Why Genevieve Mushaluk Feels 'Particularly Vulnerable' Going Into 'Survivor 50' (Exclusive)
Genevieve Mushaluk didn’t leave Survivor 47 feeling like she had unfinished business. If anything, the lawyer, 34, walked away proud of the game she played, the blindsides she helped pull off, and the individual immunity she won—checking off most of her personal Survivor goals and making peace with the idea that she might never return for a second run.
That’s what makes her return for Survivor 50 feel especially precarious. Unlike many players in the milestone season, Mushaluk comes into the game without built-in alliances or deep pre-existing relationships. She’s the only representative from her season and hardly uses social media. That could make her an easy number for other players to pick up—or leave her exposed. And she knows it.
“I think the early days I’m going to be particularly vulnerable,” she exclusively told Men’s Journal while on set in Fiji. “I’m gonna have to market myself as useful, and it’s gonna be interesting. I haven’t figured out who I want to make that pitch to, because if there’s blocks of people and I make it to everyone and they compare notes, then immediately I’ve lost all credibility.”
Instead of leaning on strength or loyalty-based alliance—“It’s such a self-serving narrative,” she said—Mushaluk knows she’ll have to find her footing in other ways.
Below, she opens up more about navigating the early uncertainty of a returnee season, reading body language and social cues at Ponderosa, and who she’s considering aligning with.
Men's Journal: My first question is, do you feel like you have any unfinished business, or anything you want to do out here that you didn't get to do the first time?
Genevieve Mushaluk: Yes, I feel like I was just starting to understand this game when I got voted out of it.
Men's Journal: That's fair. I feel that.
Genevieve Mushaluk: And so I'm curious to see, was I just starting to understand 47 or was I really starting to understand the game such that I can apply it now with different people? So let's hope it's the latter.
Men's Journal: How do you feel about this cast? You're the only person from your season.
Genevieve Mushaluk: I am. I'm hoping there's a closet filled with 47 or like, my friends are gonna pop out. It's like, "Oh, there's actually 26 people..." Early days, these friendships are gonna help people because it's gonna do a couple things. So if I know you're from 48—let's say you're Kamilla [Karthigesu]—and I know you worked with Kyle [Fraser] and probably have a friendship with Joe [Hunter], I'm not gonna be able to say Kamilla's name to either of those people. It's too high risk for me. And so Kamilla's name will probably stay out of the arena. But there's no Genevieve advocate, which means it's pretty low risk to toss my name out there because you don't know who's connected with me. Spoiler alert: no one. It's not like I have all these secret friendships behind the scenes. So I think the early days I'm gonna be particularly vulnerable, and if I can stay alive long enough, I think those friendships are gonna matter less and less because you can't split the million with your friends. Eventually people are gonna turn on each other. It's just not gonna be day one. So, I have to get past day one.
Men's Journal: That's a really good assessment. Maybe people would want to pick up some of these players who don't have as many connections?
Genevieve Mushaluk: That's what I hope. Listen, everybody you talk to—you kind of lead the witness, if you will—do me a favor and be like, "Hey, these people you could pick up, what are you thinking about them? How about that Genevieve girl?" I'm gonna have to market myself as useful, and it's gonna be interesting. I haven't figured out who I want to make that pitch to because if there's blocks of people, if I make it to everyone and they compare notes, then immediately I've lost all credibility. So who do I want to pick to pitch myself to? Which cluster of people is the right group? So no winners, no 49ers. I'm not pitching those people. That gives me all the 46ers, all the David vs. Goliath... it basically gives me a lot of options.
Men's Journal: Who have you met before? Do you have any relationships on the cast?
Genevieve Mushaluk: I have met Emily [Flippen] at an event—like, a "hi, hello." I've met Q [Burdette] at two events. I've met Kamilla at an event—like an introduction. I wouldn't pick up the phone and call anyone on this cast. I'm sure they're all lovely people; I just don't have their numbers. And I'm also totally private on social media. Instagram is the only thing I use, and I have followed some of these people in a fan capacity, but I'm private. I don't have a blue checkmark. I would be like any "123 bot" in your followers. So some of these people don't even know that I follow them and have followed them for years. We have not connected.
Men's Journal: Do you think there are people here who haven't even seen your season?
Genevieve Mushaluk: It depends on the type of player, because I think players like me would watch my season and probably not want to play with me.
Men's Journal: What's the perception that you think they have of you?
