Jane Brilliant, a fan-favorite contestant on Survivor: Nicaragua, has died. She was 71.
Brilliant’s passing was confirmed by her daughter, Ashley Hammett, who wrote on Fb on Thursday (Could 15), “Immediately Jane Hammett Brilliant was discovered handed away inside her house by a superb good friend and county sheriff.” A reason behind dying was not supplied.
Born on December 13, 1953, in Jackson Springs, North Carolina, Brilliant was working as a canine coach when she appeared on the twenty first season of Survivor in 2010. The tribes that season have been divided by age, and at 56-years-old on the time, Brilliant began the sport as a part of older Espada tribe.
Her time on the present was marked by her intense rivalry with tribemate Marty Piombo and her spectacular problem expertise. One memorable second noticed her catching a fish, cooking it over the hearth, and consuming all of it with out her different tribemates discovering out.
She finally completed in sixth place (out of 20 contestants) after her tribemates voted her out for being a jury risk. Brilliant gained $100,000 because the Spring Participant of the Season (a fan-voted award).
Followers, associates, and fellow Survivor contestants took to social media to share their tributes.
Fellow Survivor: Nicaragua castaway Holly Hoffman wrote, “It’s with nice sorrow that I’m paying tribute to my Survivor good friend Jane Hammett Brilliant who left us at present on the younger age of 71. Collaborating on this recreation creates a unprecedented sense of connection amongst gamers, who grow to be beacons of hope and inspiration for each other in a remarkably quick time.”
She added, “From the start, Jane was my main ally, and we shared many heartwarming experiences, together with a memorable nighttime tour that prompted manufacturing to intervene with spotlights. Jane, that may stay our secret eternally,😉and I would like you to know that you may be deeply missed and eternally remembered in my coronary heart.”
“Lord, I positive did get my coronary heart damaged once I opened up Fb after work! 💔💔💔 One in every of my favourite Survivor relations, as I name all of them, has handed away,” wrote Survivor: Ghost Island contestant Donathan Hurley. “I cherished Jane a lot!!! This girl was a firecracker! All the time able to have a superb time and a superb snigger! RIP Jane.”
Lord, I positive did get my coronary heart damaged once I opened up Fb after work! 💔💔💔 One in every of my favourite Survivor relations, as I name all of them, has handed away. 😢 I cherished Jane a lot!!! This girl was a firecracker! All the time able to have a superb time and a superb snigger! RIP Jane. pic.twitter.com/nO9n2alM17
— Donathan Hurley (@donathanhurley) Could 15, 2025
“Relaxation in heavenly peace. Jane from Survivor Nicaragua,” wrote Survivor legend Sandra Diaz-Twine on Instagram.
“More durable than a $2 steak! Jane Hammett Brilliant is likely one of the most unbelievable Survivors I’ve ever met,” added iconic Survivor villain Jonny Fairplay. “She knew once I first noticed her, she wouldn’t be my cup of tea. However I noticed fairly rapidly she represented each southern lady that helped increase me and make me the individual I’m.”
He continued, “There’s by no means been a extra resolute participant within the historical past of the sport. And there’s by no means been extra of a good friend that in the event you ever referred to as them that might ALWAYS be there! Love you Jane, the Survivor group has misplaced top-of-the-line.”