Palmerston North woman Karla Karaitiana fulfilled a promise to her then 20-year-old self and won a spot in the Survivor New Zealand tribe.
"I watched the first series 18 years ago and was absolutely taken with it.
"I said at the time that if it ever came to New Zealand I'd apply."
And now the series is in the bag, Karla, 37, can talk about the lead-up to her preparation for the New Zealand version of the reality TV show, filmed earlier this year in the Thailand National Park.
She worked a lot on her physical fitness and endurance, and then Christmas happened not long before filming was set to start.