Jenna Morasca
Encyclopedia
Jenna Morasca is an American
actress, former swimsuit model and American reality TV contestant who was the million-dollar grand prize winner of Survivor: The Amazon
and previously worked for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
.
In 2011, Morasca and her boyfriend, fellow Survivor winner Ethan Zohn
, participated in the 19th season
of The Amazing Race
. They were eliminated 11th/10th on the second (double elimination) episode.
. She is an only child. Before appearing on Survivor, Morasca was a college student at the University of Pittsburgh
and worked as a swimsuit model.
career began on Survivor: The Amazon
, in which she was originally part of the all-female Jaburu tribe. During one immunity challenge, Morasca and fellow contestant Heidi Strobel stripped off their clothes for peanut butter and chocolate. After making the merge, Morasca was relatively safe at the start as the majority of the tribe chose to vote off outcasts Roger Sexton and Dave Johnson. At the final 8, the new alliance of Morasca, Strobel, Alex Bell and Rob Cesternino targeted Deena Bennett, and she was voted out. At the final 7, Cesternino betrayed his alliance and blindsided Bell. At the Final 6, Morasca and Strobel scrambled to stay in the game, trying to break up the now-alliance of Cesternino, Matthew Von Ertfelda and Butch Lockley. When Christy Smith would not commit to either side, Cesternino convinced Morasca and Strobel to help vote Smith was voted off. At the Final Five, Strobel was voted out, but Morasca won the next immunity
, protecting her in the vote of the Final Four. Morasca, Cesternino and Von Ertfelda to voted out Lockley. Morasca again won the next immunity challenge, and along with Von Ertfelda, voted off Cesternino. Morasca beat Von Ertfelda in a 6–1 vote to become the Sole Survivor. Morasca was the youngest contestant to ever win Survivor until Jud "Fabio" Birza won Survivor: Nicaragua
, though Morasca remains the youngest female contestant to win Survivor.
In 2004, Morasca was invited back for Survivor: All-Stars
. As part of the Mogo Mogo tribe, Morasca and her tribe won immunity in the first two episodes. However, in episode three, Morasca decided to quit the game, regretting leaving her dying mother, who had been in a battle with cancer for 12 years. Her mother died eight days after Jenna returned home.
In 2005, Morasca replaced Richard Hatch
as co-host (with Dalton Ross) of CBS's Survivor Live
, an internet talk show devoted to the current season of Survivor. She has since hosted the show throughout five entire seasons - Survivor: Palau
, Survivor: Guatemala
, Survivor: Panama
, Survivor: Cook Islands
and Survivor: Fiji.
, participated in the 19th season
of The Amazing Race
. They checked-in at fourth place in the opening leg. In the first ever double elimination leg Morasca and Zohn placed in 9th, just sparing them from elimination. However, they were asked to return to the orphanage visited in that leg to deliver all their money resulting in them been dropping to 10th place and their elimination.
's Impact!
program, in a backstage interview with Mick Foley
. She then appeared in backstage segments with Kevin Nash
and his alliance The Main Event Mafia
. It was later revealed by Kurt Angle
that Morasca was the financial backer to the Mafia, and the money she provided was used to lure Samoa Joe
to the stable. Morasca was regularly seen bickering with fellow Mafia valet Sharmell, leading to a catfight backstage on the May 28 edition of Impact!. On the July 9 edition of Impact it was revealed that Morasca had hired Awesome Kong
to train her for her upcoming match against Sharmell at Victory Road
. Morasca won her in-ring debut against Sharmell at Victory Road after Kong knocked Sharmell out. After the match, Morasca slapped Kong, who then slammed her down to the mat and splashed her.
, which starred former reality television contestants. She was eliminated in the second round by Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth
.
She appeared in the premiere episode of Celebrity Paranormal Project
on VH-1, along with other notables such as Gary Busey
.
Morasca and Zohn also appeared together as guest sous chefs on the Food Network
show Dinner: Impossible
, and on the fourth season of the Celebrity Apprentice
, in which they supported their former Survivor castmate Richard Hatch was a contestant.
magazine, which reportedly earned her yet another million dollars. She also appeared near-nude in an anti-fur ad for PETA
with her boyfriend, Survivor: Africa
winner Ethan Zohn
that featured the slogan "We'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur!" In addition, Morasca modeled swimwear and was the CEO of a model scouting company called Model Challenge USA, which she founded in 2004.
