It is so much harder than you could imagine. But if you really want to do it, 100% jump in, don't look back, be as kind as possible, send in an awesome video tape, come across as a type A personality and let Mark Burnett know that you're going there to kick some butt. And lots of luck!
gino: YOU ARE THE BEST, TINA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ashley: Canada Luvs ya, girl. Way to go!!
JenniferLynne: Hi Tina...Congratulations!
EladFromIsrael: Tina!!! Congratulations from Israel!!!!
carly: Do you think you are prepared for the aftermath of SURVIVOR in your life?
Tina Wesson: I'm not sure. I have to admit that the last 3 or 4 days have been extremely overwhelming, and I'm not sure that I can keep up this pace. Hopefully, when it all settles down I can find a place that I'm comfortable with.
matti: Tina, how much tax do you have to pay on your winnings?
Tina Wesson: Forty-seven percent.
Tina__Didmeproud: Tina, you deserved the prize. I'm so proud that you won!
Crystal: Your kids must be soooo proud of you!
Amber2001: Michigan loves you, Tina!
TangoYank: Tina, did you read any of the Internet websites about the show while it was going on? Tempted to post anything yourself? ;-)
Tina Wesson: Originally, I went to a couple of sites, but they were so cruel I vowed never to go again. There was a fellow out of Nashville who is a Christian who offered to make my own website for me. I would go to the message boards there because they were so uplifting and encouraging, and gave me a lot of strength.
sews: Tina, what religion do you follow? And did it play any part while you were in the Outback? You are such an inspiration to all of us!!!
Tina Wesson: Thank you so much; it means more to me that you know. I was raised Baptist. I now attend an interdenominational church. I choose to be called a spiritual person rather than a religious person. I think it's more about your personal relationship than it is about your religion.
BestFanOfSurvivor: Forty-seven percent! It's a lot of money!!
Dr_Hab: Tina, were you allowed to bring a picture of home or anything into the Outback that reminded you of home?
Tina Wesson: We could only bring one personal item, and mine was the backgammon board. That wasn't my first choice, but out of the five that I could pick that is what the producers chose for me.
castrohel: TINA TINA TINA!
BiggestSurvivorFan: New Jersey is behind you 100%, Tina! We luv ya! Congrats!
Keithfan: Tina, you rule!!!!!!!
Tess: Tina, what was the scariest moment for you?
Tina Wesson: The scariest moment was definitely after I crossed the river to get the rice. The grass was up to my neck, and it was dark, and snakes were everywhere in the Outback. I thought that I would probably get bitten, because I could not see where I was walking, and we actually had three snake bites the first ten days. Snakes were very prevalent, and that was the only time I was afraid.
Survivor_Fan_7: What was your first choice for a personal item?
sldenmark: What were your other choices for a personal item?
Tina Wesson: A journal.
brerrabbit: Good job, Tina. How much weight have you gained back?
susie_q: Tina, you lost soooo much weight on the show. Toward the end I thought you were going to break. Did you gain all of your weight back? Do you have a workout program? Also, I'm so glad you won! Me and my two little girls could not stop crying with excitement!
Tina Wesson: Aww, that's so sweet! I'm so glad to be a mom and a woman and win the thing. I started at 118 pounds, I dropped down to 99. I went up to 125 when I left, finally put on the brakes, and I'm back at my original 115 where I like to stay. I try to work out at least five days a week.
FunKiEMunKie216: How did you feel that Amber got to bring a journal and you didn't?
Tina Wesson: I don't know what happened, but Amber's personal luxury item…. There was some mixup, so when she was at the ranch getting ready to go, they allowed her to bring her journal due to the mixup.
Dawn: Did anyone else get bit by a snake? Were they poisonous? Were you able to get treated right away?
Tina Wesson: I'm not sure how many people total were bitten, and I'm not sure how many of those were poisonous. I do know one was bitten by a Taipan, because they are very dangerous. The people who were bitten were all with production, and I'm sure they got immediate help. There was a medical doctor on staff who stayed at the compound, and they had a facility there to give the antivenom.
survivor: Love you TIna!! You go, girl!!!!!!!!!!
buckhunter: Texas luvs you Tina!
BritBrat: Tina, we say thank you from Tennessee!! We love you!! We are so glad you won! Thank you!
castrohel: Tina is the bomb!
Toadfish: How bad were the biting insects? In SURVIVOR I, castaways had bites all over them. It didn't appear that way in the Outback.
