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Although Christine “Teeny” Chirichillo has been on the wrong side of several votes on season 47 of Survivor, she’s one of the four contestants appearing in the finale. Some have criticized Teeny’s seemingly confused gameplay, but she’s earned her spot as a finalist who’s hoping to win the title of Sole Survivor.
What Are ‘Survivor’ Star Teeny Chirichillo’s Pronouns?
Teeny is non-binary and confirmed via her Instagram bio that she uses “she/they/he” pronouns. She is the first openly non-binary person to have competed on Survivor.
“Growing up closeted, I had to learn to social maneuver and keep attention off myself, which is an important skill for Survivor,” Teeny said in an interview with her college alma mater. “My secret weapon is having masculine and feminine attributes, which help me to blend and get along with everyone.”
Teeny came out during her senior year of college and told the website that she’s not attached to specific pronouns.
What Is ‘Survivor’ Contestant Teeny Chirichillo’s Job?
Teeny works as a freelance writer, but she had to quit her previous job as a tech consultant to appear on Survivor. Prior to season 47’s premiere, she opened up about the unorthodox way she got her tech job.
It started when Teeny was 16 years old and saw a meme on Instagram. “[It] was like, ‘If you text the phone number that’s one digit above or below your own, that’s your text door neighbor,’” Teeny explained to Parade. “So obviously, I pull out my phone. I do it.”
The person on the other end – who was 26 years old – eventually responded and they continued a conversation. “She lived in New York City. She was the first person I ever came out of the closet to,” Teeny revealed. “And then, when I was in college, she actually helped put me in touch with the tech company she worked for. And then, at 22 years old – when she was 32 – we worked together at this company.”
Teeny’s tech job was at CDI LLC (which eventually merged with AHEAD), according to LinkedIn. She worked at the company from November 2022 until April 2023, starting as a business development representative and ending her career as an associate solution architect.
Following her Survivor stint, Teeny said she’s hoping to “explore” her writing more. “It’s something I do on the side, both kind of professionally and just personally,” she shared. Teeny said her next goal is to write a book and that she’s in the “very early stages” of the process.
Prior to starting her career, Teeny attended the University of Rhode Island from 2018-2019 and majored in public relations/image management. She then transferred to Rutgers University and graduated in 2022 with a communications and creative writing degree.
Where Does Survivor’s Teeny Chirichillo Live?
Teeny is from Manahawkin, New Jersey, and still lives there now. She moved to New York City for a year after college before returning home, which is when she applied for Survivor.
The New Jersey native is a longtime fan of the show and had sent in audition tapes during her college years, but later realized she wasn’t quite ready yet. “I watched them back, and I was like, ‘There’s just something not right here. I am not ready. Something about the way I’m articulating myself isn’t real,’” she told Parade. “I needed to get out of college, kick a few of my college-esque habits.”
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