Santa Barbara Woman to Appear on Upcoming Season of Survivor

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – A brand new season of the hit television series, Survivor, is returning for an exciting 51st season, and this season will feature a special Central Coast castaway.

Santa Barbara-based crisis manager Kristin Flickinger is one of 21 castaways looking to win a grand prize of $1 million, completing in a series of challenges on the island of Fiji. Coming off an exciting 50th season, this newest season marks the start the series' "Open Era,' meaning any twist or change to the game could happen at any time, without warning.

Kristin is a long-time fan of the show, and says it took over two decades of auditioning to finally get the casting call.

"After 26 years, I was very excited. I thought, you know, 'finally, we've done it. When can I go? Can I go now? How long can I stay out there?' It feels awesome to represent Santa Barbara, and I get to represent Santa Barbara with the work that I do too, which is really particular to Santa Barbara," said Flickinger.

Working as a professional crisis manager, Kristin says Survivor is the perfect element for her, and looks forward to audiences to join in on the excitement of the Open Era.

"As someone who works in crisis management, as a planner, as a risk assessor, it's exciting to go into a space where anything could be possible."

You can cheer on Kristin and all the other contestants on Survivor 51, which airs on Wednesdays starting September 23rd on News Channel 12 or Paramount Plus.

The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On Our Mobile Apps. Keep Up With the Latest Articles by Signing Up for the News Channel 3-12 Newsletter.