Genevieve Mushaluk: Who is the player who would want to play with me? It's definitely not like the strong integrity loyalist dudes. I'm not their cup of tea. I think I can relate a lot to Kamilla, but I don't want to play with Kamilla because I'm afraid of Kamilla. Does that how people would view me as well? I don't know. Now I'm getting nervous of who would want to play with me. Let's hope no one watched 47 and I can just come and be like, "Hey, I'm that girl from Canada."
I am dying to see how they do the tribes. But I would not put it past them to have no tribes, and it's just like a total free-for-all. Like, 24 people are vulnerable. That probably won't happen. Is it two tribes? Three? Four? Are they Old Era versus New Era? We truly are going into this so blind. People think New Era might have an advantage because we know this game, but there's never been a 24-person season in New Era. I recognize some of the faces on crew maybe more than Colby [Donaldson] does, but I don't think I have much of an advantage here at all. The format is going to be so different. I feel like nothing's off the table. If something happened, I wouldn't be like, "Table flip! I'm pissed!" because I just never put anything past Jeff [Probst].
Men's Journal: Do you think it's going to end up being a New School versus Old School thing?
Genevieve Mushaluk: It's so interesting. I hope the eras fall apart quickly. When you think of New Era, most people think fast-paced—less likely to have strong alliances that just run the majority and nothing flips. Lots of people looking to make a move. That's how I think New Era is branded. It has strengths, but it's not necessarily mine. I don't have this game memorized. Andy from my season could tell us, "Okay, we're on Day 11, that means this is coming." I'm like a casual especially compared to people like that. But I'm not a "lock into the majority and play with honor and integrity" sort of old school player either. I don't have that strength either, but I am ultra-adaptable.
Men's Journal: How are we feeling with these Season 49 players?
Genevieve Mushaluk: I don't know enough about them to know how I feel about them. All I've seen is the preview for 49. The only person who made an impression on me is this young man who dubbed himself the "RizGod." My reaction is your reaction. I feel for him, because I am so sorry—he's probably the sweetest guy—but I am gonna offer him up as a sacrificial lamb. I don't want it to be me first. He just gave me the bullet for the gun and I'm just gonna aim it at him and be like, "Sorry, RizGod. And although he probably said millions of words there, that's what gets kept. I'm just like, maybe someone in the universe is looking out for me because I have no friends here, but I am not on record saying, "Genevieve God." It could be worse.
Men's Journal: Are you picking up on any vibes in Ponderosa?
Genevieve Mushaluk: Yes, I am always observing and journaling. Last season, I thought Sol [Yi] was gonna be my ride-or-die, and as soon as we could open our mouths, we did not get along. So I put way less weight into these nonverbal cues. A bad impression now can follow you in. There's some people I'm a little more wary of just because they seem to be connecting with other people, or specifically not connecting with me.
Men's Journal: And it's just like glances and stuff, right?
Genevieve Mushaluk: Glances, body language. First-time seasons, everybody is nervous and wanting to present as friendly. It's totally different out here, and I was not prepared for that. I am acting the same way I did on 47 because I don't know any of these people. But people who have played together that I would expect to be warmer to each other aren't. Like Stephenie [LaGrossa Kendrick] and Colby—they work together well, and yet they don't even look at each other. Now I'm spiraling. Do you not look at people because you don't need to? You're so locked in with them that you don't need to invest the energy? Or do you not look at them because something's happened and maybe you're not close anymore? Or are you not looking at them just because you expect all of us to think you're gonna work together?
Men's Journal: You can go deep into that—a lot of speculation.
Genevieve Mushaluk: Without any actual information. It's just interesting to see who people aren't trying with, and it makes me question why they're not trying.
Men's Journal: Anyone you're excited to play with from this list?
Genevieve Mushaluk: [Benjamin] Coach [Wade]. I love the Dragon Slayer. I love unpredictable men. It was a real problem in my 20s. It led to a lot of despair, but now I can appreciate that surprise element from a healthy distance. I'm curious what he's like. Have you ever met a Coach in real life?
Men's Journal: Never. I did speak to him today, and I just never met someone like him.
Genevieve Mushaluk: I feel like so much of my energy is spent just doing the "right" things socially. For women, you're extra cognizant of how you come off. The right amount of assertive so you seem capable, but not so assertive that you seem off-putting. The idea that there are people out there who are just like, "Screw it, I am what I am"—that’s fascinating. Maybe it's my toxic trait; I'm drawn to people who break the molds.
Men's Journal: Okay, so Coach. Anyone else?
