Michaela Bradshaw

Name: Michaela Bradshaw
Age: 25
Current residence: Fort Worth, TX
Occupation: Vacation club sales
Tribe designation: Vanua (Millennials)
Three words to describe you: Intelligent, fun, and competitive.

Hobbies: Traveling, eating, and cuddling.
Pet peeves: When incompetent people try to instruct me, when people do things inefficiently or wrong, when I lose, and when other people make me lose.
What does it mean to be a Millennial? To be a Millennial is to resonate with the idea that I can design my own life. It's the notion that I should have the desires of my heart, not because I am "entitled" to them, but because God granted me the ability to attain them. Being a Millennial means I am bold enough to state a want and stubborn enough to work for it, despite obstacles and the opinions of others. It means that my journey is only a failure if I stop moving forward.
Personal claim to fame: Paying off my student loan debt is the crowning achievement of my twenties thus far. As a low-income student at a pricey suburban university, I worked two to three jobs during the majority of my college career, had very little fun, and made every decision based on money. When I graduated and began working as an admission counselor, I kept my expenses low by eating PB&J for lunch, denying myself cable and internet, sticking to my flip phone, and driving my 1992 Honda Accord. After years of being teased for my frugal ways, I got the last laugh when I paid off $31,000 in loans at the age of 23.
Inspiration in life: My godfather is my hero. He was about 60 years old when I was born. He had no children of his own and was the ultimate father figure in my life. For 20 years, he has read the Bible every day. When I was younger, he took care of me, showed me what to value in a man, and raised me to tell the truth, trust in God, be confident in myself, do my best, and not fear mistakes. His influence led me to be a magna cum laude college graduate. The person I am is because of him.
If you could have three things on the island, what would they be and why? A mirror because I'll feel better if I can look better and I'll have no idea how I look if I can't see myself. A book because it will give me something to listen to besides myself and keep my mind sharp. Being alone and thinking too much drives people crazy. Finally, chocolate because sometimes a taste of something sweet can boost my mood.
Survivor contestant you're most like: I'd play like a combination of Tasha Fox (Cagayan, Cambodia), Kelley Wentworth, (San Juan del Sur Cambodia), and Natalie Anderson (San Juan del Sur). Tasha was in the right alliances and never had her loyalty questioned. I love that Wentworth was crafty, played hard, took risks, and was an asset in challenges. Natalie represents my inner beast; she was athletic, spunky, played a social game, made big moves, and actually won.
Reason for being on Survivor: My motivation is the $1 million. My goal is to leave an inheritance to my children's children. Winning Survivor would be a start.
Why do you think you'll "survive" Survivor? I will be the Sole Survivor because I will adapt to everything the game throws at me. My experience in sales has made me nearly immune to rejection, so things not going my way won't take my head out of the game. Physically, I'm in great shape. Also, I'm a fairly rational thinker, so I will separate what I do in real life from what I need to do to win this game.^[2]

Age: 25

Hometown: Fort Worth, TX
Previously played on: Season 33: Millennials Vs. Gen X, Finished 14th
How have you changed since the last time you played? Since Millennials Vs. Gen X, I've found it a lot easier to take action in the face of fear. After surviving loneliness, starvation, physical exhaustion, and exposure to the elements, I just can't allow silly things like “what-if" scenarios to have control over me. Also, I find that my reaction is to laugh at ridiculous things as opposed to becoming upset or angry. Whether it’s an annoying person, an unexpected delay, or a letdown of some sort, I just don't have the energy to be upset at anything that can't win me $1 million.
What skills do you bring to Survivor that will make you a useful member of the group and what skills have you been learning since you last played? I bring intelligence and realness to this game. In a game filled with paranoid people who thrive on deception, those qualities are a breath of fresh air to some. Since Millennials Vs. Gen X, I've been learning how to hide what I'm thinking and what I'm capable of to some degree. I found out first hand that in a game for $1 million, no one wants to play with someone they think they can't beat.
What are you most proud of from the last time? I'm most proud of the fact that I broke a lot of stereotypes. I was the woman who carried my tribe. I was the black girl who could swim and wasn't afraid to get her hair wet. I was the emotional one who could still make a logical decision. I was the "athlete" who was actually intelligent and articulate. I didn't fit in a box, and I liked that about myself.
What, if anything, do you most regret? I regret not understanding the importance of perception. What's real doesn't matter in this game. What people think and how they feel is what matters. My mistake in Millennials Vs. Gen X was not paying close enough attention to how others felt.
How will you play differently this time? I will play differently by monitoring how I am perceived. Instead of bucking the system, I'm going to "play the game."^[3]