Zeke Smith

Zeke became one of the main characters in Millennials vs. Gen X with his progressive strategy and flamboyant personality. While he found himself on the bottom on the original Vanua tribe, he managed to reach the Tribe Switch where he formed bonds and connections with Chris Hammons and David Wright . At the merge, he found himself in the majority alliance. However, he soon managed to form and lead his own alliance who helped him get to the final nine, where he was finally blindsided by Will Wahl.

Zeke was also a main character in Game Changers, where he continued to prove his strategic prowess in successfully voting out Sandra Diaz-Twine. Zeke had a particularly impactful encounter with Jeff Varner that altered his outlook on the game, leaving him to make the rash decision to turn on his closest allies, Cirie Fields and Andrea Boehlke, which led to his eventual blindside at the final ten due to his perceived untrustworthiness.

Profile[ ]

Retrieved from CBS.com

Millennials vs. Gen X
Game Changers

Name: Zeke Smith
Age: 28
Current residence: Brooklyn, NY
Occupation: Asset manager
Tribe designation: Vanua (Millennials)
Three words to describe you: Sharp, devilish, and unstoppable.
Hobbies: Writing, improv, gym, and cooking.
Pet peeves: Sniffling. Chewing with one's mouth open. Black shoes with brown belts. Children who don't listen to their mothers.
What does it mean to be a Millennial? To be perfectly honest, I've never thought of myself as a Millennial. Ask one of the other children.
Personal claim to fame: Being ranked one of the Top 16 high-school debaters in the country my senior year of high school. I got a plaque. It's been downhill ever since.
Inspiration in life: Joan Rivers. She told Helen Keller jokes into her eighties. The woman lived.
If you could have three things on the island, what would they be and why?
1. Hairspray: ostensibly for applications in fire making, but actually to keep my hair high and tight.
2. Coffee: to calm the nerves and awaken the senses, so to be on alert for plots against me. Coffee treatments also bring out my hair's natural shimmer.
3. Industrial-sized vat of peanut butter: who wouldn't bring a high-protein, high-fat, delicious treat to a starvation marathon? And, lest we forget, peanut butter is a magnificent deep conditioner.
Survivor contestant you're most like: Tony Vlachos ( Cagayan). I mean, I'm not personally like a cop from New Jersey. I would never live in New Jersey, are you kidding me? Excuse me? New Jersey? Where Tony and I intersect is our unbridled passion for Survivor. I came to lie, manipulate, and make big moves, which, on Day 39, will leave no one doubting that I played the superior game. Seriously, New Jersey?
Reason for being on Survivor: I love Survivor! I've dreamed of starving on desert beaches and running around in my unwashed underwear for years! It's long been my desire for Jeff Probst to reward my mastery of lying and manipulation with $1 million dollars.

Why do you think you'll "survive" Survivor? I'm tough as nails. Try and tear me down. Furthermore, people fascinate me. I can get along with anyone because I tend to be more curious than judgmental of an individual's quirks. I'm surprisingly adept in the out-of-doors and have been killing myself in the gym for the past six months, so I shouldn't drag ass in challenges. Hopefully, all those hours... okay, days.... fine, years spent watching Survivor and listening to Survivor podcasts will yield at least some aptitude at the game.^[2]

Age: 28
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Previously played on: Season 33: Millennials vs. Gen X, Finished 9th & Jury Member
How have you changed since the last time you played? Since I just played, I don't think I've changed at all. I'm still digging sand out of my tush. I keep leaving the apartment barefoot. I've taken to sleeping on my neighbor's floor so there's someone to wake me during my night terrors. They know it's time to shake me awake when I start screaming, " Dave found another Idol!"
What skills do you bring to Survivor that will make you a useful member of the group and what skills have you been learning since you last played? New skills? Well, I went to a friend's party in workout clothes. I brought my own salad, which I ate in a corner and refused to speak to anyone. So, yeah, I can do that now.
What are you most proud of from the last time? I'm not quite sure. It's really all a blur. I remember something about forcing rocks to save myself.
What, if anything, do you most regret? Nothing. Everything. Nothing. Everything. Chris.