In 2003, Morasca had a part in the Off Broadway play Pieces.
Morasca also had a minor role in the made-for-TV movie The Scorned
in 2005.
Morasca and Zohn also star in "The Watcher", a 20 minute horror movie included in the Drive-In Horror Show series,
for Animal Friends in Pittsburgh.
Morasca began dating fellow Survivor champion Ethan Zohn
after her victory on Survivor: The Amazon
in 2003. As of February 2008, they both live in Manhattan, though not together.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress, former swimsuit model and American reality TV contestant who was the million-dollar grand prize winner of Survivor: The Amazon
Survivor: The Amazon
Survivor: The Amazon is the sixth season of the United States reality show Survivor. It was filmed in 2002 and 13 episodes aired weekly in the United States on CBS from February 13 - May 11, 2003....
and previously worked for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling is a privately held professional wrestling promotion founded by Jeff Jarrett and Jerry Jarrett. The company broadcasts its events on television and the Internet fifty two weeks a year with over a million weekly viewers on its primary television program, Impact...
.
In 2011, Morasca and her boyfriend, fellow Survivor winner Ethan Zohn
Ethan Zohn
Ethan Zohn is an American reality television series contestant who won $1,000,000 on Survivor: Africa, the third season of the reality TV series Survivor. He also appeared on the All-Stars edition of the show. After winning Survivor he co-founded Grassroot Soccer, which uses soccer to raise money...
, participated in the 19th season
The Amazing Race 19
The Amazing Race 19 is the nineteenth installment of the reality television show The Amazing Race. The Amazing Race 19 features several teams of two, each with a pre-existing relationship, in a race around the world. The 19th season premiered on September 25, 2011.The nineteenth cycle started on...
of The Amazing Race
The Amazing Race (U.S. TV series)
The Amazing Race is an American reality game show in which teams of two or four race around the world against other teams, with the first-place team winning $1,000,000. As the original version of the Amazing Race franchise, the CBS program has been running since 2001 and is airing its nineteenth...
. They were eliminated 11th/10th on the second (double elimination) episode.
Early life
Morasca was born and still resides near Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. She is an only child. Before appearing on Survivor, Morasca was a college student at the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
and worked as a swimsuit model.
Survivor
Morasca's SurvivorSurvivor (U.S. TV series)
Survivor is an American version of the Survivor reality television game show, itself derived from the Swedish television series Expedition Robinson originally created in 1997 by Charlie Parsons. The series premiered on May 31, 2000 on CBS...
career began on Survivor: The Amazon
Survivor: The Amazon
Survivor: The Amazon is the sixth season of the United States reality show Survivor. It was filmed in 2002 and 13 episodes aired weekly in the United States on CBS from February 13 - May 11, 2003....
, in which she was originally part of the all-female Jaburu tribe. During one immunity challenge, Morasca and fellow contestant Heidi Strobel stripped off their clothes for peanut butter and chocolate. After making the merge, Morasca was relatively safe at the start as the majority of the tribe chose to vote off outcasts Roger Sexton and Dave Johnson. At the final 8, the new alliance of Morasca, Strobel, Alex Bell and Rob Cesternino targeted Deena Bennett, and she was voted out. At the final 7, Cesternino betrayed his alliance and blindsided Bell. At the Final 6, Morasca and Strobel scrambled to stay in the game, trying to break up the now-alliance of Cesternino, Matthew Von Ertfelda and Butch Lockley. When Christy Smith would not commit to either side, Cesternino convinced Morasca and Strobel to help vote Smith was voted off. At the Final Five, Strobel was voted out, but Morasca won the next immunity
Immunity (reality television)
Immunity in reality television is a concept that is widely used in weekly elimination-type reality television shows by which a contestant participating in such a show may not be "kicked off" or eliminated from competition in a particular time period...
, protecting her in the vote of the Final Four. Morasca, Cesternino and Von Ertfelda to voted out Lockley. Morasca again won the next immunity challenge, and along with Von Ertfelda, voted off Cesternino. Morasca beat Von Ertfelda in a 6–1 vote to become the Sole Survivor. Morasca was the youngest contestant to ever win Survivor until Jud "Fabio" Birza won Survivor: Nicaragua
Survivor: Nicaragua
Survivor: Nicaragua is the 21st season of the American CBS competitive reality television series Survivor. It premiered on September 15, 2010 at 8:00pm, moving to the Wednesday timeslot for the first time since Survivor: Borneo....
