no one is actually a jessa (except sue smey)
chatting soot contour, internet haters and the power of manifestation with the oldest finalist in Survivor history.
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Hello!
I’m thrilled to have a special guest on The Molehill today—Sue Smey from Survivor’s latest season, which came to a dramatic close this week (the fire challenge had me screaming at the TV). The casting was what really set this season apart, in my opinion. I made a video about how it was sooo GIRLS HBO-coded, mainly because Teeny reminds me of Hannah Horvath and you can’t convince me Gen isn’t Marnie in another timeline.
Even if you do not watch Survivor, its enduring influence on pop culture is undeniable. It took the age-old hypothetical “what if you were stranded on a deserted island” and turned it into reality television gold—introducing phrases like the tribe has spoken and forming alliances into our cultural lexicon.
Each season I pick one contestant to interview, purely based on vibes (see: my chat with Jess Chong from Season 46 who regrets packing an Aritzia sweater for the island). Several castaways had standout fashion/beauty moments that made them a contender—like Sol’s jury outfit that had everyone shook and thirsty—but one person captivated my intrigue above others…
Meet Sue.
Sue is iconic because:
She lied and told everyone she was 45 (she was 58/59).
She is the oldest woman ever to win an individual Immunity Challenge *and* the oldest finalist in Survivor history.
She always had soot marks on her face, which read as an intentional attempt at contouring (no makeup is allowed on the island). Fans were obsessed with this “island beauty hack”, leading Sue to make a cheeky tutorial on how to get her signature SUEnami snatched cheeks.
So naturally, I was dying to know more about Sue’s island beauty secrets—and dig deeper into conversations about feminine aesthetic labor on reality TV.
We chatted on Thursday via Zoom. Interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Hi Sue! Ok, let’s clarify the whole ‘soot contour’ thing. Was any part of it actually intentional?
Sue: Once, I tried using soot as undereye liner by dabbing it on with my pinky. Afterward, I panicked, afraid I looked ridiculous since I didn’t have a mirror to check. The rest of the soot and dirt on me came from playing with the fire, gathering wood, and searching for things to burn or idols.
I didn’t realize how dirty I’d gotten until Rachel or Caroline occasionally pointed out spots I should wipe. Looking back, some of it might have come from my morning routine. I splashed my face with water to rinse off the dirt from sleeping on the ground. But I never scrubbed, and obviously we had no soap.
Can you walk us through the cosmetic/aesthetic work you got done in preparation for the show? And your thought process behind it?
I think it’s hard for most of us to imagine being on camera for 26 days, in such a stripped-down and vulnerable state.
Sue: First, I've always used eyelash serum to help my eyelashes grow a bit. The week before I left for the show, I had eyelashes extensions put on, and I did the shortest possible ones they make in a C curl. I had so many people reaching out asking, what mascara did you use? There was no mascara, was eyelash extensions.
I also did laser hair removal. I was just like, I don't want to be standing there with a bunch of underarm hair—not that I have so much and it's so dark, but I don't know…I was self-conscious about that.
When I first got the call that I possibly could be cast, I had my eyebrows microbladed.
Then I got hair extensions. I only did two rows, just because I wanted to be able to pull my hair up. And obviously people saw them anyways, but I don't hide anything. My biggest concern was whether they were going to last, if the saltwater and not washing them was going to destroy them.
Obviously, I do a lot of stuff. I'm not ashamed of it. I'm proud of my lips, I'm proud of everything.
How did you decide what to pack?
Sue: The show runners give us a clothing list of what they want us to purchase and mail in for approval. My assigned color was blue, so I went with all blue clothes. The bra I sent in was actually blue leopard print.
They purchase extras of everything in case you lose an item because of the weather of something. But they couldn't find the bra in blue, so instead they bought it in brown. So that’s what I wore because you need to be wearing the exact same thing the whole show. When you’re halfway through and you lose the weight, you have smaller sizes to change into.
I just purchased a whole bunch of bras that I thought would be not revealing. I mean, I got good boobs, but it's a family show so I wanted it to be more of a sports bra.
Was it strange not having mirrors on the island? Did you find yourself wondering how you looked?
Sue: To be honest, I just felt like I looked normal. I knew I was getting tanned, I hoped my lash extensions were still there, and I did what I could to keep my hair from getting tangled. So I never really gave my looks much thought. When you are basically struggling to survive, you really don't think of how you look.
What was your reaction to seeing your reflection for the first time?
Sue: The first time I saw myself in the mirror, I was mortified. It happened when Genevieve took me to the sanctuary near the end. I barely recognized myself—I was so thin, and my face was so wrinkled. Seeing my reflection was a shock, and it embarrassed me. I actually felt scared looking at myself and had to walk away, telling them I couldn’t bear to see it.
What upset me even more was knowing other people would be seeing me like that. I felt incredibly self-conscious and ugly.
People on the internet can also be so mean. How have you dealt with negative comments on your appearance?
Sue: I don't really care what people think about me. I knew it was going to happen because I've obviously had my chest done and I've had my lips done. This is my life.
If you are the type of person that wants your gray hair, wants to not wear makeup, I support you. I'm never going to tell someone how they should look. People making fun of my lips and they were calling me McTitty Duck Lips or something. I was laughing at that because it doesn't bother me.
I own it and I'm proud of it. And let me tell you, there's more people out there doing what I do than what people think. Maybe they're ashamed to tell people, and that's okay too.