How will you play differently this time? Frankly, I don't exactly know what I did right or wrong last time but, I think I played too flashy. This go 'round, I'm going to play more subtly, because I'm a very subtle person. Take one look at me and you think, "This guy knows subtle. No part of his mustache or patterned shirts or style of speaking says, 'pay attention to me!'"^[3]

Survivor[ ]

Millennials vs. Gen X[ ]

As a Millennial, Zeke started the game on the Vanua tribe. He led the tribe in building the shelter on Day 1. After Vanua lost their first Immunity Challenge on Day 7, Zeke targeted Figgy Figueroa. At Tribal Council, Zeke, Adam Klein, and Mari Takahashi voted against Figgy, but the rest of the tribe blindsided Mari. After returning from Tribal Council, Hannah Shapiro tried to explain to Zeke why she voted against Mari, but Zeke was angry and told her to leave him alone. While Zeke was on the outs, he was spared when Vanua won the next two challenges.

Both Zeke and Michelle Schubert remained on Vanua after the Tribe Switch. While they appeared to be in the minority, original Takali members Chris Hammons and David Wright sided with them and blindsided their fellow original Takali, CeCe Taylor, at their first Tribal Council after the switch. On Day 19, David showed Zeke his Hidden Immunity Idol in order to gain his trust.

Zeke managed to reach the merge, becoming a member of the Vinaka tribe. He regrouped with Hannah and Adam, and they all gave each other information from their respective post-switch tribes. However, Zeke considered targeting Adam because he was untrustworthy, though he ended up sticking with him.

On Day 26, Chris approached Zeke about blindsiding Jessica Lewis and he agreed. David won the next immunity and at camp, Zeke and Hannah were caught in the middle between Chris's alliance, who targeted Jessica, and David's alliance who targeted Chris. Zeke and Hannah ended up siding with David's alliance, blindsiding Chris.

After Tribal Council, Zeke attempted to realign with Chris's allies, Bret LaBelle and Sunday Burquest. The next day Bret informed Zeke that David was targeting him. During the reward trip, Bret came out to Zeke. After the Immunity Challenge, Zeke, Bret, Sunday, Jay Starrett, and Will Wahl agreed to target David. Zeke tried to get Hannah on board, but her indecisiveness made him believe that she was not with him. He then changed the target to her. At Tribal Council, there was a 5-5 tie vote between Zeke and Hannah. The revote still resulted in a tie, thus a rock drawing Tiebreaker occurred where Jessica was eliminated by picking the wrong rock.

Zeke's alliance was now in the majority. The next day, Zeke met his father, Sam, at the Loved Ones Challenge. After Adam won immunity, Zeke noticed how calm David was and suspected that he had a Hidden Immunity Idol. He changed the target to David's ally, Ken McNickle. However, after Ken revealed to Zeke and his allies Will was trying to get Zeke out, they tried to convince him to stay, and switched the target to Hannah. At Tribal Council, Will flipped and Adam played his idol on Hannah, sending Zeke to the jury.

At the Final Tribal Council, Zeke did not believe Ken contributed to or evolved the game, so he asked Hannah and Adam what they did. He voted for Adam to win, which he did in a unanimous 10-0-0 vote.

Challenge History
Voting History

Episode	Tribe Affiliation	Challenge	Challenge Type	Sit-Out?	Result
1	Vanua	Got to Choose	Reward/Immunity	No	Won
2		The Ocean	Reward/Immunity	No	Lost
3		Going Coconuts	Reward/Immunity	No	Won
4		Water Slaughter	Reward	No	Lost
4		Angry Chair	Immunity	No	Won
5		Holy Diver	Immunity	No	Lost
6		Blind Faith	Reward	No	1st
6		It's in the Bag	Immunity	No	2nd
7		Matt Finish	Reward	No	1st
7		Bail Out	Immunity	No	2nd
Tribes Merged, Day 21
8	Vinaka	Fools in the Rain	Immunity		Lost
9		All Mixed Up	Reward		Lost
9		Bo Diddley	Immunity	Yes¹	Lost
10		Ferryman	Reward	No	Won
		With a 10-ft. Pole	Immunity		Lost
		Slither Me Timbers	Reward	No	Won
		Rusty Gates	Immunity		Lost
11		Rope A Dope	Reward		Lost
11		Push Me, Pull You	Immunity		Lost
Voted Out, Day 33
Notes: ^1 Zeke elected to sit out of the challenge to eat grilled cheese sandwiches, chips, soft drinks, and beer.

