Welcome back to Inside Survivor’s 50 For 50, a semi-regular feature highlighting 50 former castaways who we think should be considered for a spot on Survivor 50. In a snake draft, the Inside Survivor team selected ten players each, with the only rule being they couldn’t have played more than twice.
PROFILE
Name: Dr. Desiree ‘Desi’ Williams
Age: 35
Season: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers, 2017
Finish: 11th place
HIGHLIGHTS
Desi was part of the dominant Soko tribe and didn’t attend a single tribal council until she was swapped to Levu on day 8. Once on Levu, Desi was forced to work with her nemesis, Joe Mena, to have the majority of the numbers, and tried to convince Devon Pinto to work with them, but ultimately to no avail. After Desi and Joe successfully voted out Alan Ball, Desi decided to consider all her options to survive longer in the game and considered flipping against Joe. Still, this plan never came to fruition as Desi’s tribe continued to win immunity challenges until the merge.
Once the jury phase began, Desi showed off her physical abilities by winning the first individual immunity challenge of the season after a lengthy battle against Ashley Nolan. All former Soko players, including Desi, decided to target Chrissy Hofbeck. However, Desi’s tribemate, Jessica Johnston, was blindsided instead. Knowing she was next for being a threat, Desi fought with everything she had in the next immunity challenge but lost against Cole Medders. At the next tribal council, all votes (except hers and Joe’s) were split between them, and at the revote, Desi was voted and became the second jury member.
Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers was packed with larger-than-life characters and, honestly, too many forgetful faces. Desi Williams doesn’t fall into either category, but her participation in her season makes her an ideal candidate for Survivor 50.
WHY SHE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED
Though not the flashiest player, Desi is among the most underrated with untapped potential. For all those still skeptical out there, Desi showed her skillset in another show called The Challenge: USA. During season one, Desi shone for her physical, social, and strategic abilities but unfortunately lost in the finale only due to her partner’s inability to swim. Desi came back in full force during the second season, where she obliterated the competition and ultimately walked away with the win alongside Survivor: Edge of Extinction winner Chris Underwood.
As Desi has demonstrated on and off the island, she has the social capital to outplay shifting alliances, the physical endurance to outlast the game, and the strategic mindset to outwit her competition. With such high expectations set on a returning season like Survivor 50, a player like Desi could use her low-risk reputation to her advantage. While others are preoccupied with more notorious players, Desi could thrive, cement her position for upcoming tribal councils, and prepare to take the game fully under her control. Once the rest realise their mistake in underestimating her, it might be too late to stop her from adding another win under her belt.
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