Genevieve Mushaluk: Amazing vibes from Jenna [Lewis-Dougherty]. I didn't really have a vision of what to expect from her, but just warm, awesome vibes. Colby is scaring me. He’s giving me so many frowns. Not even just not looking at me, but having a frown on his face. I'm taking it personally, which obviously has nothing to do with me, but it's very "stern dad."
Men's Journal: He's probably trying to figure you out.
Genevieve Mushaluk: I don't think he's thinking about me at all. I think I blended into the patio furniture at Ponderosa. "Who? 47?" I don't think he's watched, and I don't think he cares. I don't think he likes me, but I'm probably just projecting.
Men's Journal: How did you feel after your season? People really wanted to see you plan again. That must feel nice?
Genevieve Mushaluk: You know what? I still have yet to Google myself. Like, read anything, see the comments. During the airing, when I was sad or had an anxious day, my husband would dole out a little "treat"—like, "Here's one nice thing someone said online," which usually was like, "They really like your teeth." I embraced this for four years, people! Thank you! It's a lot, man. It's not for the faint of heart. I would not classify myself as particularly strong or stable or smart, but you just find something in you. People are so adaptable. If given the option, you wouldn't choose the lows, but if they hit you, you'll get through them.
Men's Journal: Everyone is more capable than they think.
Genevieve Mushaluk: I don't want the strength-loyalty alliance. It's such a self-serving narrative. If I'm Joe, how do I protect myself? Well, I'm just gonna get all the strong people around me. I don't know if that really was his intentional strategy, or if he just gravitated towards people who wanted to feel like a really straightforward game. But where I think the players in those majority alliances fall down is if you are at the bottom, I view it as incumbent on you to do something to better your position instead of just ride it out till your inevitable doom.
We'll just see what happens when we get to six or whatever. It's the person who knows in the six they're in the four, in the four they're in the three, and in the three they're in the two. I would be saying that too if I was Joe. Think about fire making. Kamilla had a one-in-four shot—she had to bring herself to fire. Joe had a three-in-four shot. Eva [Erickson] and Kyle would have brought him. So if I'm Joe, I'm banging the "strength, loyalty, integrity, let's just duke it out" drum all day long. But you and me can't play like that. There's no amount of push-ups I could have done in the last year that would have me show up eligible for the "strength" category.
Men's Journal: I forgot how hard it is to walk on sand.
Genevieve Mushaluk: That doesn't translate to TV—the heat and the elements. And then add a full challenge on top of it. I made some of my friends do mini Survivor puzzles you can buy online. The most common feedback at the 15-minute mark is like, "Oh, this is so much harder than it looks." Imagine starvation! I have been practicing puzzles. Still not fire making, because I think the odds of being in fire making are particularly low.
Men's Journal: Do you think the fans are going to vote for fire-making?
Genevieve Mushaluk: I begged everyone I knew to vote against fire-making, but everyone I asked who I hadn't previously begged said they like it and were voting for it. I wonder if for all these things that have been chosen, are we going to find out as it goes, or is it going to be announced at the top of the game? That's going to impact my strategy. They have to tell you, but they didn't say when it was introduced originally.
Men's Journal: You're right. I don't think they did.
Genevieve Mushaluk: I literally know nothing. People are asking me what's my strategy? I'm like, "I don't know. What game are we playing?"
Men's Journal: It's hard to say because you have to adapt. After your season, were you immediately wanting to play again?
Genevieve Mushaluk: I was so at peace with never being on your TV again. I loved my experience. I felt proud of my game. It was much better than I thought I would do, honestly. I got my loved ones' letters. I got to be a part of some fun blindsides—I say "fun" in hindsight because they're fun to watch, they're not fun to execute. In real life, if you blindsided someone, you should be studied. It's so cruel!
I won an individual immunity. My Survivor checklist really hit everything except "win," and I went into the game not even thinking it was possible for me to win. So I didn't feel like I was missing a big box. That's part of my concern with coming back. I love my Survivor journey, and I would have been really happy if it ended after 47. I'm worried... what if I come out and it's just a total shit-show and I go home first? Am I gonna ruin the warm fuzzies I have for Survivor by overriding my beautiful 47 memories with disappointing memories?
Men's Journal: No, because this is a returning player season, you can have fun. You deserve to be here. Don't think about those things.
Genevieve Mushaluk: Okay, I'm channeling that. That is what my husband says. Thank you. I'm gonna go back to that tent in silence, journal this down, and reread it.
The interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.