Cirie Fields Says Amanda Kimmel Would've Created ‘Black Widow Brigade 2.0 on 'Survivor 50' (Exclusive)

For the sixth time in her Survivor career, Cirie Fields came painfully close to the end and fell just short of Final Tribal Council. A celebrated legend of the series, the New Jersey native played arguably her most impressive game yet, which is why she can walk away feeling at peace after her torch was snuffed.

"I feel great. I feel like I did everything I could," Cirie exclusively tells Men's Journal. "I have zero regrets this time. There's not an Advantage-geddon or something. There's not a fire challenge. There's nothing that I could have done, even down to my Hail Mary. I feel like I did everything I should and could in this game."

In her exit interview with Men's Journal, Cirie opens up about knowing she was the biggest threat in the game, reacts to Amanda Kimmel almost returning for Survivor 50, Ozzy's Lusth's emotional apology at Ponderosa, and why she refuses to hold resentment toward ally Rizo Velovic for writing her name down.

Scroll down to read the full interview with Cirie.

Men's Journal: How are you feeling today, watching the episode back and knowing what was coming?

Cirie Fields: You know, I feel awesome. I feel great. I feel like I did everything I could. I have zero regrets this time. There's not a advantage get them or something. There's not a fire challenge. There's nothing that I could have done, even down to my Hail Mary last minute less penance on our breath on I feel like I did everything I should and could in this game so and I got so much I was there with Mr. Beast. Okay, I was there was people, outsiders brought into our little bubble for the first time in 50 seasons. So I yeah, I feel awesome, Sharon, I do.

Men's Journal: People are saying this is strategically your most impressive game. How do you feel about your gameplay this season?

Cirie Fields: I do I agree with them, because I knew they will be after me the second I hit the beach, and they were and from Jenna's mouth to God's ears, she said, the second we hit the sand, she wanted me out, and I knew that would be the case, and still I rise, so I feel like, again, no regrets,

Men's Journal: Where do you feel like your game went wrong? Was there something specific that you can pinpoint?

Cirie Fields: No, because, I think, because of the people that were still in the game, the outcome, even if Devens was still there, it was still be the same outcome. Because when you hear them speak, even when I went to Joe, like, "So what are you thinking, Joe?" And Joe says to me, "Nobody will ever be able to beat you in the end." I knew then the writing was on the wall. I knew that the people left besides Tiffany would not ever want to sit next to me in the end game.

Men's Journal: Ozzy didn't have the greatest things to say about Rizo in his exit press. How are you feeling about Rizo today, knowing he wrote your name down?

Cirie Fields: Rizo is young, and Rizo is hungry, and Rizo just like every other person out there, wanted to win, right? So it's like my three sons, all of them older than Rizo, and they have done things in life and made mistakes in life. But do I turn my back on them? Do I don't love them anymore because they did something foolish or something against what I would have thought they should have done? No, and Rizo was playing the best hand he thought he had, right? He knew he could never we could go to to the end together, even though we would have went with him, in his mind, he wouldn't win, and his sole purpose was to win by any means necessary. So can I be mad at him for that? No, I'm not mad at him.

Men's Journal: Did you ever consider turning on Rizo, or were you ride and die for Ozzy and Rizo?

Cirie Fields: Once you prove to me, and I don't get any reason or any information or any feeling of it that you're not to be trusted, or you lied to me directly in my face. I don't catch any of that. That solidifies, if I feel like I can trust you, then I ride with you till the wheels fall off.

Men's Journal: Stephenie is saying her biggest mistake was trusting you and that you weren't loyal. What is your response to that?

Cirie Fields: You know, I'm 56 in July, Sharon, and I have lived my life drama free. Right? And what I would like to I got, I mentioned my grandchildren, and, you know, a lot of times in my younger years, I felt I match energy. Whatever energy you give me, I'm gonna match that energy. But what I've learned is some energy, all energy and good energy, and it ain't worth it. You don't have to prove yourself by matching anyone's energy. And also people's perception is their reality, and there's no arguing with people's perception. So why? Why do it?

Men's Journal: We didn't see much of your relationship with Aubry despite you playing together befor. Did you have a relationship out there?

Cirie Fields: We were cordial, but it was almost like understood without saying. I knew Aubry would never want to go to the end with me, right? And so I felt that kind of–even though I felt the love, like, Aubry knows we love each other–it goes without saying. However, in this game, Aubry too, she has a family. Aubry is there to win. This is her fourth time, and, you know, not withstanding the love we feel for each other, we're all there for the same reason. So there was like that little wall between us, and when it worked for us. Listen, we need to vote this person out. It ain't you, it ain't me. It worked for us. But when it came down to it, I listen. I tried to pin her, and she had to come for me. It is what it is, but there's zero love lost.

