Survivor 51 · The Open Era
Sharonda Cox
- Age
- 34
- Occupation
- Resident OBGYN
- From
- Pompano Beach, FL · lives in Richmond, KY
An OB-GYN resident with the University of Kentucky who grew up in Pompano Beach and came to Kentucky for college. She says she is playing to show kids from where she is from what the ceiling actually looks like.
GAME STATE
Pulled Devin aside on his Savu visit, reaffirmed the Helicopter Alliance and helped him find an Extra Vote. Then won immunity. +3.
Sharonda's season so far
- Season
- +9
- Solo
- +2
- Tribe wins
- 2
- of 21
- #8
- Episode 3“What I’m Smellin’ Is Stinky”+3TRIBE1 win +3
- Episode 2“Weaponized Honesty”+3Safe at Tribal+1In on the blindside+2
- Episode 1“Permanent Uncertainty”+3TRIBE1 win +3
Sharonda plays like…
Matched on Sharonda's game so far (blindsider). It changes as the season does.
Sharonda's orbit
As of Episode 3. Closer means a stronger bond. From the votes, the scenes the recaps wrote up, and relationships our editors have confirmed.
Bonds
- Devin · allyHelicopter Alliance. When Devin visited Savu in Episode 3, Sharonda reaffirmed it and they found his Extra Vote together.
- Ori · allyHelicopter Alliance partners on Savu. They voted different ways in Episode 2 and stayed bonded.
- Alexis · voted togetherVoted together for Ana in Ep 2.
- Cristian · voted togetherVoted together for Ana in Ep 2.
- Eric · voted togetherVoted together for Ana in Ep 2.
- Kristin · voted togetherVoted together for Ana in Ep 2.
- Linnea · voted togetherVoted together for Ana in Ep 2.
Against
- Ana · voted againstSharonda voted for Ana (Ep 2).
The preseason read
A surgical resident has already survived the closest thing civilian life offers to Survivor conditions: sleep deprivation, high stakes and forced composure, for years. Doctors have to manage the same perception problem as the lawyers, but medical usefulness at camp is a far easier thing for a tribe to justify keeping around.
What to watch for
Endurance challenges, and the first time someone gets hurt at camp.
Off the island
- 1She is an OB-GYN resident in the University of Kentucky's graduate medical education program.
- 2She grew up in Pompano Beach and first came to Kentucky for college, where she met her husband.
- 3She was first chair in her orchestra, and played violin at Disney.
- 4Her Survivor comparison is Cirie — she says she is shocked by the things she is able to accomplish.
In Sharonda's words
- Why she's playing
- “I would love to encourage those little Black boys and girls... what we can do despite our disadvantaged beginnings.”
- Something you'd never guess
- “I was first chair in orchestra. I played violin at Disney.”
Answers given to CBS and published by Entertainment Weekly, August 2026.
TREEMAIL
Latest articles & podcasts featuring Sharonda
Who Will Win Survivor 51? Final 17 Winner Analysis
Once Upon An Island
What Happened on Survivor 51? Episode 3 Breakdown
Once Upon An Island
From left: Sharonda Cox, Rob Antonson and Alexis Levine on "Survivor" Season 51. - The Daily News | Texas' Oldest Newspaper
Google News (Survivor CBS)
Sharonda has never played Survivor before. The preseason read and what to watch for are speculation built from the age, occupation and hometown CBS announced on August 26, 2026 — draft-table conversation, not scouting. The biography, facts and quotes come from Sharonda's published cast questionnaire and press coverage. Now that the season is airing, we're replacing the guesswork with what actually happens.
About Survivor 51
Survivor 51 is subtitled The Open Era: for the first time, every twist, idol and advantage from the show's first fifty seasons is back in play, in any order and without warning. All 21 players are first-timers, and they start in just two tribes — the first two-tribe season since Winners at War. Filmed in Mamanuca Islands, Fiji. Premiered Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at 8/7c on CBS with a two-hour episode.
More to explore
The Cast
All 21 first-timers, ranked 1–21, with the numbers behind the cast list.
Head to Head
Any two castaways side by side: points by kind, episode by episode, and what they shared on screen.
Elimination Order
Who went home, when, and how the boot order is shaping up.
Survivor Bingo
Free printable watch-party cards. Share the link, share the card.