Dee Valladares says ‘I want them to come for me’ on ‘Survivor 50’

Dee Valladares is widely considered the most dominant winner in Survivor’s new era. The season 45 champion is a true triple threat — with athleticism, charm, and charisma wrapped inside the skin of a cold-blooded assassin. It’s no wonder so many players heading into Survivor 50 (premiering Feb. 25 on CBS) want her out immediately… and not just due to her allegedly big feet.

Most contestants would find going into a game with a target roughly the size of Fiji as a daunting prospect, but Dee is not most contestants. Not only does she welcome the attention, boldly telling Entertainment Weekly “I want them to come for me“ a few days before filming began, but Dee is also convinced that she’s about to end up in the winner’s circle yet again. She’s even envisioned the moment.

The 29 year old detailed those visions to EW while explaining her aggressive approach this time out (including plenty of lying at final Tribal Council) and revealing her one big personal regret from her last time playing that she still has trouble watching back today. Step into the domination station and enjoy.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Okay, Dee, tell me why you’re going to win Survivor… again.

DEE VALLADERES: I already feel it, Dalton. I feel it in my bones. Honestly, me being a winner, I could care less that people are going to come for me. I want them to come for me. That’s the only reason you want me out? That’s old news. There are a lot bigger reasons to get other people out. For example: Kyle, Kamilla, and Joe — that’s three people that will never vote for each other. The big dudes, with the Jonathans, the Colbys — there are some stacked dudes here and you’re worried about me?

But why come back and do this again? You already conquered the mountain.

I want to see what I’m capable of. I think you can place me in any cast, and I think I’ll do well, if not win. Because I’m a people person, and I’m excited to be here and have a lot more to offer, especially because playing for the first time, you play a little bit scared. But this time around, I’m free. Yeah, I’m still playing for the money, but it’s a lot more freeing to know, Alright, let me risk this and it’s going to be fun and it’s going to be good TV. And if it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work.

Do you think they’ll up the prize money this season?

They have to. It’s 50. They have to up it. Obviously, Winners at War was $2 million. If this is $5 million, Dalton…. I’m being maybe a little bit greedy, but if it is, there’s going to be no friendships out on the island. Friendships don’t exist.

Deal or No Deal Island kind of upped the ante when David walked away with almost $6 million. How much do you daydream about joining Sandra and Tony as a two-time winner?

Dude, I love that you asked that question. It’s all I do. Everyone out here studying the game, studying the players — I don’t do any of that. I just have dreams. I have Survivor dreams of Jeff turning that parchment and saying, “The winner of Survivor season 50….” I swear I am already thinking of my jury speech! It’s the craziest thing. I’m already thinking of ways to get the jury to vote for me. I’m already thinking of how I hope there’s a live finale and I’m already thinking about what to wear. I mean, dude, it’s insane! I’m crazy! I’m so delusional, which I think is a good thing for Survivor.

When you think about your speech to the jury, what are the types of things that you daydream about?

I have daydreamed about a Maryanne moment when she took that idol out, but instead of mine being real, it’s going to be fake. I have daydreamed about that and having a moment where whoever’s sitting next to me is telling me, “Oh, I did this.” And I say, “Well, look at what I did.” Or just coming up with a bunch of lies for the jury. You don’t have to be honest in final Tribal. Nobody would expect you to be dishonest. For the most part, the jury expects you to be truthful.

So I’ve just come up with ways of what I can do — like I’m going to give Jeff a fake idol. Things like that that have never happened before. Just make the game more fun. And again, if it works, it works. And if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. But people love 45, and I know what that feels like, but I don’t know what it feels like for a season to be disappointing. And I don’t want that to be 50. And this will either go down disappointment or the best season yet. And if it’s a snooze fest, I’ll do whatever it takes to turn that around.

How do you think the other contestants see you as a player? What are they telling me about you today?

