Tina Wesson is one of “Survivor's” most iconic contestants as the first woman to ever win a season of the show. Since she won the $1 million grand prize in 2001, Tina says her life really hasn’t changed much and she doesn't “feel like I’m defined by ‘Survivor,'” but we do have a lot of info on what she's been doing since.
Today, Wesson lives in a ranch-style mountain house in the woods and is enjoying her freedom to do what she pleases. She has become an advocate for adoption, a member of the Evangelical Free Church, and even a motivational speaker, including a spokesperson for the National Arthritis Foundation; she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 1995.
Wesson also wrote a book called “Out Live, Out Laugh, Out Love,” and she says her message is “to just be a good human while you’re here on the planet.” However, not everything has been perfect for Tina; she tragically lost her 25-year-old son, Taylor Collins, in a car crash caused by his friend Braylon Davis, who was driving under the influence.
Wesson remained kind and told Davis she harbors no bitterness towards him, but she adds, “I’ve become a seat belt vigilante.” Wesson may not be defined by "Survivor," but she appeared in the franchise two more times on "Survivor: All-Stars" and “Survivor: Blood vs. Water,” and worked together with her daughter Katie Collins on the latter season.