Neleh Dennis - Survivor: Marquesas

Seasons: 1 | Days played: 39 | Wins: 0 | Final Two: 1

  • Survivor: Marquesas (2002) - 2nd place, 3 jury votes
  • Received three jury votes to finish second (4-3), in Episode 13, "The Sole Survivor" (Day 39).

Neleh Dennis Nielson on social media: twitter | Instagram

Neleh Dennis - Career statistics

Challenge stats Tribal council stats Jury stats Overall stats
Season ChW ChA ChW% VFB VAP TCA TC% wTCR JVF TotJ JV% SurvSc SurvAv
S4: Marquesas 2.34 13.46 0.17 9 4 10 0.89 3.15 3 7 0.43 1.50 8.06
Career 2.34 13.46 0.17 9 4 10 0.89 3.15 3 7 0.43 1.50 8.06

 

Neleh Dennis - Performance ranks

Challenges: MPF percentile

63%

Tribal: VFB% percentile

89%

Tribal: rVAP percentile

88%

Performance ranks are a quick visual measure of the contestant's season vs. historical data from all prior contestants, in three basic (scorable) categories:

1. Performance in individual challenges (MPF), as a measure of "physical game";

2. Ability to vote people out consistently (VFB%, or VFB/TCA), or "strategic game"; and

3. Ability to avoid being voted against (rVAP, or TCA-VAP) - which scales better than a percentage would - for "social/strategic game."

See also: Full glossary for all these abbreviations.

 

Neleh Dennis - Challenge record
Survivor 4 logo  Marquesas challenges

Ep2 IC - Marquesan Menu

Tribal/team challenge record (7-for-11; 1 sit-out):

  • Marquesas Ep. 1 IC: "Outrigger Fire Quest" - Helps carry the canoe, and Rotu wins big.
  • Marquesas Ep. 2 RC: "Do or Dive" - Dives, rows the boat, and Rotu wins again.
  • Marquesas Ep. 2 IC: "Marquesan Menu" - Wins the tiebreaker vs. Boston Rob, and Rotu wins!
  • Marquesas Ep. 3 RC: "Raft Rescue" - Sits out, as Rotu wins again.
  • Marquesas Ep. 3 IC: "Coconut Maze Race" - Never the caller, but pulls ropes, and Rotu wins.
  • Marquesas Ep. 4 IC: "Life's a Tapestry" - Now with Maraamu, which seems lost, as Maraamu loses again.
  • Marquesas Ep. 5 RC: "Tiki Tower" - Blindfolded, collects and builds tiki pieces, and finally Maraamu wins!
  • Marquesas Ep. 5 IC: "Distress Signal" - Thanks to a flag and a stolen blanket, Maraamu wins again.
  • Marquesas Ep. 6 RC: "Jungle Relay" - Unties the second paddle with Paschal, and Maraamu wins!
  • Marquesas Ep. 6 IC: "Maze" - Maraamu runs around in circles, finds just two planks, loses (5-2).
  • Marquesas Ep. 9 RC: "Coconut Juice" - Paired with Zoe; makes good progress, but does not win.

 

Hand on a Hard Idol - Final 3 IC

Individual challenge record (1-for-11): (Mean % finish: 60.7%)

  • Marquesas Ep. 7 IC: "Sea Legs" - First person to drop out, fairly quickly (10th/10).
  • Marquesas Ep. 8 RC: "Go Fly a Kite" - One of eight to not get their kite off the ground (tie-2nd/9).
  • Marquesas Ep. 8 IC: "Parang Swing" - Seventh person out, chopped by Tammy (3rd/9).
  • Marquesas Ep. 9 IC: "High Stepping" - Eliminated by Tammy in the first round (tie-5th/8).
  • Marquesas Ep. 10 RC: "Rock Bottom" - Eliminated in the third round, gets reward anyway (5th/7).
  • Marquesas Ep. 10 IC: "Virtues of Fire" - Waiting for her popcorn as the challenge ends (tie-3rd/7).
  • Marquesas Ep. 11 IC: "Sands of Time" - Loses a final showdown vs. Vee (2nd/6).
  • Marquesas Ep. 12 RC: "Second Chance" - Still on the coconut juice as Sean wins (tie-2nd/5).
  • Marquesas Ep. 12 IC: "Marquesan Folklore" - Acquires five tikis, drops one, does not win (2nd/5)
  • Marquesas Ep. 13 F4 IC: "Fallen Comrades" - Gets nine answers right, does not win (2nd/4).
  • Marquesas Ep. 13 F3 IC: "Hand on a Hard Idol" - Lasts 4 hrs, 30 min., and Neleh wins! (1st/3).

