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Aaliyah Puglia

Providence chef and Survivor 51 contestant.

Biography

Aaliyah Puglia is a Providence-based chef who competed on Survivor 51 in 2026.

Aaliyah Puglia went from watching Survivor during the pandemic to applying with a phone video about her life and cooking. Her season ended at the first Tribal Council. In interviews before and after airing, she discussed her preparation, early alliances and decision to use the Shot in the Dark.

Known for

Contestant

Survivor 51

Aaliyah Puglia competed on Survivor 51 in 2026.[2]

Career highlights

  1. Career 1

    Discovering Survivor

    Her introduction to the show came during the pandemic, when she found Survivor: Cagayan on Netflix. What began as casual viewing developed into months of watching past seasons and a decision to apply herself.[3][1]

  2. Career 2

    The audition video

    Puglia described her audition to Ocean State Media as a straightforward recording made on her phone in her living room. She talked about her life, cooking and the ways her everyday work might translate to the competition. Rather than constructing an elaborate application, she said she focused on giving the producers a sense of who she was and why she wanted to play.[3]

  3. Career 3

    Early alliances

    On the island, Puglia quickly connected with Devin Way and Angelica Loblack. She told Parade after leaving the game that those relationships were central to her plans, and that she had also spoken strategically with Danny Kilby. The first challenge and the conversations afterward shifted the vote, putting her at risk during the season’s opening Tribal Council.[4]

  4. Career 4

    The first vote and Shot in the Dark

    Puglia became the first contestant voted out of season 51. In her exit interview, she said allies had warned her that her name was being discussed, which influenced her decision to use the Shot in the Dark advantage. The attempt did not protect her.[4][3]

  5. Career 5

    Reflecting on her exit

    Looking back, she acknowledged her own disappointing challenge performance while expressing appreciation for having had the chance to test herself.[4][3]