The “Survivor” community is grieving the loss of a notable contestant. Jane Bright, who participated in the 21st season of CBS’s reality series “Survivor: Nicaragua,” has died at 71.
Bright was discovered deceased in her North Carolina home on Thursday, May 15, 2025. Her daughter, Ashley Hammett, who appeared with her mother during a Loved Ones visit on the show, shared the news on Facebook. In her post, Hammett mentioned that Bright was found by “a good friend and county sheriff.” The cause of death has not been disclosed.
Born on December 13, 1953, in Jackson Springs, North Carolina, Bright worked as a dog trainer before competing on “Survivor: Nicaragua” in 2010 at the age of 56. She was the oldest contestant that season, which began with a twist that divided the 20 participants into two age-based tribes. Bright started on the older Espada tribe with NFL Hall of Fame coach Jimmy Johnson, whom she later helped vote out on Day 9.
Bright quickly became a crucial member of her tribe, demonstrating survival skills by making fire for her tribemates, including using reading glasses to start a flame. Throughout the competition, she was one of the strongest providers, maintaining the fire and catching fish for her group.
Her rivalry with contestant Marty Piombo was a central storyline of the season. Bright set a Survivor record by voting against Piombo five times consecutively. She aligned with younger tribe members to specifically target Piombo and his allies.
In challenges, Bright exceeded expectations with her physical strength and endurance. She won two individual immunity challenges in the latter half of the game, becoming the woman with the most immunity wins that season. In a noteworthy moment, she caught a fish and consumed it privately without sharing with her tribemates.
As the game progressed, Bright secured herself within the majority alliance, forming a close bond with North Carolina resident Chase Rice, who later became a country music star. However, her strong gameplay led her alliance members to view her as a significant threat to win the prize.
Upon discovering the plan to vote her out, she delivered one of the show’s iconic moments by extinguishing the tribe’s fire that she had maintained, saying, “I started it, I’m putting it out” before walking away. She was unanimously voted out at the subsequent Tribal Council, finishing sixth and becoming the seventh jury member.
Despite her dramatic exit, Bright remained popular among viewers. At the live reunion show, host Jeff Probst announced that she had won the Sprint Fan Favorite audience prize, earning $100,000. She was the first woman to win the Sprint Player of the Season award, only the second woman to claim the Fan Favorite Award at that time.
After her passing, fellow Survivor contestants shared tributes. Donathan Hurley from “Survivor: Ghost Island” expressed grief on social media, calling Bright “a firecracker” ready for a good time. Two-time winner Sandra Diaz-Twine offered a simple message, “Rest in heavenly peace.” Survivor participant Jonny Fairplay praised Bright, noting she represented “every southern woman that helped raise me,” describing her as a resolute player in the game.
Before “Survivor,” Bright faced personal loss with her husband’s death from cancer in 2009. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, when asked if focusing on the competition would be difficult after her husband’s death, Bright stated she could manage, noting her husband had encouraged her to pursue the opportunity.
Bright’s impact on the Survivor series remains substantial, with fans remembering her resilience, competitive spirit, and distinctive personality. She is survived by her daughter Ashley. Fans across the Survivor community continue to celebrate her contributions to the reality series.
