This time last year, barrista Ami Cusack was hiding out at a cousin’s house in
Australia, trying to pack back on the 20 pounds she lost on a diet of snails and more snails during her 33-day run on the reality TV show “Survivor: Vanuatu.” Now the Colorado native is back home, conducting the morning caffeine chorus at Common Grounds in Lower Downtown Denver.
There’s no shame in making it to the 12th of 15 episodes. Why not come right home? I didn’t want people to see how skinny I was. We went to the Margaret River to the vineyards. I got fat off of port, champagne, pâté, chocolate and cheese. Mmmmmm.
Did being a central character on “Survivor” for so long change your life? A lot more people come up to me and say they feel like they know me. They say, “Do I know you from church? Did you used to babysit my kids?” They’re used to seeing me in a bikini, with my hair all disgusting on an island. Now, I have clothes on and am well manicured.
Have any “deals” come your way since the show? I’ve gotten asked to do some modeling jobs and some MTV jobs. But unless it involves staying here, I’m not interested.
You’d traveled a ton before going on “Survivor.” Did more than a month on an island cure the bug?
I travel a lot. My cousin from Australia, the one who talked me into going on “Survivor,” just met me in
Manhattan for a week. Then we spent a week in South Beach (Miami), a week at Strawberry Park and a week in Rocky Mountain National Park and a week in Grand Lake.
You manage a lot of people to keep things moving both in front and in back of the coffee bar. Did that skill help you on the show? I think I was always doing what made sense for the group, and usually everyone followed me. I think I use those skills in everyday life, just doing what makes sense for the people around you.
Did you learn any practical skills on “Survivor”?
I don’t think I’ll be using my coconut-cracking and palm-tree-
climbing skills anytime soon.
Any advice for Northglenn firefighter Jim Lynch, who’s on “Survivor: Guatemala” this fall? My biggest regret is that I stopped playing once I thought I had it won. You can’t stop playing. You have to play every second of every minute of the game.
