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Woodbury Bulletin - 9.3.08

Competitive. That's Jacquie Berg's answer when asked to describe her personality in one word. That's also a character trait she believes helped her land a role on one of the most-watched network television reality shows in the history of the genre: Survivor.

That's right. The 25-year old Woodbury native, who currently resides in Santa Barbara, Calif., was chosen as one of the 18 cast members who will make up the latest edition of Survivor, which will take place in Gabon, a country on the western coast of Africa.

Filming for the show wrapped up earlier this summer and Berg, 25, who makes a living as a medical device sales representative, said she's still adjusting to being back in civilization after spending 60 days "surviving" in one of the most remote areas of the world.

"I'm not adjusting to real life as quickly as I thought I would," Jacquie said last week while at her home in Santa Barbara. "Life in the jungle is actually really slow and when we're camping out there, besides the challenges, there's not much to do."

The 2001 Woodbury High School graduate will have plenty to do as she prepares for the Sept. 25 season premiere of "Survivor: Gabon" the 17th installment of the CBS series. Berg said she's even planning to make a trip back to her hometown to watch the show with her parents Dan and Sharon.

"She's talked about coming back to watch a few of the episodes with us," said Dan Berg. "The whole family is pretty excited, but we haven't planned anything yet."

Berg, who applied for the show on whim and a dare from her friend, said she had no expectations when she sent in the self-made videotape audition to the show's producers.

"I was on the road constantly, and my friend, who had applied for the show before reminded me that if I wanted to apply, I needed to get the tape in soon," Berg recalled. "So I literally made a video in my car; it was like three minutes. I'm not even sure exactly what I said."

It wasn't long after that Berg received a call from CBS producers and was in Los Angeles for a week of interviews.

"I'm not sure what they saw in me exactly, because about 50,000 people applied," Berg said. "It's probably because I'm so competitive. I know the show wants to see people doing whatever it takes to win, and I'll pretty much work my butt off to win."

Giving props to the home life

Berg said her competitive nature derives from having two older siblings and from her athletic and professional backgrounds.

During high school, Berg was the captain of her track and gymnastics teams and was also on the varsity swim team. She was also on student council.

"I remember I always had something extracurricular going on," she said. "I was usually at the high school by 6 a.m. for practice and I wouldn't leave until 6 p.m. because of council or some other obligation."

Recently, Berg has carried over that will to succeed into her professional life.

After she graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Madison with a degree in business administration, she took a position as a medical device sales representative with Medtronic.

The job led her to the West coast and she had received four promotions in three years before she decided to take a break for Survivor.

"The biggest thing that actually sparked me to apply for Survivor was when I was working 80-hour weeks trying for another promotion and my boss was telling me to settle down and not try to do so many things at once," Berg said. "When the opportunity for Survivor came along I decided to take that chance, so I quit."

When Berg told her parents, she said they weren't that surprised.

"They know me by now," she laughed. "I've studied abroad in Australia and always talk about wanting to move to Bali. So competing on a show in Africa, 'They were like, 'We're happy for you. Good luck.'"

Her father said that was just about right.

"We knew she'd be all right," Dan Berg said. "She's pretty determined."

Mum's the word on outcome

Although her contract with the show won't allow her to spill the beans on whether she won the $1 million prize, Berg could admit that the trip was the experience of a lifetime.

"Just to be in this beautiful setting, surrounded by pristine wildlife, it's pretty relaxing," Berg said. "You get a chance to reflect on everything that's going on around you, that's when you're not competing in the challenges or making and breaking alliances with the other competitors."

As one of 18 cast members on the show, Berg said she tried to tone down her natural tendency to lead and compete, so as not to become a target for elimination.

"I'm not sure how they're going to portray me on the show, but I can tell you that they said my character is this sweet, innocent girl next door type, which is good, because that's not how I am normally," she said, laughing. "I really tried to play a shy, reserved person because I felt I could win people's trust easier. In real life I'm pretty outspoken."

One of the toughest parts of the show, she said, was not the physical aspect of the challenges, but the mental rigors of surviving in the wilderness.

"When you're in the middle of the competition it's almost like the twilight zone," Berg said. "You've got cameras around, but the people behind them, they don't interact with you. You feel like you're really out there all alone in the jungle."

"Physically the challenges for me were easy, but mentally it plays on your clarity. When you're dehydrated and that malnourished, you really struggle sometimes to keep your edge."

Beyond the African jungle

Berg said despite the clashes that are inevitable between competitors, she and her cast mates formed bonds they will take with them far beyond the length of series.

"The cast members, you couldn't have picked out a more diverse and unique group of people. There were definitely some conflicts, but once the show ended you get to see everyone's true personalities. It was an experience that I think will make us lifelong friends."

And what about the fame that comes, at least temporarily, with being broadcast to four million-plus viewers?

"I'm actually pretty camera shy, so I'm not into the television aspect of the experience. The wildlife, competition and friendships, that was the best part for me," Berg said. "But of course, it will be fun to watch to see how it turns out."