Tina Wesson: That was one of the good things about SURVIVOR 2. No rats and no insects. Just crocs and snakes...and spiders...and dingoes...that's all!
Survivorrocks: I LOVE YOU TINA!!!!!!!! YOU ROCK GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!
zig: Tina, I knew you'd win!!!!
lalanded: Did you learn any survival skills before going to the Outback?
texasfan: How did they prepare you for the show./game?
Tina Wesson: There was nothing, and no preparation for the game. We were suggested to read two SURVIVOR books before going out. My husband was an eagle scout, so he helped me with compass skills, and that was about it.
SUNNY : What do you miss most about Australia?
Tina Wesson: The land and the wildlife. It's a beautiful country. I took a lot of mental photographs, but I will never forget, and in watching the last episode for the first time, I was moved to tears.
LuvDaColbster: GREAT JOB, TINA!!!!!!!!!!!
TimberTee: Tina!!! I'm so excited for you--congrats!!!
KramerDE: Tina, how close did y'all get to the Crocs?
Tina Wesson: We actually were swimming right with them. The water was so muddy you never knew where they were, but we were told as long as you don't put your feet down, they were just as afraid of us as we were of them. For some reason, I trusted CBS with that knowledge.
Survivor_Cutie: CONGRATS TINA!! YOU WERE GREAT!
babyborn: How hard was it to "ignore" the cameramen?
Tina Wesson: Not too hard. There were only three people in camp in the beginning. They were not allowed to speak to us, and we were not allowed to speak to them. They kept their watches covered so we could not see what time it was, and so they became like pieces of furniture.
survivor_chick21: Do u still have the bathing suit you wear in the Outback?
Tina Wesson: That grody thing? Afraid so!
Kangapete: What did you do with the flag, Tina?
Tina Wesson: It's in my suitcase.
princess1980: Great job, Tina!! Colorado loves you!! You rock!
DA_BOMB: GOOD FOR YOU, TINA!
cutecowgirl: Wonderful job, Tina, South Carolina loves you, and good luck in the future!!!
natty: Congrats Tina! You go, girl!
ryanfoster: Hi Tina, Congratulations from Lansing, Michigan.
GreyEyesNC: Tina, What charitable organizations will you support? Lesley, NC
Tina Wesson: I'm working very closely with the Arthritis foundation, due to the fact that I have rheumatoid arthritis myself. Also, I'm going to start a SURVIVOR fund that people can make a donation to, and it will help for other people trying to survive whatever situation: hurricane, tornado, fire, flood. But I'm going to need help in getting that foundation started, since I know nothing about doing that myself.
IzzyHigh: Way to gooooo TINA!
iwishiwastina: BEST WISHES TINA FROM EVERYONE IN TORONTO, CANADA!!!
michael: CONGRATULATIONS FROM MONTERREY MEXICO
survivor_addict: WAY TO GO TINA FROM WYOMING
Irishguy: Congrats Tina from all of Ireland
dude_2000: What were your reactions right after you found out you won the million?
Tina Wesson: I was totally shocked. I never expected to win, so I never even thought about it, never even allowed myself the opportunity to think about it, so I was just one hundred percent floored! Then I felt guilty because I thought Colby should have won, so it was quite an emotional ride.
CowboyColby: Congrats Tina from Hamilton
Pigpen: Best wishes from Thorold, Ontario, Canada.
keithshouldofwon: NC loves Tina!!! Congrats!!!
kpowers: Tina, Kentucky also loves you!! We have a group of kids at our school that would love to say thank you for being a role model for them and teaching them a lot during your trip and adventures. Woohoo Tina!! Congrats from G.R. Hampton Elementary School in Barbourville, KY!!
Tina Wesson: Thank you so much. I think the kids are our future, and the more we as grownups can set an example, the better the world will be in the future. Thank you for the comment--it means a lot.
CBS Moderator: Thanks so much for joining us, Tina, and congratulations!
Tina Wesson: Thank you! Thank you everyone for typing in. Remember to be kind and reach for your dreams and go for it--whatever that may be! God bless all! love, Tina.
CBS Moderator: Thanks for joining us, everyone. Tune in to an all-new SURVIVOR on Thursday at 8:00pm ET/PT, only on CBS. And don't forget to check www.cbs.com/survivor for all the latest SURVIVOR info. See ya next time!!!
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