CV grad appears on new season of ‘Survivor’

When the new season of CBS’ hit show “Survivor” debuts on Feb. 15, special Spokane viewing parties are already planned. Why? Because Central Valley High School class of 1979 graduate Troy Robertson – also known as “Troyzan” – made it on the show.

In a brief interview from his home in Miami earlier this week, Robertson said the attention he’s received after the cast of “Survivor” was officially announced has been overwhelming.

“I had something like 200 emails in my inbox today,” said Robertson, who’s a freelance photographer. “They (CBS) had warned us about that – but I didn’t know it was going to be this intense.”

Robertson can’t talk about the upcoming show or give actual interviews, but his audition video and other information is available on YouTube and websites like Survivorfandom.com.

Robertson was born in Ellensburg 50 years ago, so he’s one of the oldest cast members of “Survivor: One World.”

He grew up in Eastern Washington and Spokane, where his parents and family still live.

When he was 17 he spent every dime he had on his first camera – he’s always loved photography.

He left Spokane to pursue a modeling career in California in 1985.

Robertson modeled all over the world for the next 10 years, and it was modeling that got him hooked on photography.

“I am truly blessed that I am self-taught,” Robertson writes in his online bio. “My education came from a brief stint in college, books I would pick up, nature and simple life lessons inspired by my mom and dad.”

Modeling took Robertson to Europe for years, but he moved back to the United States and Miami, in the early 1990s.

That’s also when he got even more serious about his own photography career.

Last time he was back in Spokane was two years ago for his parents golden anniversary.

He picked up the nickname “Troyzan” along the way because he has worked with monkeys – especially a group of Marmoset monkeys, two of whom still live with him.

For the last 10 years he’s worked for Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit edition.

His “Survivor” audition video features famous swimsuit models telling the show’s producers to put him on the show.

He said he wanted to be on “Survivor” from the first time he saw the show, and he has submitted many video auditions.

“This show is me, I am the Survivor,” said Robertson, in the video. “I know that ‘Survivor’ is the game about outwit, outplay and outlast. I can outplay anybody. My brain is set for ‘Survivor’ there is not a person on the planet who can outwit me. And that will lead to the end of me outlasting everybody.”

Sources: www.troyrobertson.com and Troy Robertson’s Survivor audition video on YouTube.