 

Redemption/Exile Island duel record (0-for-0):

  • Marquesas: None.
Career totals - challenges
Team/tribal challenges
Wins: 7
Played: 11
Win%: 0.64
Sat out: 1
Individual challenges
Wins: 1
Played: 11
Win%: 0.09
Mean% Finish: 60.7%
Hero challenges
Wins: 0
Played: 0
Win%: --
Mean% Finish: --
Neleh Dennis - Tribal Council record
Survivor 4 logo  Marquesas Tribal Council

Ep6 Tribal Council

Idols held/played:

  • Marquesas: None.

 

VFB - Votes for the person booted (9/10):

 

VAP - Votes against (4):

  • Marquesas, Ep. 12: Two votes, from Sean and Vee.
  • Marquesas, Ep. 13 (F4 vote): Two votes, from Kathy and Vee.

 

Jury votes received (3/7):

  • Marquesas, Ep. 13: Received three jury votes, from Kathy Vavrick-O'Brien, Paschal English, and Zoe Zanidakis, to finish second (4-3).
Career totals - Tribal Council
Hidden idols
Found: 0
Played: --
Votes voided: --
Voting record
VFB: 9
Tribals: 10
VAP: 4
Jury votes
Made: --
Received: 3
Total jurors: 7
Neleh Dennis - Pictures
Survivor 4 logo  Marquesas image gallery
  • Neleh Dennis
    Marquesas intro shot
  • Neleh Dennis
    Marquesas intro shot
  • Neleh Dennis
    On the boat, Day 1
  • Neleh Dennis
    Paddling to Rotu beach
  • Neleh Dennis
    Hometown intro headshot
  • Neleh Dennis
    Opening the crate ... full of no food
  • Neleh Dennis
    Talking about the mostly empty crate
  • Neleh Dennis
    Talking about the Day 2 hike for water
  • Neleh Dennis
    Rotu finds its water source
  • Neleh Dennis
    Rotu (belatedly) has fire!
  • Neleh Dennis
    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep1 IC
  • Neleh Dennis
    Starting line
  • Neleh Dennis
    Pushing the boat out
  • Neleh Dennis
    Rotu, first back to shore
  • Neleh Dennis
    Rotu wins!
  • Neleh Dennis
    Talking about Rotu's lack of food, Ep2
  • Neleh Dennis
    Preparing some delicious snails
  • Neleh Dennis
    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep2 RC
  • Neleh Dennis
    Starting line
  • Neleh Dennis
    Rotu, leading (as always)
  • Neleh Dennis
    Rotu wins fishing gear!
  • Neleh Dennis
    Reading the IC treemail
  • Neleh Dennis
    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep2 IC
  • Neleh Dennis
    Facing off vs. Boston Rob in the tiebreaker
  • Neleh Dennis
    Rotu wins immunity!
  • Neleh Dennis
    Watching the Ep3 RC from the sit-out raft
  • Neleh Dennis
    Rotu wins!
  • Neleh Dennis
    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep3 IC
  • Neleh Dennis
    Pulling the ropes
  • Neleh Dennis
    Rotu wins immunity!
  • Neleh Dennis
    Time to swap, Ep4
  • Neleh Dennis
    Zoe is still Rotu...
  • Neleh Dennis
    Checking out the new camp
  • Neleh Dennis
    There's so much fruit here!
  • Neleh Dennis
    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep4 IC
  • Neleh Dennis
    Starting line
  • Neleh Dennis
    Not making much progress
  • Neleh Dennis
    Oh no, we lost. Whatever shall we do.
  • Neleh Dennis
    Heading to Tribal
  • Neleh Dennis
    Maraamu, Ep4 Tribal Council
  • Neleh Dennis
    Listening to Probst
  • Neleh Dennis
    Praying for a win, Ep5
  • Neleh Dennis
    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep5 RC
  • Neleh Dennis
    Heading out to collect logs
  • Neleh Dennis
    Building the tiki puzzles
  • Neleh Dennis
    Maraamu wins!
  • Neleh Dennis
    Ready to raid the Rotu camp
  • Neleh Dennis
    Mission accomplished
  • Neleh Dennis
    Gina says it's just nice to win something
  • Neleh Dennis
    Maraamu's distress signal, Ep5 IC
  • Neleh Dennis
    Maraamu wins immunity!
  • Neleh Dennis
    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep6 RC, seeing Gabe's gone
  • Neleh Dennis
    Rob wasn't here yet!
  • Neleh Dennis
    Maraamu wins on reversal!
  • Neleh Dennis
    Reward feasting
  • Neleh Dennis
    Measuring Paschal's "heat"
  • Neleh Dennis
    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep6 IC
  • Neleh Dennis
    Starting line
  • Neleh Dennis
    Getting a bit lost
  • Neleh Dennis
    Maraamu, Ep6 Tribal Council
  • Neleh Dennis
    Listening to Probst
  • Neleh Dennis
    Reading the ambassador treemail, Ep7
  • Neleh Dennis
    It's the merge!
  • Neleh Dennis
    Returning to Rotu camp
  • Neleh Dennis
    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep7 IC
  • Neleh Dennis
    Starting line
