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Jessica “Figgy” Figueroa, a former contestant on Survivor’s 33rd season, “Millennials vs. Gen X,” participated in Squid Game: The Challenge, a competition inspired by the South Korean scripted series “Squid Game.” Her return to reality television brought mixed results, but her status as a reality TV alum was immediately recognized by some of her fellow contestants.
Figgy, known as player No. 033 on Squid Game: The Challenge, previously competed in Survivor’s 33rd season in 2016. Her appearance on “Millennials vs. Gen X” ended when she was voted out on Day 18, finishing in 15th place overall. She returned to television seven years later as the only former Survivor US contestant on Squid Game: The Challenge, aiming for another chance at a seven-figure prize.
During her time on Squid Game: The Challenge, Figgy formed a close bond with Trey Plutnicki (No. 301), who asked her to look after his mother if he didn’t return. However, her journey was cut short during the Warship challenge when her ship sank, ending her run on the show.
Despite her reality TV fame, Figgy believed her past Survivor stint wouldn’t necessarily hinder her game on Squid Game: The Challenge. While some contestants recognized her, she mentioned having positive interactions and engaging conversations due to her strategic gameplay on Survivor.
Dash (No. 141), a red-headed player, was the first to notice Figgy’s Survivor background and approached her. This recognition led to several players seeking conversations with her, acknowledging her experience in reality TV as a potential asset in the game.
Figgy also shared that her experience on Survivor helped her mentally prepare for her appearance on Squid Game: The Challenge. Having gone through the jitters and nerves during her first reality TV stint, Figgy felt more confident this time around, feeling much more relaxed and composed.
However, her increased confidence and past experience only went so far, as she was eliminated during the Warship challenge due to an unfortunate choice of the vessel she stood on, unlike the earlier skill-based challenges.
Nonetheless, Figgy expressed her excitement at ending her reality competition hiatus by joining Squid Game: The Challenge, considering it a once-in-a-lifetime experience and a chance to revisit the thrill of competitive reality TV after her Survivor journey.