Meet the 'Survivor 45' Cast! Julie Alley Has a Resume Stacked with Second Chances
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In 2015, Julie Alley was ironing a shirt and mindlessly flipped on Survivor: Second Chance. She was instantly enamored, particularly with the theme. And it's easy to see why, considering the 49-year-old had recently undergone her own "second chance" at life, using a chance encounter at her divorce mediation to restart her life and go to law school at 40. As the oldest castaway this season, she knows her archetype makes her an early target. But if she can find the right strength to join up with, the estate planning attorney won't have to be writing her own Survivor will anytime soon.
Read on for my interview with Julie, and check in with Parade.com every day for interviews with this season's contestants and other tidbits. Survivor 45 premieres on September 27 with a 90-minute premiere on CBS.
Related: Meet the Full Cast of Survivor 45
Interview with Julie from Survivor 45
To start, tell me about yourself.
My name is Julie Alley. I'm from Nashville, Tennessee. I'm an attorney.
Right, you had written in your bio that you're a bit late to becoming an attorney.
I am, I am. I started law school at the age of 40. I finished in four years; it was night classes, and passed the bar first time. I'm 49, so I've been doing it for five years now.
Wow, congratulations! So what prompts making such a major pivot at 40?
Doesn't everybody start over? No. At 39, I found myself in the divorce attorney's office. And I was in mediation. Well, I went to walk in, and I waited forever. And then somebody came out and said, "Are you Julie Alley?" And I said, "Yeah." And they're like, "Ah, I'm so sorry to keep you waiting. We thought you were the new associate in the office. Come right this way." And I went, "I'm almost 40. Why does she think I'm the new…?"
So, I go through mediation, which is grueling and terrible. But all I'm doing is, "This is my new life. This is what I'm gonna do." Because I have two kids, they're in middle school at that point. And so I remember I called my mom because she was watching my kids. And she was like, "How's mediation going?" And I was like, "Screw mediation. I'm being an attorney!" She went, "Yes, you are!" And I was like, "Yeah, I am!" Because it was that point when I was like, "My life is either over. Why not start over?" So I did. I immediately took the test to get into law school, and I did it. So, I graduated law school within a week of my daughter graduating high school. We took our cap and gown pictures! It was very great. [Laughs.]
You obviously have the capacity to make changes and moves in your life. So, what made you decide that this would be yet another move to make all the way to Fiji? Why Survivor for you?
So another also extremely important part is that in my first year of law school, I'm teaching art classes during the day, and I'm doing law school at night. I'm raising two kids. It was busy. But I like things busy. I go, go, go. But I was ironing something, and I turned on the TV, which I didn't watch that often. I didn't have much time for that. But [in] 2015, Second Chance Cambodia was on. And I watched it. I'm like, "What am I watching? What is going on? Why is Fishbach obsessed with Joe? Who are these people?" I was sucked in. And it was this big old school versus new school thing going on. I mean, it was a great season.
So I'm watching it. And I went, "I want to be on this show." Because all those survivors were getting a second chance. And it was like my second chance at life. I was just like, "I'm starting over. Look at them getting another chance. This is my chance." And I kind of just have been obsessed since. My kids are grown. My son is a junior in college. My daughter's getting her Master's in Counseling right now. So they're gone. I finished law school. I was like, "Let's do it." So, the minute I was done with law school, I started applying. Because I was like, "They don't need me. Let's do this."
Let's put this obsession to the test. Give me a Survivor winner and a non-winner who you identify with the most.
Such a good question. So Cirie, I identify [with]. Get off the couch, get on the show. I mean, that rings true for me. And she did not win. But dang it, she was an inspiration! So I most identify with that. So many good winners out there. I'm not similar to Sandra. I mean, she's just a powerhouse, but I can't help it. She is the queen of Survivor. And I just adore her. I mean, she played different. She played not to lose. But it worked for her.
And I'm 49 years old, I'm going after these younguns. They're always like, "What is your strategy?" And I don't want to talk a big game, and I want to act like I got this strategy, and I'm gonna get to know 'em and fly under the radar. But I've got this huge target on my back. I can't talk. I do have twentysomethings as children. So I can do it a little bit, but as a mom. But I don't want to not be me. That's one thing they will see through. You can't just be like, "Yeah, yeah, I know what you're talking about!" So I can't fake it. I don't want to get cut first. I guess if I can avoid the target long enough, then I can play the game. So that's what I would take [from] Sandra.
Let's talk about your perception a bit. You talk about the demo of the older woman and how that obviously varies over the course of Survivor history. How are you really thinking about the way that people are going to view you? And is that something you want to play into? Do you want to be the mom of the tribe?
That's so hard to foresee. I mean, hindsight is gonna be 20/20. I mostly want to build connections. I'm good at that. I mean, that's my job. I'm an estate planning attorney now. I gotta get people's trust; they gotta tell me everything. But I've got a suit in those interviews. [Laughs.] They come knowing that I'm going to take care of them. We have the roles established.
But I want to build that connection. I mean, in all the seasons, they keep people around that are not annoying that they should cut. "Oh, my God, just don't be annoying," is what I tell myself. [Laughs.] If I can just be useful, and I'm a hard worker. But that's the first stage, and there's so many stages of it. So first stage is just don't go to Tribal; be tribe strong. So if I could build that and be useful, that would get me, I'm hoping!
Like you said, you love to keep your planner stacked to the nines. Have you been able to put the time into preparing for the show? What have the steps you've been taking in the months leading up to this?