  • Neleh Dennis
    Rob touched the platform!
  • Neleh Dennis
    Soliantu, Ep7 Tribal Council
  • Neleh Dennis
    Listening to Probst
  • Neleh Dennis
    I got a kite and a new outfit out of this! Ep8
  • Neleh Dennis
    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep8 RC
  • Neleh Dennis
    Starting line
  • Neleh Dennis
    Checking treemail
  • Neleh Dennis
    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep8 IC
  • Neleh Dennis
    John eliminates Sean first
  • Neleh Dennis
    Convincing Paschal they should flip on Rotu
  • Neleh Dennis
    Soliantu, Ep8 Tribal Council
  • Neleh Dennis
    Listening to Probst
  • Neleh Dennis
    Celebrating the new majority, Ep9
  • Neleh Dennis
    It's good to be in charge!
  • Neleh Dennis
    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep9 RC
  • Neleh Dennis
    Starting line
  • Neleh Dennis
    Tammy and the General propose flipping back
  • Neleh Dennis
    Reading the stilts IC treemail
  • Neleh Dennis
    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep9 IC
  • Neleh Dennis
    Eliminated by Tammy
  • Neleh Dennis
    Soliantu, Ep9 Tribal Council
  • Neleh Dennis
    Listening to Probst
  • Neleh Dennis
    Listening to treemail, Ep10
  • Neleh Dennis
    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep10 RC
  • Neleh Dennis
    Starting line
  • Neleh Dennis
    Seeing Paschal off for his cruise ship reward
  • Neleh Dennis
    Neleh gets to go, too!
  • Neleh Dennis
    Water cheers!
  • Neleh Dennis
    Talking about the reward
  • Neleh Dennis
    Anyone want my mint?
  • Neleh Dennis
    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep10 IC
  • Neleh Dennis
    Starting line
  • Neleh Dennis
    Soliantu, Ep10 Tribal Council
  • Neleh Dennis
    Listening to Probst
  • Neleh Dennis
    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep11 RC
  • Neleh Dennis
    The loved ones are here!
  • Neleh Dennis
    Watching the loved ones compete
  • Neleh Dennis
    Hugging her mom goodbye
  • Neleh Dennis
    The non-rewardees commisserate
  • Neleh Dennis
    Arrival, Ep11 IC
  • Neleh Dennis
    Showdown with Vee
  • Neleh Dennis
    Yay, Vee won
  • Neleh Dennis
    Soliantu, Ep11 Tribal Council
  • Neleh Dennis
    Listening to Kathy
  • Neleh Dennis
    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep12 RC
  • Neleh Dennis
    Starting line
  • Neleh Dennis
    Working on the tiki statue
  • Neleh Dennis
    Congratulating Sean on his VUE
  • Neleh Dennis
    Tribe meeting getting heated
  • Neleh Dennis
    It was heated!
  • Neleh Dennis
    Story time with Probst, Ep12 IC
  • Neleh Dennis
    Almost finished...
  • Neleh Dennis
    You each dropped a tiki?!?
  • Neleh Dennis
    Heading to Tribal
  • Neleh Dennis
    Soliantu, Ep12 Tribal Council
  • Neleh Dennis
    Listening to Probst
  • Neleh Dennis
    Discussing past tribemates in preparation for the IC, Ep13
  • Neleh Dennis
    Heading to Tribal/IC
  • Neleh Dennis
    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep13 Final 4 IC
  • Neleh Dennis
    Match point...
  • Neleh Dennis
    Discussing the tie vote and rocks
  • Neleh Dennis
    The rock draw, ready to reveal...
  • Neleh Dennis
    Heading out for the Day 38 time-filling activities
  • Neleh Dennis
    Body art project time
  • Neleh Dennis
    Oh yay, Rites of Passage
  • Neleh Dennis
    Purification ceremony...
  • Neleh Dennis
    ... and *finally*, pre-challenge lineup, Final 3 IC
  • Neleh Dennis
    Starting line
  • Neleh Dennis
    Still going...
  • Neleh Dennis
    After 4 hrs, 30 minutes, Kathy slips
  • Neleh Dennis
    Deal reached with Vee, and Neleh wins!
  • Neleh Dennis
    Guaranteed a spot in the final two
  • Neleh Dennis
    Final 3 Tribal Council
  • Neleh Dennis
    Final two!
  • Neleh Dennis
    Reflecting on her game
  • Neleh Dennis
    Burning Paschal's pants
  • Neleh Dennis
    Leaving camp one last time
  • Neleh Dennis
    Final Tribal Council, ready to face the jury
  • Neleh Dennis
    Addressing the jury
  • Neleh Dennis
    Reunion show, waiting for the vote reveal
  • Neleh Dennis
    Congratulating Vee
  • Neleh Dennis
    Reunion show, talking to Rosie O'Donnell
  • Neleh Dennis
    The final two
  • Neleh Dennis
    Full cast, reunion show
Neleh Dennis - Interviews
Survivor 4 logo  Marquesas interviews