, though Morasca remains the youngest female contestant to win Survivor.
In 2004, Morasca was invited back for Survivor: All-Stars
Survivor: All-Stars
Survivor: All-Stars is the eighth season of the United States reality show Survivor. It was filmed in 2003 and debuted in the United States on CBS on February 1, 2004 after Super Bowl XXXVIII. It was set on the Pearl Islands of Panama, where the previous Survivor: Pearl Islands had just finished...
. As part of the Mogo Mogo tribe, Morasca and her tribe won immunity in the first two episodes. However, in episode three, Morasca decided to quit the game, regretting leaving her dying mother, who had been in a battle with cancer for 12 years. Her mother died eight days after Jenna returned home.
In 2005, Morasca replaced Richard Hatch
Richard Hatch (reality TV)
Richard "Rich" Hatch is the $1,000,000 winner of the first American Survivor series, and was a contestant on The Celebrity Apprentice 4.-Early life:...
as co-host (with Dalton Ross) of CBS's Survivor Live
Survivor Live
Survivor Live was an internet talk-show about the television series Survivor.The show premiered at the beginning of Survivor: Vanuatu - Islands of Fire as a result of the popularity of House Calls: The Big Brother Talk Show, which began airing the previous summer during Big Brother 5...
, an internet talk show devoted to the current season of Survivor. She has since hosted the show throughout five entire seasons - Survivor: Palau
Survivor: Palau
Survivor: Palau is the tenth season of the United States reality show Survivor. Its preview appeared during the final episode of Survivor: Vanuatu. Survivor: Palau premiered on February 17, 2005. The complete season, including the Live Reunion Show, was released on DVD by CBS Home Video on August...
, Survivor: Guatemala
Survivor: Guatemala
Survivor: Guatemala — The Maya Empire, commonly referred to as Survivor: Guatemala, is the eleventh season of the American CBS competitive reality television series Survivor. The season was filmed in the Yaxhá-Nakúm-Naranjo National Park near the more popular Tikal National Park, located in...
, Survivor: Panama
Survivor: Panama
Survivor: Panama — Exile Island, also known as Survivor: Exile Island and Survivor: Panama, is the twelfth season of the American CBS competitive reality television series Survivor. The season was filmed in the Pearl Islands, off the coast of Panama. This location was previously used for Survivor:...
, Survivor: Cook Islands
Survivor: Cook Islands
Survivor: Cook Islands is the thirteenth season of the American CBS competitive reality television series Survivor, having premiered on September 14, 2006...
and Survivor: Fiji.
The Amazing Race
In 2011, Morasca and her boyfriend, fellow Survivor winner Ethan ZohnEthan Zohn
Ethan Zohn is an American reality television series contestant who won $1,000,000 on Survivor: Africa, the third season of the reality TV series Survivor. He also appeared on the All-Stars edition of the show. After winning Survivor he co-founded Grassroot Soccer, which uses soccer to raise money...
, participated in the 19th season
The Amazing Race 19
The Amazing Race 19 is the nineteenth installment of the reality television show The Amazing Race. The Amazing Race 19 features several teams of two, each with a pre-existing relationship, in a race around the world. The 19th season premiered on September 25, 2011.The nineteenth cycle started on...
of The Amazing Race
The Amazing Race (U.S. TV series)
The Amazing Race is an American reality game show in which teams of two or four race around the world against other teams, with the first-place team winning $1,000,000. As the original version of the Amazing Race franchise, the CBS program has been running since 2001 and is airing its nineteenth...
. They checked-in at fourth place in the opening leg. In the first ever double elimination leg Morasca and Zohn placed in 9th, just sparing them from elimination. However, they were asked to return to the orphanage visited in that leg to deliver all their money resulting in them been dropping to 10th place and their elimination.
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Morasca made her professional wrestling debut on the March 12, 2009 episode of Total Nonstop Action WrestlingTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling is a privately held professional wrestling promotion founded by Jeff Jarrett and Jerry Jarrett. The company broadcasts its events on television and the Internet fifty two weeks a year with over a million weekly viewers on its primary television program, Impact...