That's a very good question. When I didn't make it last year, I finished training for a half marathon. But I tailed that down for this year, because I'm like, "What good does that do me out on an island?" [Laughs.] So I'm typically a 5:15 riser so I can get my workout in. But, like I said, I stay busy. But my kids are out of the house. So it's me and my dog. So we go for runs, we work out, and then I can work throughout the day. And I gave up caffeine months ago. It was very sad. But it was those kinds of things that I'm like, "Nope, you don't need to need anything." I've been sleeping well. But I'm like, "You're not always gonna get to sleep. Nope, go ahead and get up. Go work out. What are you going to do? Let's do it."
And I've been watching the show like it's my homework. And it's painful! When you know you're gonna be on it, and then you watch the show, it's not as fun. [Whispers.] But it's not as fun. It's hard! Because it's fun sitting on your couch going, "Ah, I can't believe they did that. This is what I would do." And I'm the biggest fan, so I will completely pull that. But knowing you're gonna be one of 'em, I pause it and go, "Okay, what would I do right there? I dunno, I gotta see what they did!" It's a lot.
Give me one life experience you feel has prepared you most for the game. Was it this transition into law, or was there something else you feel will play more on the beach?
I think it's my willingness to adapt. Not just going from stay-at-home mom, art teacher to attorney. But also just my life being an attorney, getting my first job, sticking with it, maneuvering my way through that firm. I'm working on a transition with another firm right now. I told them, "Hey, this is awesome. I'm so excited. But I'm gonna need a little bit of time before I come." Because how do you explain being gone for five weeks? So I'm like, "I haven't taken a vacation in 10 years." And then they're like, "Oh, good idea!"
So, with those things, how to maneuver, it feels like my life has been made for Survivor. Before I even started the law class, I didn't know how to be a stay-at-home mom and pay bills. I started being a muralist. I'm not that good at art. But if I could see it, I could paint it. So, I started a whole mural company. Then 2008 hit. I mostly did churches at the time. But let me be honest with you: people tithe last, not first. So, the churches jobs are gone. So then I was like, "Okay, I will teach classes out of my home." I did that; I needed more money. I became a nanny. I took four extra kids for four years. So I feel like my whole life has been surviving, which is, I think, why I like the game. It's a challenge. It's adaptation. It's what do you do when things go bad? Do you thrive or die? And I'm like, "Let's do this." And now I'm here! What have I done?
Related: Everything to Know About Survivor 45
What do you desire in an alliance partner?
Great question. So, in my mind, my first phase is "let's not go to Tribal." We gotta win. I see that over and over. And, I mean, you might watch me, and I play it different, but I'm like, "Don't cut the strong players!" I don't care if they snore! I don't care if they're annoying! Win! So, for me, my plan, as of now–and maybe I'll adapt, we will see–is to pick a strong player. Now, will that hurt me? Because I'm a loyalist. Oh my gosh. And that could hurt me. But I do plan on, if I make an alliance, I want to prove strong to that alliance. But I also kind of want to be truthful and be like, "Dude, I got your back to merge."
If that will hurt me, that might hurt me. But that's honest, because I'm like, "That's a whole separate game. Let's do a second game." But the first game, which is just a little Sandra in me, let's just make it. [Laughs.] I want to be like, "I got your back," if you're a strong player. But it doesn't necessarily mean strength. We need the smart puzzle people. And that's why I've been working hard not to be a weak link. I mean, I'm not going to compete with the twentysomethings on my best day. [Laughs.] I've got no illusions of that. I just don't want to be seen as the weakest link. So, a good alliance would be a strong player.
When it comes to perceptions, is there anyone at this time before the season that you're eyeballing as people you do or don't want to work with?
I don't have any. I mean, it's only eye contact, so it's only just like…[Widens eyes and smiles.] looking. But I'm sizing people up. And even those that don't look really strong, I don't want to stereotype, but I'm kind of like, "You're smart, aren't you?" I try to look and be like, "Oh yeah, you're doing that sudoku. How fast are you doing it? Okay, there's promise there. I see you." So, I'm gonna go with what cards I get dealt. We will see.
Let's say a boat shows up to your camp on Day 2, asking for one person to go on a journey. How would you approach the situation?
I'm gonna try and let someone else go. The last couple of seasons, it's really about risking your vote. And I'm sure everybody's got their own thoughts on this. But I mean, I started watching, like I said, [in] 2015. That vote is your life. And everybody's like, "I gotta risk it." I mean, but why? Just because you've got the chance? I don't understand that logic. "Well, here's a chance. I gotta risk it." But now a lot of it is they're forcing you to. It's like, "Hey, you've already lost it." So I don't want to give that up. I think that that's just power in the game. So I would send someone else.
What is your hottest Survivor take?
Well, that's a good question. I worked really hard in my life not to be controversial. [Laughs.] So I hadn't thought of that. It could be what I just said, which is, that I feel like there's pressure to take risks. But I'm like, "I am taking risks. I'm on this show!" But I think the best thing to do is to make it to the end. I don't agree that you have to take every risk that's thrown at you. So, I don't think that makes me a weak player either. I think it makes me a strong player.
What celebrity or fictional character would you want to come out for a Loved Ones visit?
[Laughs.] Goodness. That's hard! If it's up for a family visit, even with many celebrities, man, I'd stay in Survivor world. I'd bring out Boston Rob if he could come. And I'd pretend like we were buddies. [Laughs.] Like, "Yeah, this is uncle, cousin Boston Rob." He's my age. So I didn't mean to insult him. [Laughs.] And I'd be like, "Dude, tell me what to do here." Yeah, I would probably stay with Survivor world. I mean, get all the advantages you can get, even if it's a fictional question. [Laughs.] I'm going with it.
Next, check out our Survivor 45 interview with contestant Janani "J. Maya" Krishnan-Ja.
