Season 46 of “Survivor” reached a thrilling conclusion Wednesday night, with Michigan native Kenzie Petty emerging victorious amid the drama and challenges the game entails. As the winner, she walked away with a $1 million top prize and the title of a game show legend.

Petty is a former Gibraltar, Michigan, resident and is now a salon owner in Charlotte, North Carolina. Her journey from the bustling streets of Charlotte to the remote islands of Fiji, where “Survivor” was filmed this season, has been nothing short of extraordinary.

She finished the game by winning a crucial Immunity Challenge, conquering the defining fire-making challenge, and earning five jury votes to secure the title of “Sole Survivor.” She beat contestant Charlie David, who finished second with three jury votes, and Ben Katzman, who received zero jury votes, during the May 22 finale.

Related Articles

TV Tinsel: National Memorial Day Concert to mark 35 years of honoring those who died in service to country

50 Cent’s Diddy docuseries sold to Netflix, days after Cassie assault video surfaces

‘The Big Cigar’ review: When a Black Panther founder fled to Cuba with the help of a Hollywood producer

The reason Francesca was recast in ‘Bridgerton’ season 3

Pat Sajak leaves ‘Wheel of Fortune’ June 7 with ‘Thanks for the Memories’ retrospective

“Winning was very overwhelming,” Petty said Thursday in an interview with MediaNews Group. “I was so excited and so proud, but at the same time, Ben and Charlie were such strong competitors. It is a very loaded feeling. My heart broke for them because they played such a good game. It is an honor to win against such strong and amazing players.”

Petty, who lived in Gibraltar during her elementary and middle school years, reflected on her remarkable journey: “‘Survivor’ was a beautiful, eye-opening experience. Humans are capable of so much. When we set our sights on following a dream, we can do anything.”

Although Petty learned she had won when the season’s taping wrapped last summer, she had to keep the results a secret until the May 22 finale aired. She said it was difficult, but “I wanted everyone to be excited for the season. It was difficult to keep the secret, but I did tell my husband. Now that the results were announced, I feel like the excitement was reawakened. I can tell everyone, ‘I did it!’”

Kenzie Petty, formerly of Gibraltar, won season 46 of “Survivor,” walking away with $1 million. (Photo courtesy of CBS)

From the outset, Petty proved to be a force to be reckoned with, surviving 13 tribal councils and outmaneuvering her adversaries with strategic brilliance and unwavering determination. Her name was only written down once during all of the tribal votes.

But it wasn’t just her strategic gameplay that endeared her to fans; it was also her compassion and empathy, as evidenced by her unwavering support for fellow castaway Ben during his struggles with night terrors and panic attacks. On night 13, right after a tribal council, Ben woke up from a dream and began to have a panic attack. Petty, sleeping nearby, was the first to comfort him.

“I don’t care if it’s a game for a million dollars,” Petty said during an on-air confessional. “At the end of the day, Ben’s a person. Is he my competition? Yes. But he’s my friend. And sometimes you just have to be there for somebody and sit with them through it.”

Gibraltar’s Kenzie Petty takes on ‘Survivor’ in season 46

Petty’s resilience and resourcefulness were tested in a season marked by twists and turns. Teaming up with Liz Wilcox to knock off Maria Shrime Gonzalez’s dominance over immunity challenges showcased her strategic prowess. In the final episode of the competition, the two players unexpectedly worked together to ensure Maria didn’t win her fourth immunity challenge. It was a “Survivor” first in strategy, thwarting Maria’s chance at tying for the most immunity challenges won by a female since “Survivor” premiered in May 2000. It also kept Maria from going to the final four.

At first, Petty did not know Liz was going to help her.

“I realized (she was helping me) when I was almost finished with the puzzle. She was stacking her puzzle pieces strangely, then she was suddenly reading numbers to me,” Petty said. “I guess she figured that she wasn’t going to win the challenge, so why not help a friend? It was such a beautiful thing about ‘Survivor.’ You kind of make your own rules.”

The tag-team strategy paid off, with Petty securing immunity. Then, top-challenger Maria was voted out and sent to the jury.

Petty’s journey to the “Survivor” finale wasn’t without personal sacrifices — and then joys. Delaying her wedding to compete on the show, she exhibited a dedication and commitment that mirrored her approach to the game. Filming of “Survivor” took place in June 2023. Upon returning home from Fiji, she married her husband, Jackson Petty, in September 2023. A week before the May 22 finale, they announced they are expecting their first baby in September 2024.

Kenzie Petty, winner of season 46 of “Survivor,” stands with fellow contestant Tiffany Ervin at the finale that aired May 22. (Photo courtesy of Chuck Snyder/CBS)

Petty only began watching “Survivor” during the pandemic when a neighbor, who was a fan of the show, invited her to watch. “I was absolutely obsessed after that first episode,” she said. Petty eventually joined a Survivor Fantasy League group to watch the seasons unfold.

Despite years of watching the show from her living room, Petty said there were many surprises as a contestant.

“I went from the couch to ‘Survivor’ in real life,” she said. “It was amazing how much went into the show behind the scenes and how truly taxing it is to participate.”

Petty, who has supported herself since she was a teenager, earned her beautician’s license at 17 and opened her salon at 24. When asked about the risks she’s taken to make positive changes, she pointed to her leap of faith into salon ownership. Her ability to adapt and persevere in the face of uncertainty is a testament to her resilience and resourcefulness, which undoubtedly served her well on “Survivor.”

Petty said she will use her winnings to secure a future for herself and her family.

“I’ve been in my career since I was 15 years old. Not because it sounded fun, but because I needed to. When I opened my salon, I did it to give people a place to work. I don’t make money from the chairs in my salon,” she said during the final episode. “This money is for me. I will invest it to secure a strong future. So I won’t be trimming bangs at 70. I will use this money to set myself up for a secure future for my family.”

Petty said that daily life will not change much now that she is home.

“I’m still going to be doing hair, live in the same house, the same car,” she said. “I’m just investing the money. It is my security blanket to retire someday. … My next focus is just going to be about being a great mom.”

As Petty celebrates her hard-earned victory and prepares to embark on her life’s journey with her husband and their new son, she said her “Survivor” experience leads to the next chapter.

“So many lessons that I learned about myself during ‘Survivor’ are going to translate into being a mom, especially having a boy,” she said. “I want to show him women are powerful. I want to show him that you can achieve your dream. To believe in yourself. Making it on ‘Survivor’ was one success. Winning was another. I hope it will inspire him and inspire others to go after what you want.”