Episode	Zeke's Votes	Voted Against Zeke
1	Vanua Tribe Immune
2	Figgy	-
3	Vanua Tribe Immune
4	Vanua Tribe Immune
5	CeCe	-
6	Vanua Tribe Immune
7	Vanua Tribe Immune
8	Michelle	-
9	Taylor	-
10	Chris	-
10	Hannah; Ineligible	Adam, David, Hannah, Jessica, Ken; Adam, David, Jessica, Ken¹
11	~~Hannah~~²	Adam, David, Hannah, Ken, Will
Voted Out, Day 33
Voted for Sole Survivor	Adam

^1 In " Million Dollar Gamble", the vote ended with a 5-5 tie between Zeke and Hannah, forcing a revote. Nobody changed their vote on the revote, forcing a rock drawing tiebreaker. Zeke was immune from the tiebreaker.
^2 In " About to Have a Rumble", Adam used a Hidden Immunity Idol on Hannah, negating Zeke's vote against her.

Game Changers[ ]

Zeke started on Nuku. Nuku won the first two challenges. He along with Cirie Fields, Andrea Boehlke, Ozzy Lusth, and Sarah Lacina were switched to Tavua after the tribe switch occurred. They were joined by Mana member Troyzan Robertson. Tavua dominated the next three challenges.

Zeke, Andrea, Sarah, and Ozzy were switched back to Nuku after the second tribe switch. They were joined by original Nuku Tai Trang and original Manas Jeff Varner and Sandra Diaz-Twine. Zeke wanted Sandra out, but he lied to Jeff that he wanted Tai out to avoid Sandra and Jeff to scramble. Nuku lost immunity on Day 16. At Tribal Council, Zeke, Tai, Andrea, Sarah, and Ozzy voted for Sandra thus sending her out.

The next day, Jeff began making his moves against Ozzy, recruiting both Sarah and Zeke. Zeke apologized for leaving Jeff out of the Sandra vote and promised to be honest with him moving forward, with plans of reaching the Final Tribal Council together. Nuku lost immunity on Day 18. At camp, Jeff tried to convince Zeke again to get rid of Ozzy, but Zeke was conflicted due to his strategy of keeping larger targets in the game as shields. Zeke's hesitance caused Jeff to believe that Zeke and Ozzy had a secret alliance.

At Tribal Council, a desperate Jeff outed Zeke as a transgender man, and tried to insinuate that Zeke's hiding this aspect of his life showed an ability to be deceitful. However, everyone else—including host Jeff Probst—quickly and emphatically rebuked Varner for this tactic. After a long discussion, Varner apologized, and expressed shame and remorse for what he had done. Seeing that Varner's actions would clearly lead to his elimination, Probst took an open roll call from all of the players, and then eliminated Varner without a formal vote.

Zeke reached the merge. At the feast, he revealed he is transgender. While Michaela Bradshaw was the original target, Zeke and Cirie managed to turn the vote on Hali Ford, so she was eliminated at the merged Tribal Council though he received two votes. Zeke then decided to target Cirie and Andrea. During the reward trip on Day 22, Zeke talked to Debbie Wanner and Tai about targeting Cirie and Andrea but Debbie was skeptical. After the Immunity Challenge, Zeke told Sierra Dawn Thomas Cirie, Andrea, and Aubry Bracco want to vote her out and he wants to target Andrea. However, Sierra told this to Cirie. Cirie told Andrea, and then both of them targeted Zeke. However, Debbie convinced Sierra to spare Zeke and blindside Ozzy. At Tribal Council, Zeke voted for Aubry, received four votes, and Ozzy was blindsided as the Power Six alliance, which now included Sarah, voted against him.

After Tribal Council, Andrea called him shady. Sarah later talked to Zeke about working together. Troyzan won immunity. At camp, Sarah talked to Zeke about overthrowing the new majority alliance. At Tribal Council, Zeke and Sarah flipped to blindside Debbie.

