Barrel racer Sierra Dawn Thomas is part of the blue collar tribe on the upcoming Survivor: Worlds Apart and could use her very athletic background to her advantage.

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Sierra, 27, is one of 18 players competing on the next season of CBS's Survivor. Though she hails from Roy, Utah, she is a cowgirl at heart.

In her CBS bio, Sierra says that she was the National Champion Barrel Racer and All Around Cowgirl in High School Rodeo, ranking on the college level as well. Other hobbies include basketball, hunting and fishing.

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Sierra likens herself to three-time Survivor all-star Parvati Shallow "because she's not overly aggressive and uses her female traits to her advantage, she's a very intelligent woman."

Ultimately, she considers herself an athlete who is willing to push herself to the extreme, which can only help in the game of Survivor. As far as winning the game, she may use people's perception of her to her advantage.

"I am a 6'1" model and most people just see me as a pretty face, but I'm a cowgirl and rancher who doesn't mind doing a man's job," she says. "I am also an extreme athlete. I played basketball, volleyball and ran track and cross-country in high school (got offered a full ride scholarship for college basketball but decided to take the rodeo scholarship). I am a college student who's going to school for a master's in Criminal Justice with an emphasis in Corrections. I believe in strategizing and I am not afraid to push myself mentally and physically."

Survivor: Worlds Apart is set to premiere on Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.

Watch Sierra's cast introduction video via CBS below:

Tags: survivor Reality TV CBS