Mason's Angela Perkins makes it to 'Survivor' season finale

Carol Motsinger
Cincinnati Enquirer
Angela Perkins and Kellyn Bechtold in a scene from "Survivor: Ghost Island."

Update:

Wednesday is the finale of "Survivor: Ghost Island," and Mason's Angela Perkins is going strong in the final six! Tune in and cheer on our local contestant. The two-hour finale airs at 8 p.m. on CBS and is followed by a cast reunion show at 10 p.m.

We spoke with Angela about her life in Mason and her experience in the military back when the show premiered. We thought you'd like to get to know her again prior to the finale.

Get caught up on how she got here: Episodes 1/2 recap, Episode 3 recap, Episode 4 recap, Episode 5 recap, Episode 6 recap, Episode 7 recap, Episode 8 recap, Episode 9 recap, Episode 10 recap, Episode 11 recap, Episode 12 recap, Episode 13 recap.

Original story:

Angela Perkins has been training for this. 

Sure, this Mason woman is a retired Army captain who served in Iraq and Afghanistan in her 21-year career. 

But it's another experience that she says prepared her most for her role in the new season of CBS's reality show juggernaut "Survivor."

"Being a parent helped me prepare," said Perkins, 42. "As a parent, you have to not only be an authoritative person, but a listener and flexible. And in 'Survivor,' you definitely need that!"

Perkins is one of 20 strangers competing in an isolated locale for a $1 million prize. The 36th season airs at 8 p.m. Wednesdays on CBS.

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Angela Perkins will be one of the 20 castaways competing on "Survivor" this season.

She says she's been a fan of the show from the start (which is 2000, by the way.)

"The only times I’ve missed was while I was deployed overseas and didn’t have access to television," she said.

That military experience also inspired her to join the cast.

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As a veteran, she is part of an elite, small percentage of people who serve, she says. And now as a "Survivor" cast member, Perkins is a part of an elite, small percentage who are selected to be on the popular reality competition.

Her daily life in Mason is more than just thousands of miles away from Fiji, where "Survivor: Ghost Island" filmed in summer 2017. 

She works for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. She tries to run 30 miles a week on Mason area trails and through parks. And workout every day. 

Perkins would also love to watch the show with you.

She'll be a part of viewing parties at Buffalo Wings & Rings, 5517 Kings Center Drive. There will be weekly themes, games, giveaways and photo booths.

And other local celebrities from the Cincinnati area, she says. 

The 20 castaways competing on "Survivor" this season, themed "Ghost Island," when the Emmy Award-winning series returns for its 36th season premiere on Wednesday on CBS. Angela Perkins, of Mason, is the second from the left on the front row.