Pre-game interviews

  • None found.

 

Post-game interviews

  • Scott D. Pierce for Deseret News (6/29/02): "Now Neleh's a morning person"
  • Doug Robinson for Deseret News (4/28/14): "Neleh - From TV's Survivor to motherhood"
  • Rob Cesternino at RHAP (11/19/15): "Neleh Dennis Recaps Cambodia Episode 9"
Neleh Dennis - Bio
Survivor 4 logo  Marquesas bio

Official CBS Marquesas bio excerpts (circa January, 2002):

"Neleh Dennis was born in Heber City, Utah, and is one of eight siblings (five brothers, Tom, John, Devin, Nathan and Landon, and two sisters, McKenna and Robyn). She was named after her maternal grandmother, Helen. Same name, only spelled backwards. Dennis has lived in California, Idaho, and most recently, Layton, Utah. She graduated from Layton High School in 1998.

Dennis was a member of the Layton High Drill Team, which placed second in a national competition her senior year. While in high school, Neleh taught dance, sang in choir, enjoyed theatre, donated time and energy to the Special Olympics and worked closely with mentally challenged young adults. Dennis also earned her Certified Nurse Assistance certificate before graduation and worked full-time with Alzheimer's patients in a nursing care center where she was promoted to Team Leader. During the summer, she worked as a lifeguard.

After graduation, Neleh attended Weber State University and earned an Associate degree. She was accepted into the nursing program, but decided to pursue a degree in psychology. Dennis is currently working on a Bachelor of Science in psychology with an emphasis on child and family studies. In addition, she took scuba diving lessons while in school. She also worked part-time as a psych tech on an adult psychiatric ward at a local hospital.

...

Neleh Dennis describes herself as happy, outgoing and loving. Dennis enjoys country dancing, camping, boating, snowboarding, working out and waterskiing. She also enjoys exploring new places, going for long drives in the country, picnicking and four-wheeling. Ever the adventurer, she is a member of the Mountaineering Club. She currently resides with her parents, three of her brothers, her two ferrets, Bandit and Chance, and one dog, Rascal. Neleh has a major sweet tooth and loves to eat. Her birth date is February 19."