Stanhope woman vying for Survivor Second Chance
By Laurie Gordon
STANHOPE — Stanhope native Mikayla Wingle's mantra is, "Quitters never win and winners never quit."
The 25-year-old was on the popular TV show Survivor in 2011 and got eliminated not because she didn't have what it took to survive but because, "A guy on the show built up this whole thing that I was 'a Temptress' and he would make bad decisions if I stayed on the show," she said.
She was consequently voted off.
The former Playboy Magazine cover model wants redemption and a chance to prove herself as a "strong, independent woman" who has what it takes to win the Survivor game, but she needs help.
Next season, as part of Survivor Second Chance, fans get to vote daily — until the May 20 live show where the winners will be announced — for who they want to be on the next season.
Wingle is one of sixteen women competing for 10 openings on the show.
Wingle grew up in Stanhope and attended Lenape Valley High School before transferring to High Point High her junior and senior year.
She said her "claim to fame" was being on the cover of Playboy in the Febuary 2011 issue during which time she met Hugh Hefner.
Her biggest inspiration is her mother.
"She is a strong, independent woman who always taught me to reach for my goals in life. She raised my brother and me as a single mother and we never felt we were without anything we wanted. I can only hope to be half the mother she is," Wingle said.
Not only is her mother a huge inspiration, she's also the reason Wingle wanted to be on Survivor in the first place.
"She loves the show," she said. "I mean really loves the show. I don't think she's missed an episode since Season One."
Wingle is currently living in Florida where she is a body building contestant and bartender. She enjoys Broadway plays, riding quads, camping and going to the beach and said, "Growing up in Northern New Jersey gave me the love of being outdoors."
She feels she can go all the way on Survivor because she's played sports all of her life.
"I feel I am a competitor at heart. I am very athletic and am very likable. I plan to use these qualities to get me to the end."