Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Michelle Yi is an avid and competitive rock climber. Graduating from the University of Cincinnati, she is also a fashion designer, and was a contestant from CBS’s reality TV series Survivor: Fiji.

Survivor: Fiji! How did you end up doing that?

I actually had applied for The Amazing Race with my sister, because we’re always looking for something adventurous and something new. After interview after interview, before I knew it I actually ended up on Survivor, which was a little bit more of an adventure than I had first anticipated, but an experience of a lifetime.

Tell us about your experience. What was the toughest part? What were your greatest achievements?

The toughest part without a doubt was the starvation and dehydration. I lost 17 lbs over my 24 days! Not to mention I was on the losing-est tribe in Survivor history, and we didn’t even have fire to make water for the first week! Greatest achievements? I made fire using my glasses!

Your most famous moment on Survivor: Fiji was when you took that 6 foot fall off the platform in the blindfold challenge. How did that happen? You were the one who could see!

I was so focused on calling to Yau-Man that I wasn’t even thinking about how close I was to the edge of the platform. And the best part, after I fell, I got up with nervous laughter, looked around, and realized that nobody saw because everybody else was blindfolded.

Nobody but the cameras.

Right, and the 16 million people at home, not to mention the clip of it on YouTube!

Your tribemates would endearingly call you Ninja Monkey. Why’s that?

::laughs:: I’m a rock climber, and think it became very apparent that I’m a competitor, right from the first challenges. All that, added to me constantly climbing trees, trying to get coconuts —Well, you get the point.

Ah, a rock climber! Do you think that helped you in the game? And how does climbing translate into your normal daily life?

It helped a lot in the game. Climbing kept me competitive, and helped me in challenges. Mentally too. Climbing involves a lot of focus, and I think that translated well in Survivor. As for normal life, as we like to say, it’s never the norm! But it does keep me motivated. There’s so much to achieve. And it’s very inspiring to be part of the climbing community.

What else keeps you motivated when you climb?

I just like being outside. The people I’m with do a lot for me. I enjoy the training process. I love feeling like I am doing the best I can to climb hard and have fun. I like setting goals and being competitive.

You’re a fashion designer too. Other than climbing what else inspires you?

My experiences inspire me the most. Places I’ve traveled, my environment, I think we’re surrounded by so many amazing things. Inspiration comes from all over. It’s hard to explain.

As part of Gramicci’s design team, what do you try to bring to the table?

I love Gramicci’s philosophy of starting somewhere. I’m thrilled to design a garment that people can be excited about. Something that people love to wear and can’t wait to go outside just to wear it! I think about the people I climb with, and what I’d like to see out there. Making that all happen starts here.

It seems like throughout Survivor, through climbing, and as a designer, you’re a very positive person. How do you stay so sunny?

I’m full of puppies and ice cream. And I do a lot of yoga and drink a lot of tea. ::laughs:: No, but really, I feel like it’s very important to organize and prioritize my life, and every day I make sure to do something just for me. Even if it’s taking a 10 minute nap, or treating myself to that chai latte. I do something just for me, and that gives me the energy to devote my time to everything else.

Parting words of wisdom?

Karma is my hitman. It works fast and stealthy. Watch out!

Haha. Thank you, Michelle, for speaking with us today. We’ll see you around!

Thank you! All the best!