Andrea, Aubry, Brad Culpepper, Sarah, and Zeke won the next Reward Challenge. On the reward, Brad and Zeke bonded, which made the others suspicious, especially an already-wary Andrea. Zeke later made a long-term alliance with Brad and Troyzan. Andrea won immunity. At camp, Andrea plotted to eliminate Zeke though Sarah and Michaela wanted to keep him. However, at Tribal Council, Sarah and Michaela flipped on Zeke, blindsiding him in a 5-3-2 vote.

At the Final Tribal Council, Zeke praised Sarah's dominant strategic gameplay throughout the merge and told her he was her champion. Zeke ultimately voted for Sarah who won in a 7-3-0 vote over Brad and Troyzan.

Challenge History
Voting History

Episode	Tribe Affiliation	Challenge	Challenge Type	Sit-Out?	Result
1	Nuku	The Marooning	Reward	No	Won
		Blue Lagoon Bustle	Reward/Immunity	No	Won
		Serpent Turf	Reward/Immunity	No	Won
Switched Tribes, Day 7
2	Tavua	Austin's Elemental Obstacle Course	Reward/Immunity	No	2nd
3		Ram-Ball On	Reward	Yes	Lost
3		Ow-Pairs	Immunity	No	Won
4		Unchained Medley	Reward	No	1st
4		Box Car Blues	Immunity	No	2nd
Switched Tribes, Day 14
5	Nuku	Cargo Salvage	Immunity	No	Lost
6		Dulcimer Stomp	Reward	No	Won
6		Plunge, Pop, Pull	Immunity	No	Lost
Tribes Merged, Day 19
7	Maku Maku	Keep on Your Toes	Immunity		Lost
		New School	Reward		Won
		Get a Grip	Immunity		Lost
8		O-Black Water	Reward	No	Lost
8		Got a Hunch	Immunity		Lost
9		Angry Chair	Reward		Won
9		High Step and Stack	Immunity		Lost
Voted Out, Day 29

Episode	Zeke's Votes	Voted Against Zeke
1	Nuku Tribe Immune
1	Nuku Tribe Immune
2	Tavua Tribe Immune
3	Tavua Tribe Immune
4	Tavua Tribe Immune
5	Sandra	-
6	Jeff	-
7	Michaela	Hali, Michaela
7	Aubry	Andrea, Aubry, Michaela, Ozzy
8	Debbie	-
9	Sierra	Andrea, Aubry, Cirie, Michaela, Sarah
Voted Out, Day 29
Voted for Sole Survivor	Sarah

Post-Survivor[ ]

In May 2018, Zeke represented Survivor at the GLAAD awards.
Zeke was featured in the Netflix documentary film, Disclosure: Trans Lives on Screen (2020), which explored transgender representation in Hollywood media.^[4]
Zeke proposed to his boyfriend Nico Santos on April 2, 2022.^[5]
- The couple got married on November 6, 2023.^[6]
On April 26, 2024, Zeke attended the wedding of Millennials vs. Gen X castmate Adam Klein.^[7]

Trivia[ ]

Statistics of Zeke Smith

Longevity

Seasons competed:

2

Days lasted:

62

Challenge Wins

Tribal wins:

15

Individual wins:

4

Total wins:

19

Tribal Council

Total votes received:

25

Exile Island

Times sent to Exile Island:

0

Zeke is the first transgender castaway to compete on Survivor. He would be followed by Jackson Fox.

Zeke is the oldest man on the original Vanua tribe.

Zeke received the most votes cast against him in Millennials vs. Gen X, with 14.

Zeke lost 11 lbs. during his time on Millennials vs. Gen X.

Zeke is one of four castaways to compete on two seasons before their first season aired, the others being Russell Hantz, Malcolm Freberg, and Michaela Bradshaw.

Zeke is the youngest man to compete on Game Changers.

Zeke lost 14 lbs. during his time on Game Changers.

References[ ]

↑ https://twitter.com/zekerchief/status/824368885642174465
↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20230128193548/https://www.cbs.com/shows/survivor/cast/215480/
↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20230321043430/https://www.cbs.com/shows/survivor/cast/215598/
↑ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8637504/fullcredits
↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/Cb4H6lIOSI0
↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/CzSK1ixv1sI/
↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/C6R3gNcS7aG/?img_index=3