Topic: S50: Aubry Bracco (Vatu)

[RealityFreakWill]

Aubry Bracco

Seasons: Kaoh Rong, Game Changers, Edge of Extinction
Age: 39
Hometown: Hampton Falls, N.H.
Current Residence: Hampton Falls, N.H.

Why do you want to come back for Survivor 50 and how does it feel to be chosen for this milestone season?

I have loved Survivor for 25 years. As a fan, I loved the adventure and the social experiment. As a player, I have loved both those things but I could never have imagined that the experiences on island would change my life in such significant ways. The lessons, though not always easy, have shaped my adulthood. The feeling of being chosen? I’m profoundly honored, grateful, and ready to go!

What one life experience since the last time you played do you feel has prepared you for 50?

I’ve had two major life events equally as transformative since the last time I played. 1: I lived at Massachusetts General Hospital with my mom, sister, and aunt for over 100 days in 2022 while my dad went through the arduous process of receiving a new heart and undergoing a heart transplant. Through seven surgeries and countless complications, the experience showed me what true resilience is and reminded me that the impossible is possible (shoutout to the MGH cardiac ICU and entire cardiac team). 2: I met my incredible partner, Tyler, and we had a son, Odin (Odie) in 2022. Seeing his joy, curiosity and fearlessness reminds me to live in the moment. Plus, he keeps us on our toes.

Coming into this season, what is the Survivor accomplishment you are most proud of? And what are you eager to have another shot at?

I’m most proud of diffusing the super idol in Kaoh Rong with Tai and going to the final 5 in Game Changers despite having a big target. I'm eager to get a shot at working on my social game intuition and proving to myself that I have what it takes to go to the end.

What would you say is your Survivor reputation and how will you manage that perception in the game?

I think there is some mystery about my game after my success in 34 and poor performance in 38 but I have always managed to get the “threat” label. I’m managing this by focusing on players as individuals, making 1:1 connections, and positioning myself as a level-headed friend and co-conspirator in a lineup of threats. I’m going to play up that I’m now a mom who has been out of the Survivor community for a little while to lessen my target.

What is your strategy going into 50? And how will it differ from previous time(s) you’ve played?

I want to return to my roots: sussing out a few 1:1 relationships that will get me through the game to form a web of different kinds of allies I can get info from and cobble together the numbers when Jeff’s new era trickery strikes. That said, I want to be more graceful and have more fun than I did in Kaoh Rong – I won’t be crossing out any names this time. Plus, I’m better about making decisive decisions and living with the results and adapting. I can thank starting my own marketing business for that shift from academic to entrepreneurial thinking.

Survivor fans have had the opportunity to help shape the game this season by voting on various elements – what are you hoping makes the cut and why?

I am here to expect the unexpected so I’m not getting hung up hoping for anything in particular, though I’m hoping for a live finale in LA. There’s nothing like a dysfunctional family reunion after you’ve had time to replay how you’ve backstabbed one another 10,000 times over.

At this point in your life who is your biggest inspiration and why?

My parents are my biggest inspiration in life. My dad for enduring his heart transplant ordeal and surviving against all odds and my mom for her undying loyalty and being the best teammate of all time!

Why will you be the Sole Survivor?

I will be the Sole Survivor because I am genuinely interested in other people and understanding their fears, dreams, and desires. I know that how you make people feel is more important than what you say. I’m fearless and refuse to quit. No matter what I face I know I have the fire to overcome and have nothing to lose because I already have it all at home.