharni ‘the person’. 

Shaun Hampson, 34, ex-AFL champ, Victoria 

The former Richmond Tigers star lasted 32-days as a castaway in his last appearance Australian Survivor: Champions vs. Contenders.

This time around Shaun, who is married to supermodel Megan Gale, says he’s happy to be a Hero – but he won’t act like one. 

Rogue Rubin, animal activist, Victoria

THE VILLAINS   

Anjali Rao, 48, news anchor, Victoria

Veteran reporter and Real Housewives of Melbourne ‘villain’, Anjali is a fresh castaway and says she’s terrified of putting on body on the line.

She says she wasn’t born a Villain, but can’t think of anything more dull than being a Hero.

Fraser Lack, 30, real estate agent, Victoria 

New islander Fraser works in high-end residential real estate in Melbourne and likes to run marathons in his downtime. 

He says he’ll play the game with out ‘what ever it takes to win’. 

George Miladenov, 32, political operative, NSW

A runner-up on Australian Survivor: Brains vs. Brawn, George was known to frustrate fans for his habit of giving up on challenges.

But this time time the political operative from Bankstown in Sydney says he’s coming back to the jungle as a ‘pure Villain’. 

Sarah Marschke, former Miss World Australia, NSW

Real Housewives of Melbourne star, Anjali Rao, and news anchor, Victoria

Jackie Glazier, 49,  WS poker champ, Victoria

After being ousted from Australian Survivor: Champions vs. Contenders, Jackie returns as a Villain this season.

The competitive poker champ says she’ll be using her mental skills to win the game. 

Jordie Hansen, 26, landscaper, Victoria

Jordie became a fan favourite during Australian Survivor: Blood vs. Water, and is known for his big grin, coming away from the series with the nickname, ‘the Joker’.

This time out he’s says willing to play the Villain, because they are always more fun than Heroes. 

Liz Parnov, 28, Olympic pole vault champ,  WA

New castaway Liz is used to tough competition after representing Australia in pole vaulting at the Barcelona Olympics.

Describing her personality as ‘larger than life’, Liz, who now works in marketing, says Survivor is ultimate test for any competitor.

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Fraser Lack, real estate agent, Victoria

George Miladenov, political operative and Survivor veteran

Michael Warren, 44, journalist, NSW

Journalist Michael says that media professionals are often seen as Villains.

He says that Villains are read to get their hands dirty and ‘lie, cheat, and steal’ to win the game. 

Mimi Tang, 30, luxury car brand owner, Victoria  

 PR veteran Mimi has been an amateur boxer fighting bouts since she was 19.

As a villain, she thinks there are no limits to winning the challenges and no expectations. 

Sarah Marschke, 23, former Miss World Australia, NSW

Former beauty queen Sarah is also an semi-professional rugby league player, having played State competitions for Queensland.

‘I come across as that ditzy blonde,’ she says in a trailer for the show, ‘but you should always fear a beauty queen.’

Liz Parnov, Olympic pole vault champ, WA

Mimi Tang, luxury car brand owner, and Survivor veteran, from Victoria

Shonee Bowtell,  30, HR assistant, Queensland

Known as the only castaway to ever play the game three times, Shonee has survived for a total 89-days across her two earlier seasons.

Describing the Heroes tribe as a ‘snoozefest’, she describes the Villains as ‘her people’. 

Simon Mee, 33, carpenter, Queensland

Returning to the jungle after getting booted off Australian Survivor: Brains vs. Brawn, Simon says Villains ‘thrive on chaos’.

After playing the game as a Hero last time, Simon says this season he’s ready to ‘unleash his full potential’.

Stevie Khouw, 62,  independent politician, NSW

One time food delivery driver and now independent politician Stevie, who also volunteers as a firefighter, has completed a Master in Environmental Law since he appears on Australian Survivor: Champions v Contenders.

Stevie says fans can look forward to him playing the game as a ‘master Villain’.

Shonee Bowtell, HR assistant and two-time player, from Queensland