I think they’re telling you that they’re a little bit intimidated. I feel like I’ve heard that my entire life. Why would it change on Survivor? If anything, they’re probably way more intimidated knowing that I’m “the most dominant winner in the new era.” But what they don’t know is that whatever they’re telling you, that’s going to change when it’s in the game. Because when people meet me, they like me and I make you feel so safe, comfortable, heard.

And especially in 50, I’m going to work even harder to make sure that I’m liked and I’m charismatic as much as I can be. And also, we’re out here living together. You don’t want to live with anyone that’s f—ing annoying. And I’m pretty easygoing. I help out around camp. I do what I can. I listen to people and I make you think that I’m with you, which is a huge skill on Survivor. So whatever they’re telling you is going to change, Dalton.

Obviously, you had a dominant outing last time, but anything on a personal level you wish you had handled differently?

I think the moment in our last episode when I told Julie that it was her going home and I told her to play the idol on Emily. I didn’t know it in that moment, but because we honestly had five minutes before Tribal, all of this was happening five minutes before lockdown, which means we can’t speak. So it came across as very demanding. And in that moment, I didn’t realize it because I was in such a panic and I needed her to vote Emily because she wanted to vote Austin, or she could have even voted me.

Nobody has ever talked about that. She could have also switched her mind and voted me, which is what she should have done. But watching it back, it hurt me. It hurt me so much to see myself talk to Julie like that, especially because I love her as a person, as a mom, and as a best friend. She is my ride or die in and out of this game, and watching myself talk to her like that, when I saw that, I called her and was like, “I’m sorry. I never realized that I spoke to you in that way.” And she was also in shock in that moment. So obviously she’s not going to come out and talk back in shock. I mean, it’s going to be her going home. But that’s definitely my big regret.

Do you have any weaknesses as a player?

Yes, absolutely.

If you were scouting yourself, what would you say was your weakness?

I’m an emotional person. I really am. I love deeply. I love hard. And when I love someone — and I’m using the word love kind of not too deep; I don’t know these people — but when I grow fond of someone, in my mind I feel like they can’t lie to me. I’m blinded. For example, in 45, Julie or Austin could have blindsided me. And I’m telling you, Dalton, I would’ve never seen it coming because I cared for them so much because I would’ve never done that to them. I cared for them so much that I was blinded by them.

But in 50, I can’t play like that. I think that’s my biggest weakness for sure. And before coming out here, my dad told me on the last FaceTime call, “Dee, go hard. Play without compassion.” Which is interesting because that’s what won me the game. So I am going to play with compassion, but less this time.

I assume you didn’t have to troll Jesse Tenenbaum on Instagram this time to be on the season, did you?

No, absolutely not. Oh man, that’s such a funny story. Jesse’s awesome.

How much pre-gaming did you do, Dee?

I swear on everything, I probably pregamed less than anybody here.

Why are you sitting here lying to me?

I swear! I know Emily. I spoke to Emily. Obviously, that one’s tricky because she’s out because of me, but then she also voted for me to win. I talked to Charlie and Kyle too. That’s about it.

I still don’t believe you.

Come on, Dalton! You got to believe me!

Nope, I don’t. But we can move on. Anyone here that as a fan, you’re just excited to see?

I’m excited to play with Cirie, for sure. I mean, there’s a reason why she’s a legend in this game. Who else am I excited for? Truthfully, all the old-era players, I want to play with them. I know it might naturally turn into this new versus old. I hope not though. I hope we’re mixed into three tribes of eight and mixed in.

Who are the people you want to work with in this game?

I need big shields ahead of me. So definitely Kyle. Obviously, he’s another winner, and Jonathan’s a great one. How are we going to beat him individually? Obviously, I want to work with Jenna from season 1. I got a really good vibe from her.

Who are you most wary of?

I mean, honestly, the 48 people, because they’re coming in as a trio, so that’s worrisome. But it’s good for me that they’re a trio because people are going to target them if they’re smart. I’m worried about Christian. I feel like he might have a lot of connections that I’m unaware of. I truthfully do not keep up with who’s hanging out with who. And I only found out a month ago that I’m for sure on the cast.

Oh, really?

