Video links:
- "Meet Dawn" video at CBS.com
- Dawn's pre-game interview with EW.com's Dalton Ross
- Dawn's pre-game interview with Xfinity TV's Gordon Holmes
- Dawn Meehan's official Survivor: South Pacific CBS.com bio
- Dawn's personal website/blog, TheDeseretHousewife
- Dawn Meehan on facebook, twitter, LinkedIn
Collection of images from the pre-game and circa Ep1-era footage provided with the cast release videos:
Vidcap gallery: Click on thumbnails to expand; use arrow keys to navigate between large pics.
From her MSN.com contestant profile:
"Dawn says: I changed so much because I had gotten cut (twice before) from Survivor. I found the strength in me (I never knew I had). I look completely different than I did. Now I can bench press 170 pounds.
Jeff Probst says: She's excited."
From her EW.com new contestant picture caption (by Dalton Ross):
"File this one under 'better later than never.' Dawn applied for Survivor way back in 2000, but when her audition tape was unearthed in 2009, she got the call and was cast for Survivor: Redemption Island. 'And about a month before the show, they made a change and cut me,' Dawn explains. 'But it was the best thing that could have happened. I prepared physically six days a week for 10 months and have read every strategy book.' Now she's finally made it and looking to put that preparation to use. But will she be prepared for the emotional strain of being separated from her husband and six adopted children? She already has a contingency plan that involves her younger tribemates. 'I'm hoping to leave with an extra kid.'"
Excerpts from her official CBS Survivor: South Pacific bio page:
"Personal claim to fame: Adopting our six children.
Inspiration in life: My husband. He's really one of the most incredible human beings. He's kind, generous, peaceful, hard-working and selfless. I'm so grateful to spend my days with him.
Hobbies: Swimming with my kids, writing/blogging and baking bread.
Pet peeves: Brown grass and complainers.
3 words to describe you: Driven, positive and enthusiastic.
Survivor contestant you are most like: Sandra, Parvati and Stephenie. I'm physically strong like Parvati and Stephenie. I'm in this to really play and win -- like these women.
Reason for being on Survivor: Survivor is the best game on Earth! There's so much application to 'real life.' After watching as a fan for 10 years, I just know in my soul that it's my turn to play and win. Plus, it's the adventure of a lifetime and one million dollars!
Why you think you'll 'survive' Survivor: I'm driven, tenacious, adaptable, funny, optimistic, intelligent and resilient. I can motivate/persuade people, and I think that's powerful/important at every stage of this game.
Why you think you will be the sole Survivor: I've got the drive and determination to dominate this game. And, as cliché as it sounds, I'm really 'in it to win it.'"
Summary of evidence for Dawn Meehan being on Survivor: South Pacific.
- Doug Julet (7/29/11): Amid other clues, this new Sucks poster suggested: "True. You guys need to be looking for a good looking AA girl with a cute afro. She looks nothing like NaOnka. Much prettier. [Note that this turned out to be Semhar.]
Also, you should be looking for an older female Tyson. By that I mean another Mormon. Maybe try a BYU prof. Hmmmmm."
- guatemala fanfic (8/19/11): Finds the small cast pics destined for CBS's bio pages, and posts them at Sucks. Files include contestant first names, revealing Dawn's for the first time.
- Shortly thereafter, when Barsaw suggests one of the two new partially identified women might be the rumored BYU professor, Polonium successfully matches Dawn's LinkedIn profile pic with her cast photo, providing Dawn's complete name and info.
