“Survivor is like the kiddie pool, I’m in the big pool now.
“I was like, am I actually physically prepared for this experience?”
Fitzgerald tells EW with a laugh.
mtv
“Survivoris like the kiddie pool; I’m in the big pool now.
It’s wild.”
But thankfully she’s not tackling MTV’s extreme competition alone.
‘The Challenge’ season 37 cast.MTV
“I’m really excited for people to see the dynamic of theSurvivorcrew,” she says.
I’m definitely excited for us to flex ourChallengemuscles because we’re not allSurvivor.”
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Welcome toThe Challenge!
Was it always your goal to make the jump fromSurvivorto this franchise?
It’s always been on my radar.
I love anything competitive.
But I am so excited to finally do it.
Obviously,The Challengeis so different fromSurvivorand much more physical.
What did you do to prepare for this season?
[Laughs] But I was not going on this show without being very, very prepared.
So I was working out every single day, two times a day, three times a day.
Three times a day!
Honestly so was my family.
[Laughs] Everyone was shocked.
Did you talk with Jay and Natalie to get any tips on how to surviveThe Challenge?
Yeah, Natalie and Jay are probably two of my actual closest friends fromSurvivor.
So I felt a little bit more prepared than coming in green like some of the international people.
But it was pretty difficult going in and not having two of my favorite people there.
At the time, I was crushed.
I was trying to keep a straight face, but internally, I was freaking [out].
Your strength has always been your social game onSurvivor, so how did you adapt that forThe Challenge?
I’ve always been respected as a social player, but it’s different.
OnSurvivor, I came in as this very, very small threat.
Even onWinners at War, I’m against these giants who areSurvivorwinners.
And I go intoThe Challengewith a little bit of a different perception.
I’m just a bartender!"
[Laughs] Things have changed.
What did you learn fromSurvivorthat helped you this season?
Do not trust anyone!
It’s about seeing all the different angles and seeing what motivates people.
[Laughs] And sleep with one eye open.
Aside from winning, what was your main goal with how you played this season?
I went intoThe Challengereally wanting to have fun.
My lastSurvivorseason was so intense being out there with all the winners.
And I want to win money while doing it.
[Laughs] And I really did that this season.
This was way more fun to me thanSurvivorever was.
[Laughs] Are you kidding me?!
Now that you’ve done bothSurvivorandThe Challenge, which one was more difficult for you?
When you get back fromSurvivor, it takes months to recalibrate into your regular life.
You’ve never been voted off before.
Did that add any pressure to this season?
My reputation is somebody who’s never been voted off; I’ve never experienced that real loss.
So it was difficult.
There are so manySurvivoralums this season.
There was a lot of talk aboutSurvivor.
That was the word of the day, every day.
Everybody take a drink when somebody saysSurvivor!
If that was the case, we’d all be drunk because we were talking about it a lot.
I’ve never played with Michaela.
I’ve obviously never played with these internationalSurvivorplayers.
I came in definitely working with Michaela and Tommy, 100 percent.
But I didn’t expect there to be like six other freaking internationalSurvivorscoming on this show.
[Laughs] It’s something I couldn’t have planned for.
So who else did you end up working with?
I was definitely drawn to theBig Brothergroup, naturally.
I’ve known Josh from before this show.
We’ve met a few times at reality TV events.
I was working with Devin [Walker-Molaghan].
But the vets have played together how many seasons?
To pull together random strangers compared to a core group, it’s a difficult task.
[Laughs] Especially since people don’t know how to keep their mouths shut.
What can you tease about who you get partnered up with at the start of the season?
My partner is somebody that everybody would want to be partners with.
I really, really got the best partner in all the land.
[Laughs] The ladies love him.
Everybody wants to be this person’s partner and I was lucky enough to be paired with him.
Wow, I’m very happy for you.
Well, now I’m worried.
What can you reveal about how this season goes for you?
[Laughs] I had to come out guns blazing.
You’ll see a different layer and dimension to me.
[Laughs] And maybe a showmance or two because I love reality TV men.
Well, I’m still single if you’re asking!
But God, when they’re in front of you on a season, it’s hard.
But it was fun.
And why not have a little fun?
But oh my God, I’m so excited to watch it.
I have no idea.
Either way, wine is definitely going to be on the agenda.
The Challenge: Spies, Lies, and Alliespremieres Wednesday, Aug. 11 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on MTV.
