Michele Fitzgerald (‘The Challenge: USA’) on being called ‘underserving’ winner of ‘Survivor’ and that fight with Michaela: ‘I’m a mess’ [Exclusive Video Interview]

Michele Fitzgerald became the 14th contestant eliminated from “The Challenge: USA” on Thursday night, following her loss to Cassidy Clark in the arena. In the game “Hot Wheel,” Cassidy was the first to torch all six of her targets and sent the “Survivor 32” champ packing by a score of 6-1. Watch our exclusive video interview with the eliminated contestant above.

“I was so mentally and emotionally checked out at that point,” Michele tells Gold Derby senior editor Denton Davidson. “When you go in you have to have a fire to come back into the game.” Prior to the arena Michele got into a heated fight with Michaela Bradshaw, with whom she clashed all season. “She plays the game super logically and I play really emotionally,” she reveals. “We always wanted the same end goal, but it’s how we got there. She’s out in the sunlight and I play in the shadows. That buildup of the whole season ended up in this fight. I’m a mess, but it was edited to highlight the mess.”

SEE Tyler Crispen (‘The Challenge: USA’) on his ‘garbage’ alliance and who should win ‘Big Brother 25’ [Exclusive Video Interview]

Michele also opens up about her reputation of being the “undeserving winner” of “Survivor: Kaôh Rōng,” stating, “Your narrative sort of ends up owning you. I have a reputation in ‘The Challenge’ of being sneaky, and emotional and a meltdown. Those things stick with you. Once you have this reputation of who you are, it kind of takes on a life of its own. I always feel like I’m trying to break the stereotype of being undeserving or being snaky. I’m always fighting my own reputation. The more you try to fight it, the more it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy.”

Michele will next be seen on “The Challenge 39” titled “Battle for a New Champion” premiering Wednesday, October 25. See the full cast here.

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