Local Woman, Debbie Wanner, Says 'Survivor' Changed Her Life

By Trang Do

READING, Pa. (CBS) -- A Berks County woman competed in this season of the hit reality show "Survivor," which pitted brains against brawn and beauty. While she didn't win the million dollar prize, she says the show changed her life.

Debbie Wanner, of Reading, went from living a quiet life rescuing animals to becoming a fan favorite on Survivor's 32nd season.

"The attention, life's a little more hectic, but it's pretty fun," she said.

The chemist was looking for a challenge when she agreed to compete on the show, set on the remote Cambodian island of Kaoh Rong.

"It was such a convergence of factors that, you know, lack of sleep, lack of food, coupled with being thrown in with strangers, really strangers," she said. "We did not know each other. Add in a million dollars and that always makes things interesting."

She played the game for 24 days, before she was voted off by members of her all-female alliance in the ninth episode. Three of the women, Aubry, Cydney and Michele made the final four, along with Tai, the only man. Watching the show play out from home, Aubry's behavior surprised her the most.

"Aubry being so manipulative and devious and really starting out as a total wallflower, and turning into this dragon lady," Wanner said. "She was going to do anything that it took."

Her only regret was not trying to work with the men to save herself from being voted off, but she had her reasons.

"I don't know if the guys were on testosterone overload induced by camera exposure, but the guys were very bossy," she said.

Though Michele ultimately earned the title of sole survivor and $1 million, Wanner got a pretty cool consolation prize---a role on the soap opera "The Bold and the Beautiful."

"I'm playing myself," Wanner said. "So I'll be Debbie from Survivor and they're going to do, just have fun with my character. 'Cause I can poke fun at myself."

Wanner begins shooting her scenes for the Bold and the Beautiful on Thursday.