's Impact!
TNA iMPACT!
Impact Wrestling is a professional wrestling television program for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling that currently airs in the United States and Canada on Spike...
program, in a backstage interview with Mick Foley
Mick Foley
Michael Francis "Mick" Foley, Sr. is an American semi-retired professional wrestler, author, comedian, actor, voice actor and former color commentator. He has worked for many wrestling promotions, including WWE, WCW, ECW and TNA. He is often referred to as "The Hardcore Legend", a nickname he...
. She then appeared in backstage segments with Kevin Nash
Kevin Nash
Kevin Scott Nash is an American professional wrestler and actor. As of 2011, Nash is signed to a five year contract with WWE under their WWE Legends program and appears as part of their Raw brand roster...
and his alliance The Main Event Mafia
The Main Event Mafia
The Main Event Mafia was a heel stable in the professional wrestling promotion Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
. It was later revealed by Kurt Angle
Kurt Angle
Kurt Steven Angle is an American professional wrestler, amateur wrestler, and 1996 Olympic gold medalist. He is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he is recognized as a 15-time World Heavyweight Champion...
that Morasca was the financial backer to the Mafia, and the money she provided was used to lure Samoa Joe
Samoa Joe
Nuufolau Joel "Joe" Seanoa is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Samoa Joe. He is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling....
to the stable. Morasca was regularly seen bickering with fellow Mafia valet Sharmell, leading to a catfight backstage on the May 28 edition of Impact!. On the July 9 edition of Impact it was revealed that Morasca had hired Awesome Kong
Kia Stevens
Kia Michelle Stevens , better known by her ring names Amazing Kong, Awesome Kong and Kharma. She is signed with WWE, but has been inactive since May 2011 due to pregnancy...
to train her for her upcoming match against Sharmell at Victory Road
Victory Road (2009)
Victory Road was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , which took place on July 19, 2009 at the TNA Impact! Zone in Orlando, Florida...
. Morasca won her in-ring debut against Sharmell at Victory Road after Kong knocked Sharmell out. After the match, Morasca slapped Kong, who then slammed her down to the mat and splashed her.
Other television appearances
Morasca was a contestant on a the February 28, 2005 episode of Fear FactorFear Factor
Fear Factor is an American stunt/dare reality game show. The original Dutch version was called Now or Neverland. When Endemol USA and NBC adapted it to the American market in 2001, they changed the name to Fear Factor. The show pits contestants against each other in a variety of stunts for a...
, which starred former reality television contestants. She was eliminated in the second round by Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth
Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth
Omaroseonee Manigault-Stallworth , usually known simply as Omarosa, is a two-time participant on Donald Trump's television reality show The Apprentice.-Early life:Manigault-Stallworth was born in Youngstown, Ohio...
.
She appeared in the premiere episode of Celebrity Paranormal Project
Celebrity Paranormal Project
Celebrity Paranormal Project is a paranormal reality television series that originally aired from October 22, 2006 to November 1, 2007 on VH1. The show is currently on hiatus, so it is unknown if VH1 will re-air the show and begin with a second season...
on VH-1, along with other notables such as Gary Busey
Gary Busey
William Gary Busey , best known as Gary Busey, is an American film and stage actor and artist. He has appeared in a large variety of films, as well as making regular appearances on Gunsmoke, Walker, Texas Ranger, Law & Order, and Entourage...
.
Morasca and Zohn also appeared together as guest sous chefs on the Food Network
Food Network
Food Network is a television specialty channel that airs both one-time and recurring programs about food and cooking. Scripps Networks Interactive owns 70 percent of the network, with Tribune Company controlling the remaining 30 percent....
show Dinner: Impossible
Dinner: Impossible
Dinner: Impossible is an American television program broadcast by the Food Network. The first episode aired on January 24, 2007. Food Network began airing the eighth season on March 3, 2010....
, and on the fourth season of the Celebrity Apprentice
The Apprentice (U.S. season 11)
The Celebrity Apprentice 4 is the eleventh installment of the United States version of the reality television series, The Apprentice. On May 16, 2010, NBC announced that the show would be returning to its Celebrity Apprentice format after returning to its regular version for the tenth season of...
