I think there's a new Survivor She-God in town and her name is Amy. I give Stephenie her due certainly; she's a scrappy, wiry — and, oh yes — a uniquely beautiful, fire-breathing spitfire. But for pure tough guts and self-sacrifing fearlessness Amy has proven herself a worthy foe. In all honesty, after seeing Amy reinjure her spotty ankle during the "Giant Ball" (no pun intended) Reward Challenge and fight back on a gimp leg to deliver Margaret and Cindy a deflating loss in round four, I would have to say that Amy is one of the few women whom I'd hear describe herself as a police sergeant and firmly believe she could physically handle the assignment better than many men. Or saying it another way: if Sgt. Amy asked me to put my hands behind my back during a traffic stop, I don't think I'd give in to my primordial testosterone-laced instinct to resist.

By David W. Taylor (Email Me)
Reality Reel Media
10.23.05

And it isn't only her physical tenacity that impresses but her mental grit as well. After a short bit of writhing on the ground after her ankle snapped — while the "Giant Ball" (another hellish Mayan sport, no doubt. Squashing virgins with huge boulders?) rolling dangerously nearby — Amy got back to the sidelines with an assist from Gary and then had to prep to compete in the final all-female round. I'm sure if it were anyone else — including Steph — they would've boo-hooed and sat the round out and the producers would've probably opted for a simple female versus female contest. But Amy famously held on. Jeff Probst walked up to her and said, "Amy next round is women again." Amy heaved back: "I hear ya... Gotcha dude." Jeff: "Are you ready to go?" Amy: "Not really but I'm gonna do it." Her facial antics while getting herself back in play was luridly, painfully inspiring — they all had a Gladiator-like ring to them.

That fact that a hobbled Amy, and Danni, won that round was tribally significant in many ways. It not only raised Amy's athletic prowess into a cult-like myth; but it's apparent corollary would be that Margaret's already shaky status within Nakum was further downgraded. And in choosing between ejecting Amy or Brian from Yaxha — supposedly for being Yaxha's "physically weaker players" — the consideration would be great to fuller appreciate Amy's unshakeable will. And there's no substitute for pulling a victory out of adversity.

Amy's Reward Challenge rebirth was so complete even Yaxha's tough-as-nails, stern ranch hand and farmer, Brandon, was set aglow. "Jeff, you have no idea how impressed I was," gushed Brandon at Tribal Council. "I mean, Amy got that look on her face and just started going at it — limpin' and cussin' and everything — and I was like, Man, you know, that's what I like to see. I mean, go above the odds... like I was so impressed with her today." Brandon looked like he was about to bust. With accolades like that, Amy wasn't going anywhere.