As for the haters, I feel bad that it's so upsetting to them that they have to say mean comments, but that's their issue. People say they don't like when people look fake, well then you don't like me. It doesn't bother me. I have to love myself.
How do you nurture your inner beauty? Do you have any role models you look up to?
Sue: So you may think this is weird. I'm a huge, huge, huge Esther Hicks fan. She's a channeler. I listen to her all the time. She's changed my life. She helps you to learn to manifest positive things in your life. Everything I've done since I started listening to her has changed my world. I've gotten over my childhood trauma. I've been able to accept my life. That’s who I would have brought with me on the island if I could.
Did you manifest your way to Survivor?
Sue: I keep a list every day. After I finish my morning 2 mile walk, I write a list of to-do’s. If you scroll down my list, all the way to October, it says “manifested Survivor.”
Literally in October, I was just visualizing myself there. I could see myself there and I made it happen.
I've had it happen with my flight school, when I'm like, oh my god, I need another instructor. But now, okay, let's visualize that it's here already. And all of a sudden—I'll never forget that day—I did some really deep concentrating and meditating. And within two hours I got a phone call of someone looking for a job.
You can manifest anything. I believe you can.
Do you think lying about your age was an effective strategy?
Sue: Looking back, I still believe it was the best move for my game to lie about my age. I could be wrong, but I felt that by keeping it vague, no one would dig too deeply into it. In the end, it made for a great surprise when they finally learned my real age. Honestly, it was kind of fun, too, knowing I went in with this plan, and then actually executing it.
Whether they believed it or not…I never got my torch snuffed!! It seemed most were very surprised!!! This plan went off EXACTLY the way I envisioned it. (Other than the million dollars lol).
So much fun!!!
If it’s not clear by now, Sue is the Jessa of the cast, if we’re going with the GIRLS HBO analogy. I asked Sue if she knew this reference (she didn’t). So I sent her a Youtube compilation of Jessa being a beautiful trainwreck for 7 minutes straight, to which she responded:
THANK YOU SUE! <3
I LOVE debriefing Survivor and don’t have enough people to talk to about it…so please chime in with your thoughts on the finale and hot takes from Season 47!
We also have a chat going where you can find your people…
xoxo viv
Rounding out today’s newsletter with a mini gift guide and a newly-launched Classifieds section! Full gift guides here and here. So far, lots of interest in the Ginseng and Gummy Bear lip glosses, black loafers and Liis Studied (my daily fragrance).
Gifts for the Girls Who Love Silver…
Ok, I had already written this gift guide and then this morning saw that the NYT published a piece about how people are gravitating towards silver as gold prices soar. I’m very interested in how these economic shifts affect our cultural relationship to precious metals.
*Disclosure: some affiliate links below
Cirque Colors Slyph Nail Polish—a true “pearlescent” color. My nails look like tilapia fish scales. Or a cold puff of air in snow. Somehow it looks even better a little smudged/chipped after rock climbing because it’s lived-in (a la Margiela’s “cracked” paint Tabis).
Silver Crescent Shoulder Bag—I was gifted this silver bag from Reformation. To show some “behind of the scenes” of how PR works: they let me pick something off a linesheet. I don’t like most of their clothes because the material quality + construction is usually not there. The leather shoes and bags, however, are worth a closer look next time you can (ideally) feel it in-person. This a nappa leather bag that looks like a silver crescent moon—it has a magnetic clasp closure at the top, versus a zipper, which I’ve found to be quite ergonomic. Here are some vintage options for $64, $95, $110, and a puffy dumpling-esque vintage Coach for auction starting at $25.
shopping for ramen fixings CLED Silver Bean Ring ($229 with code VIVTHEMOLE)—I love bean-shaped jewelry and predict more jewelry designers will be leaning into legumes for inspiration. It’s sculptural, organic, womb-like…for this ring I recommend the “light olive” color + a silver base.
Wanna spread the word about your secondhand clothing app, small biz, or creative project? (Or maybe you’re seeking a man with a union job).
Run a classified ad in The Molehill here.
Heavy on sentimentality and thoughtfulness, Studio Second Sight curates vintage jewelry and objects of intrigue! $1 from every purchase goes to organizations working to make the world more equitable and safe for all. @studiosecondsight
Seeking single man in LA area who loves karaoke and works with his hands (union job preferred). Find me at Krazy J’s in the LA suburbs. Sing me a song. XO, karaokeprincess99@yahoo.com
Oakland-based baker offering her services! Reach out next time you’re looking to celebrate with a decadent dessert. Specialties include fruit-forward seasonal cakes & cinnamon roll towers. buttermilkbabushka@gmail.com & IG @buttermilkbabushka
“Hard-hitting garments for hard-hitting women”. W’menswear collections tell stories of pioneering women through history. We work with independent dyers, weavers, and makers who are dedicated to authenticity and preserving heritage. Visit wmenswear.com
Nicholas Knacks—We’re consignment service based out of the SF Bay Area, focused on secondhand designer clothing for all genders! We carry a wide selection of vintage & modern pieces, with an emphasis on items made with high-quality materials. Use code THEMOLEHILL at checkout for 10% off until 2/1/25.
I don't watch the show and yet LOVED this interview -- and I also love your classified ads. It's just really innovative. XOXO
Loved this interview!! I got to see a side of Sue that wasn’t really shown in her edit