Surviving the sixth season of the reality series Survivor: The Amazon, was just the beginning of Jenna Morasca’s career as a television star, host, and now soon-to-be author.
“I was so young when I did [Survivor]. I didn’t think about the cameras,” Jenna remarks about her time on the show and then experiencing the media onslaught after. “It was hard to experience criticism about something silly from people who didn’t know me, but kind of did know me.”
Although the viewing audience loved it when she stripped for the reward of peanut butter and chocolate, she says that the experience of being hungry all the time consumed her. It took her a year to recover her metabolism and routine. However, the results were not all bad. She did receive accolades as a spokesperson and, icing on the deserved cake, as a Playboy model.
After ten years in New York riding the Survivor fame wave, Jenna has returned to her hometown, Pittsburgh, to write a book about a storied life as a reality star. While her confidence is evident, so is her inner survivor. During the 2004 Survivor: All-Star Season she lost her mother to breast cancer and left the series to spend time with her. Then fellow Survivor winner and boyfriend, Ethan Zohn, was diagnosed with cancer also, and she stood beside him supporting him along his journey.
Jenna’s advice for surviving besides being strong and true to yourself: Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
“Life went crazy after Survivor; births, deaths, and life,” she says. “It’s important to ask people for help even when they are afraid because they don’t want to be a bother. Surviving can be surrendering your self to friends. Let them help.”
During her time in New York she became passionate about another type of survivor: older rescue dogs. She adopted Bobbi, a pit bull/mastiff from a Brooklyn shelter, and began encouraging people to adopt older dogs. In particular she relates to pit bulls, because
they are often misunderstood. “People had their opinions about me, that I was mean or cold like a pit bull. She was a life saver. She was there when my relationship (with Ethan) was ending.”
Currently she is writing a fictionalized book based upon her reality experiences, titled Million Dollar Crazy. Jenna is having fun reinventing herself as the main character Lola, who is worried about fame and money as she is subjected to public opinion. “It will be fun for readers to guess who the Paris Hilton character might be in the book,” says Jenna about her inspiration. “In 2003, I had different access because there weren’t that many reality shows, so I was treated with higher regard.” Therefore, she is changing names so the Former US President that hit on her will remain unidentified for possible reasons of National Security.
As for her professional career as a television host she enjoyed interviewing huge stars like Hugh Jackman and the cast of Game of Thrones. However, it is a constant pleasure for her to meet fellow Pittsburghers on set who always give her hugs, and share the camaraderie of being from this hard-working, loyal city of big hearts and big talents.
For more on Jenna Morasca visit: www.jenna-morasca.com
Photos by Kathy Wolfe Photography
