Natalie White Reveals Winning 'Survivor' Strategy

To win the reality competition, Natalie outwitted, outplayed, and outlasted 19 other contestants in the physically and mentally brutal reality show. Now that the competition has ended, she divulged her strategy to "The Insider": "It is a huge, huge social game. You have to get to know the people on your jury. You have to figure out what you think their voting criteria is going to be, so at your final speech, you know how to tailor your message. You know how to address your jury. You have to close. It's just like sales."

What is she going to do with her big check? "I want to take [my boyfriend Justin] on a vacation. That's my selfish purchase," she says. She is not going to spend it all right away. "I'm going to save a lot of it," Natalie said.

Though she didn't reveal where the happy couple would be vacationing, returning to her "Survivor" locale is not out of the question. "I would love to go back to Somoa. It is a beautiful place...I would love for Justin to be able to see that beautiful country, so we may go back there."

Natalie found the experience "very humbling" and learned the difference between "want versus need." While an outcast in Somoa, she missed her family and empathized with people who do not have their health. She suffered ailments due to sleep deprivation, which she found "horrendous," and lost a great deal of weight.

The next season of "Survivor," featuring past contestants, is dubbed "Heroes vs. Villains" and is slated for a February 11, 2010 premiere date on CBS.

Published 12/21/09 by