Jenna Morasca (born February 15, 1981) 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 10th on the second (double elimination) episode.
Early life
Morasca was born and still resides near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She is an only child. Before appearing on Survivor, Morasca was a college student at the University of Pittsburgh, where she was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha. She also worked as a swimsuit model.
Television career
Survivor
Morasca's Survivor 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.
The Amazing Race
In 2011, Morasca and her boyfriend, fellow Survivor winner Ethan Zohn, 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.[episode needed]
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Morasca made her professional wrestling debut on the March 12, 2009 episode of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling'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.
Other television appearances
Morasca was a contestant on a the February 28, 2005 episode of Fear Factor, 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,[episode needed] and on the fourth season of the Celebrity Apprentice, 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 Playboy 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,
In 2004, Morasca was on the Board of Directors 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.
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