Lauren O'Connell
Born: October 26, 1996
Hometown: Waco, Texas Occupation: Student Seasons: Edge of Extinction Placing: Fifth (Edge of Extinction) Tribes: Manu; Lesu; Vata Total Challenge Wins: 3
Days Lasted: 37 Votes Against: 11 Awards: Worst Strategic Move (Edge of Extinction) |
Survivor: Edge of Extinction
Lauren was originally placed on the Manu Tribe, where she formed a tight alliance with Kelley Wentworth, and the pair were directly apposed to David Wright and Rick Devens. However, at the beginning, the two pairs worked together, along with Wardog DaSilva and Chris Underwood. At first, Reem Daly and Wendy Diaz tried to throw the vote at Kelley, thinking she is a huge threat, but the majority voted out Reem, who was bossy and too motherly. At the next vote, Kelly and Wendy were targets from different sources, but the majority once again sided together and voted out Keith Sowell, who was seen to be the weakest link. Next, Wendy was still pushing to get Kelley out and even managed to pull in Chris, who believed he had David, Rick and Wardog. However, Wardog trusted Kelley more than Chris, so he told Kelley the plan and they even managed to pull David and Rick back to their side and instead voted out Chris. In the meantime, Kelley found herself a Hidden Immunity Idol.
The Tribes then swapped, which saw all of Manu stick together on a new Tribe, Lesu, only missing Wendy. With the numbers set, it was Kelley and Lauren vs. David and Rick, with Wardog in the middle, and Lauren also found herself a Hidden Immunity Idol. In the end, Wardog sided with Kelley and Lauren, and Rick was voted out. At the next Tribal, a twist saw Lesu and Manu both go to Tribal Council to vote out one person. Initially, the votes were tied between Lauren and Wendy, but eventually Manu turned on one of their own and Wendy was voted out, not wanting to go to rocks for her.
The Tribes then Merged and they discovered the Edge of Extinction twist, which saw all of the voted out contestants battling for a spot back in the game, which was won by Rick. Kelley, Lauren and Wardog stuck together and targeted David this time, while Rick and David tried to target Kelley and Aurora McCreary and Joe Anglim tried to target Rick. However, the rest of the original Kama instead turned on one of their own and the biggest physical threat, Joe, was blindsided. Next, Kelley, Lauren and Wardog knew that they needed David and Rick to continue on, but Rick wasn't willing to work with them after what they had did, but David was willing to bury the hatchet. Because of this, Rick joined up with the Kama alliance, and joined Julie Rosenberg, Ron Clark and Eric Hafemann in a plan to split the votes between Lauren and Kelley. However, this didn't stop the Lesu Alliance from convincing all of the Kama alliance that Eric and Ron were running the show, allowing them to blindside Eric.
A lot of names were thrown around next, and it seemed like the Kama Alliance wanted out David and Kelley, the returnees. However, the Lesu Alliance managed to once again squirm their way through and convince the Kama Alliance to vote out another one of their own, Julia Carter. The Lesu Alliance then imploded, as David and Rick targeted Wardog, while Kelley, Wardog and Lauren targeted David. The two groups fought for the side of the Kama Alliance, who sided with Kelley, so David was voted out. However, Wardog then turned on her and began plotting with some of the Kama Alliance about getting Kelley out finally, while Kelley and Lauren got Gavin and Julie to help with voting out a physical threat, Aurora. However, most of the Kama Alliance sided with Wardog and Kelley was blindsided.
After Wardog turned on her, Lauren joined with the Kama Alliance, who wanted Wardog out, while Wardog and Rick wanted Aurora out. However, Lauren fully sided with Kama and Wardog was blindsided. Rick then became the next target, but Lauren and Gavin Whitson had a side plan in case Rick played an Idol, throwing votes on Ron Clark. Rick would play an Idol and it was Ron who was voted out. Rick would then win Immunity, forcing the Kama Alliance to vote out one of their own. Aurora wanted Julie out, but Lauren sided with the majority and voted out Aurora, who was the biggest physical threat. Chris then rejoined the game in the last Edge of Extinction challenge. Lauren and Chris reconnected and Lauren told Chris that she would play her Hidden Immunity Idol for him, if Rick played his Idol. Rick did play his Idol and Lauren kept her word, playing her Idol for Chris and it was Victoria who was voted out. Rick would then win Immunity, and Lauren sided with Gavin and Julie in targeting Chris. However, Chris played his new Hidden Immunity Idol and Rick and Chris voted out Lauren.
At the Final Tribal Council, Lauren voted for Gavin to win, but he ultimately lost to Chris.