Yeah, I was doing my paperwork in January. People found out a year ago, and I found out in January, “Hey, there’s a possibility that you might be on, do the paperwork, do the doctor’s appointments, whatever.“ And then I said: All right, I’m going to go live my life. If I get the call, if there’s going to be winners, of course I’ll do it. If not, I’m grateful. Then, in April, Jeff told me, “Hey, how does it feel to be on 50?” I’m like, s—, this is crazy. These people have been pregaming for a year! Dude, people have been pregaming for a year! And I’m glad they have. I actually think it’s better if you don’t pregame as hard because people are going to make false promises that they’re not going to be able to keep on this island.

Because you never know. Once you’re here with these players, you don’t know the personalities you’re up against. And I might swear on everything like, “Dalton, I’m not going to take you out.” But if I’m aligned with X, Y, Z and they want to take you out, it’s me before you, right? And now I got a bitter juror. I think that’s going to happen a lot this season. So I’m excited for that.

How do you handle these two 49 players that are an unknown quantity?

I think it’ll go one of two ways for them. Either people are going to want them in the game because they can act as swing votes, or do what I want to do, which is I want to just take ’em out. They’re easy people to take out. We didn’t watch you play. They know everything about us, but we don’t know anything about them. They can come up with any lie they want. They played together, so you already know for a fact they’re going to play this game together.

They’re the only people that they have that are familiar to another, and they also haven’t had time to decompress in the real world, which means they’re still in game mode. And I know that from firsthand experience, you need a whole year to decompress from game mode and talking game. So I don’t like ’em. I want them out. And it’s Kyle and myself as confirmed winners, but one of these two has to be a winner if there’s three tribes of eight, because I think Jeff’s going to do three tribes of eight.

I honestly don’t know at this point, but that certainly seems to be the new-era way of doing things.

I hope it’s two tribes. I want to play in two-tribe format, but I think he’s going to do three tribes of eight, and obviously, they’re going to have to split up the winners. They’re going to have to split up the podcasters, the people that played together, the 48ers. So it’s going to be interesting to see what happens.

I was going to ask you about a possible On Fire alliance.

I don’t know. I mean, I’d say yes, because I’m going to say yes to any alliance that comes my way. But no, there can only be one On Fire podcaster. And that’s me.

Does this mean you’re eligible to be the On Fire podcast host for season 51?

I’d hope so! That was so fun. But I don’t want to align with Rick. Rick rubbed me the wrong way. He’s smirking at everybody and it’s just like, “Dude, it’s too much.” He’s trying too hard. And don’t get me wrong, I think he’s trying too hard because he’s really excited. You could tell he’s excited to be back. And we both know he came so close to winning and he was right there. So I think a part of him is just that he can’t contain his emotions, but I think he’s going to go out swinging too hard too soon and he’s going to be out.

Who else are you really wary of?

I’m wary of Aubry. I can’t read her. You know how Rick is too excited? Aubry is the opposite. She’s walking around with her head down and just not making eye contact with anyone. So Rick is making too much eye contact and Aubry’s not making enough. I’m also a little bit wary about Colby. He gives off too much macho man vibes. I feel that if you’re playing with him, it’s his way or the highway, and I don’t like that.

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• Survivor 50 star Aubry Bracco opens up about the ‘freedom when you fall from grace’ 
• Colby Donaldson reacts to playing Survivor for the first time without Jerri
• Angelina Keeley refused to do Survivor 50 unless they gave her a jacket
• Survivor 50‘s Coach goes deep on evolving from an ‘arrogant ass’ into the… Tide Walker?
• Survivor 50 star Jenna Leiws-Dougherty is ‘here to f— you over in every way, shape, or form’
• Cirie Fields says winning The Traitors does not take sting out of Survivor loses
• Mike White on how he is handling Survivor 50 castmastes angling for White Lotus cameos
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• Rick Devens explains why he is a lunatic that wants to play with other lunatics
• Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick wants to prove that ‘mom really is a badass’
• Christian Hubicki wanted to tell Survivor 50 pre-gamers to ‘f— off’
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