Loyalty doesn't pay off for Renton's 'Shambo;' she's out of million-dollar 'Survivor' race

Shannon “Shambo” Waters of Renton used her charm, hard work and loyalty to make it deep into the 19th season of the popular CBS reality show, “Survivor.”

But, with a look mixing surprise and betrayal, she was voted off Samoa just short of reaching Sunday's finale and onto the jury that picked the winner of the $1 million prize.

Her vote, one of the few made known during Sunday night's finale, went to Russell Hantz, a Texas oilman who became one of the show's most hated – and beloved – villains.

While Waters didn't make the final three, she did make the final three for a $100,000 prize, the title of the season's best player, voted by viewers. She came in second to Hanzt. Hanzt had offered the season's winner $10,000 to sell him her title of "Sole Survivor."

At the finale Sunday night, Waters said she has been getting a "really positive reaction" in Seattle, from people of both genders and all ages.

"It's insane," she said.

Waters was a key player, because it was her unwavering and trusting vote that helped propel her dominant alliance into the finale. The alliance included Hanzt, who was billed in the marketing hype as one of the show’s great villains.

Waters had tied her hopes to Russell, who turned on her to advance his own place in the competition. As contestant Mick told the others, don’t be surprised if you get bit if you get too close to a snake.

The judging was simple but always full of intrigue. Who did the best of fulfilling the show’s motto: Outlast, outwit, outplay? The big question was whether the jury will figure out whether Russell’s “out lying” was also a quality worth recognizing. It wasn't. He came in second to Natalie White, who some say merely road Russell's coattails to the $1 million.

Waters is the daughter Tom and Pat Waters of Renton. On the show, she was known by her duty as a U.S. Marines sergeant. She was a standout athlete at Hazen High School, graduating in 1982.

Contact Renton Reporter Editor Dean Radford at editor@rentonreporter.com or 425-255-3484, ext. 5050.

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read.