The Tribes then swapped, which saw all of Manu stick together on a new Tribe, Lesu, only missing Wendy. With the numbers set, it was Kelley and Lauren vs. David and Rick, with Wardog in the middle, and Lauren also found herself a Hidden Immunity Idol. In the end, Wardog sided with Kelley and Lauren, and Rick was voted out. At the next Tribal, a twist saw Lesu and Manu both go to Tribal Council to vote out one person. Initially, the votes were tied between Lauren and Wendy, but eventually Manu turned on one of their own and Wendy was voted out, not wanting to go to rocks for her.
The Tribes then Merged and they discovered the Edge of Extinction twist, which saw all of the voted out contestants battling for a spot back in the game, which was won by Rick. Kelley, Lauren and Wardog stuck together and targeted David this time, while Rick and David tried to target Kelley and Aurora McCreary and Joe Anglim tried to target Rick. However, the rest of the original Kama instead turned on one of their own and the biggest physical threat, Joe, was blindsided. Next, Kelley, Lauren and Wardog knew that they needed David and Rick to continue on, but Rick wasn't willing to work with them after what they had did, but David was willing to bury the hatchet. Because of this, Rick joined up with the Kama alliance, and joined Julie Rosenberg, Ron Clark and Eric Hafemann in a plan to split the votes between Lauren and Kelley. However, this didn't stop the Lesu Alliance from convincing all of the Kama alliance that Eric and Ron were running the show, allowing them to blindside Eric.
A lot of names were thrown around next, and it seemed like the Kama Alliance wanted out David and Kelley, the returnees. However, the Lesu Alliance managed to once again squirm their way through and convince the Kama Alliance to vote out another one of their own, Julia Carter. The Lesu Alliance then imploded, as David and Rick targeted Wardog, while Kelley, Wardog and Lauren targeted David. The two groups fought for the side of the Kama Alliance, who sided with Kelley, so David was voted out. However, Wardog then turned on her and began plotting with some of the Kama Alliance about getting Kelley out finally, while Kelley and Lauren got Gavin and Julie to help with voting out a physical threat, Aurora. However, most of the Kama Alliance sided with Wardog and Kelley was blindsided.
After Wardog turned on her, Lauren joined with the Kama Alliance, who wanted Wardog out, while Wardog and Rick wanted Aurora out. However, Lauren fully sided with Kama and Wardog was blindsided. Rick then became the next target, but Lauren and Gavin Whitson had a side plan in case Rick played an Idol, throwing votes on Ron Clark. Rick would play an Idol and it was Ron who was voted out. Rick would then win Immunity, forcing the Kama Alliance to vote out one of their own. Aurora wanted Julie out, but Lauren sided with the majority and voted out Aurora, who was the biggest physical threat. Chris then rejoined the game in the last Edge of Extinction challenge. Lauren and Chris reconnected and Lauren told Chris that she would play her Hidden Immunity Idol for him, if Rick played his Idol. Rick did play his Idol and Lauren kept her word, playing her Idol for Chris and it was Victoria who was voted out. Rick would then win Immunity, and Lauren sided with Gavin and Julie in targeting Chris. However, Chris played his new Hidden Immunity Idol and Rick and Chris voted out Lauren.
At the Final Tribal Council, Lauren voted for Gavin to win, but he ultimately lost to Chris.
Voting History
Episode |
Lauren Voted For |
Voted For Lauren |
1 |
Wendy Diaz |
Wendy Diaz |
2 |
Keith Sowell |
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3 |
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4 |
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5 |
Wendy Diaz |
Eric Hafemann, Gavin Whitson, Victoria Baamonde, Wendy Diaz |
6 |
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7 |
Eric Hafemann |
Julie Rosenberg, Rick Devens |
8 |
Julia Carter |
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9 |
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9 |
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10 |
Wardog DaSilva |
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11 |
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12 |
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13 |
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13 |
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13 |
For Sole Survivor: Gavin Whitson |
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Trivia
- Lauren is the youngest female contestant on Edge of Extinction.
- Lauren is the youngest female to find a Hidden Immunity Idol, being 21 at the time.
- Lauren is the second person to survive a revote while in possession of a Hidden Immunity Idol, the first being Marty Piombo in Nicaragua.
- Lauren was eligible to be voted out 15 times, the most for any castaway in a single season: she attended 15 Tribal Councils and never won individual immunity.
- She ties with Mick Trimming, Natalie White, Russell Hantz (in Samoa), Denise Stapley, Spencer Bledsoe (in Cambodia), Ken McNickle, and Rick Devens for the most Tribal Councils attended in a season.
- Lauren lost 11.5 lbs. during her time on Edge of Extinction.
- Lauren is the only original Manu member who was never sent to the Edge of Extinction.
- Lauren is the first person to become the 12th member of the Jury.