, in which they supported their former Survivor castmate Richard Hatch was a contestant.
Other media
Morasca's strip with fellow contestant Heidi Strobel led to a spread in PlayboyPlayboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
magazine, which reportedly earned her yet another million dollars. She also appeared near-nude in an anti-fur ad for PETA
Peta
Peta can refer to:* peta-, an SI prefix denoting a factor of 1015* Peta, Greece, a town in Greece* Peta, the Pāli word for a Preta, or hungry ghost in Buddhism* Peta Wilson, an Australian actress and model* Peta Todd, English glamour model...
with her boyfriend, Survivor: Africa
Survivor: Africa
Survivor: Africa is the third season of the United States reality show Survivor. It was filmed during 2001 and aired from October 11, 2001 - January 10, 2002 on CBS. It was set in Kenya's Shaba National Reserve on the African continent....
winner Ethan Zohn
Ethan Zohn
Ethan Zohn is an American reality television series contestant who won $1,000,000 on Survivor: Africa, the third season of the reality TV series Survivor. He also appeared on the All-Stars edition of the show. After winning Survivor he co-founded Grassroot Soccer, which uses soccer to raise money...
that featured the slogan "We'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur!" In addition, Morasca modeled swimwear and was the CEO of a model scouting company called Model Challenge USA, which she founded in 2004.
In 2003, Morasca had a part in the Off Broadway play Pieces.
Morasca also had a minor role in the made-for-TV movie The Scorned
The Scorned
The Scorned is a 2005 horror movie. It was the first movie cast entirely with the people from previous reality television series. The movie was filmed during the E! behind-the-scenes reality show Kill Reality....
in 2005.
Morasca and Zohn also star in "The Watcher", a 20 minute horror movie included in the Drive-In Horror Show series,
Personal life
In 2004, Morasca was on the Board of DirectorsBoard of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
for Animal Friends in Pittsburgh.
Morasca began dating fellow Survivor champion Ethan Zohn
Ethan Zohn
Ethan Zohn is an American reality television series contestant who won $1,000,000 on Survivor: Africa, the third season of the reality TV series Survivor. He also appeared on the All-Stars edition of the show. After winning Survivor he co-founded Grassroot Soccer, which uses soccer to raise money...
after her victory on Survivor: The Amazon
Survivor: The Amazon
Survivor: The Amazon is the sixth season of the United States reality show Survivor. It was filmed in 2002 and 13 episodes aired weekly in the United States on CBS from February 13 - May 11, 2003....
in 2003. As of February 2008, they both live in Manhattan, though not together.
In wrestling
- Signature moves
- Super Sexy Straddle (Face sit straddle pin, with theatrics)
- Wrestlers managedManager (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
- Kevin NashKevin NashKevin Scott Nash is an American professional wrestler and actor. As of 2011, Nash is signed to a five year contract with WWE under their WWE Legends program and appears as part of their Raw brand roster...
- Kevin Nash
- ManagersManager (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
- Awesome Kong
- Entrance themesMusic in professional wrestlingMusic in professional wrestling serves a variety of purposes. The most common uses of music in professional wrestling is that of the entrance theme, a song or piece of instrumental music which plays as a performer approaches the ring...
- "I Will Survive" by Dale OliverDale OliverDale Byron Oliver is an American music composer who works for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. Formerly a guitarist in BackHawk , Oliver serves mainly as a composer of theme music used in professional wrestling.-Music composer for TNA:Since 2003, Oliver writes, records, and produces music under...
(TNA)
- "I Will Survive" by Dale Oliver
Championships and accomplishments
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- Worst Worked Match of the Year (2009) vs. Sharmell at Victory RoadVictory Road (2009)Victory Road was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , which took place on July 19, 2009 at the TNA Impact! Zone in Orlando, Florida...
- Worst Worked Match of the Year (2009) vs. Sharmell at Victory Road
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | The Scorned The Scorned The Scorned is a 2005 horror movie. It was the first movie cast entirely with the people from previous reality television series. The movie was filmed during the E! behind-the-scenes reality show Kill Reality.... |
Angie | TV movie |
| 2007 | Hack! | Tim's Girlfriend | Direct to DVD |
| 2009 | End Game | Carol Peterlake | |
| Drive-In Horrorshow | Cherry |