Christy Smith was a 24-year-old Children's Adventure Guide for the Deaf from Basalt, Colorado when she made history as the first deaf contestant on
Survivor. A Gallaudet University graduate with a BA in sociology and criminology, Christy spent 50 days on a wilderness adventure in Alaska with Outward Bound and worked with juvenile delinquents before the show. She faced difficulty integrating with her Jaburu tribe due to communication barriers but found acceptance on the new Tambaqui tribe after the switch. At the final six, Christy's failure to commit to either alliance made her a swing vote threat, and she was blindsided on Day 33. Her appearance inspired Mitch Guerra from
Survivor 48 to apply for the show.