Men's Journal: What was your conversation like when you got back to Ponderosa with Ozzy?

Cirie Fields: Ozzy was very, very apologetic, and for me, it was again, like I made so many mistakes in this 55 year life, Sharon, that I have been forgiven for and shown grace for and that's all I felt like I because, listen, you, Ozzy saved me in the first vote. Ozzy gave me an extra vote, like how can I be mad at you for messing up when all you did was try to help me throughout this game? So that was what the conversation was like.

Men's Journal: Jeff told me Amanda Kimmel was supposed to be on the season. How would that have played into your game? Did you talk at all to her?

Cirie Fields: I have not. I've spoken to Amanda one time, and I knew she had gotten married and had a baby, that was years ago, and that was on social media before she got off or whatever. But oh, my God, that would have been so iconic. I would love to see Amanda. I would have loved to see Amanda there. It would have been just mind-blowing for us to, I'm sure her, me, Tiffany, Dee, it would have been Black Widow Brigade 2.0.

Men's Journal: Did anyone ever consider getting rid of Joe and Jonathan, or did no one see them as threats?

Cirie Fields: I think everybody's mindset was they would never win. Aubry has the right state of mind. You got to get rid of people who are going to actually win the game.

Men's Journal: How was it playing 26 days versus the other format? Did you feel a difference?

Cirie Fields: You know what? I don't know why, but I didn't feel that much of a difference. I didn't. I mean, I felt like we weren't as emaciated, because it was another, what 13 days? To make it 39 would have been like, Oh, my God, just excruciating from a physical standpoint, from a hunger standpoint, but outside of that, not too much difference to me.

Men's Journal: Is it nice when fans come up to you, or does it get overwhelming?

Cirie Fields: It's awesome. And let me tell you something. I gotta tell you this story, Sharon. I was coming from Vegas to L,A. I was there accepting the Survivor award for the National Association of Broadcasters. And I'm in the airport and I see Shannon Sharpe there. So I see him and I've seen him have interactions in the airport before that wasn't too...like, he don't really want to be bothered in the airport. So I noticed him, but then I was like, you know what? I'm not gonna bother Mr. Sharpe. I'm gonna let him have his time. So I get on a plane, and as I'm sitting there, here he comes. And I'm saying to myself, oh no, oh no, please don't let him sit next to me, please. And of course, he puts his bag down right in the chair next to me while he puts his stuff in the overhead. And then he picks his bag up, and he sits down. And it's obvious I know who he is, right? It would be weird if I didn't acknowledge him. So I say, "Hey, Shannon, big fan, I'm not going to bother you. Enjoy your flight." That's it. I want to know acknowledge him. He's like, "Oh, thank you." Whatever, right? So we're sitting there, and as the other people board the plane, there's like, a line. And there's like, maybe the fourth person down, a young lady gets on, and she's with a lady and another gentleman, and she looks at me, and then she does the double take, and then she has this huge smile on face, so I know, right? She turns around to the lady and the gentleman behind her and says something, and they look and I'm like, oh, wow. So as she gets up to the our seat, she looks passionate and looks over to me and says, "Cirie, big fan. Oh my gosh. We I looked and I saw it was you." And Shannon Sharpe goes like this, like, who? She says, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bother you." And I said, "Oh, no bother Thank you. Thank you." I'm so honored. That is just me. So when people show me that love, I'm never bothered, I'm never upset that someone recognizes me and want to say hi.

Men's Journal: Anything from your game that you wish we saw in the edit, like any relationships we didn't really see?

Cirie Fields: No. I mean, no, for the most part, what you saw is it, you know, me and Jonathan had good conversations, like real life conversations that you know weren't wasn't shown. And even me and Joe had some real life conversations that wasn't shown. But I think what was shown, I'm happy with.

Men's Journal: If Survivor calls, are you picking up the phone?

Cirie Fields: Pick up the phone, obviously, because I will always pick up the phone for Survivor, but I need to know what capacity they need. If it's to do challenges and run up and down the beach? Probably no. Thank you.

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

Related: Ozzy Lusth Says 'I Blew It' After Brutal 'Survivor 50' Blindside (Exclusive)

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 18, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published May 18, 2026 at 1:02 PM.