Roxboro Native Sage Ahrens-Nichols Never Played Sports, Barely Did a Push-Up, Fears Peeing Herself on Survivor 49
A former military veteran and mental health counselor shares her unlikely path to reality TV.
September 20, 2026
This article was last updated by Alisha Shrestha on September 19, 2026
Sage Ahrens-Nichols shares how she went from barely doing a push-up to competing on Survivor 49.
When Survivor 49 premieres on September 24, viewers will meet a cast filled with competitors ready to outwit, outplay, and outlast in Fiji.
Among them is 30-year-old Sage Ahrens-Nichols, a Roxboro, North Carolina native who admits she’s bringing some very unconventional worries into the game — including the fear of peeing herself during a challenge.
While most contestants cite fears of starvation, harsh weather, or grueling challenges, Sage has a different kind of concern.
“I’m not embarrassed by it, but I pee so much,” she confessed in an interview.
“I’ve already peed 20 times today. I had to pee off the side of the boat, had a really intimate moment with one of the PAs — it was great.”
That constant urge, she explained, comes suddenly and unpredictably.
“In challenges, we can’t pause those, and when I have to go, I got to go. That’s honestly the thing I’m most worried about.”
Her worry may sound lighthearted, but on Survivor, even the smallest quirk can become a major storyline.
Frequent trips into the jungle could make other castaways suspicious she’s searching for a hidden immunity idol, a risk in a game built on paranoia and perception.
Despite her unusual fear, Sage isn’t a stranger to tough environments.
She served 10 years in the military and grew up exploring the woods with her twin brothers in North Carolina.
“I’m not really worried about the elements,” she explained.
“It’s definitely the bathroom situation.”
Interestingly, Survivor wasn’t even her first reality TV dream.
Sage originally applied for Big Brother 25 in 2026 and nearly made the cut.
Looking back, she admits her bathroom situation may have been even worse there, where 16 roommates share limited facilities under the constant eye of live-feed cameras.
Unlike many contestants who spend months building their strength before Fiji, Sage admits she didn’t train like a typical athlete.
“Everyone’s always like, ‘I worked out six, seven days a week.’ I didn’t do any of that. I ate some shrooms,” she .
Her athletic background, or lack thereof, has been another hurdle.
“I never played sports growing up. When I got to the military, I could only do one push-up. Very problematic, because you have to do way more than one push-up,” she recalled.
Determined, she taught herself late at night by practicing next to her bunk and asking others for advice.
For Survivor 49, she focused instead on connecting mind, body, and spirit — even taking singing lessons to improve her breathing. She explained,
“Most of my life, I wasn’t connected to myself. Growing up in a small town, everyone pushes you in a lane. This past year, that’s been my sole focus.”
Whether her bathroom concerns turn into comic relief or a serious obstacle remains to be seen.
But what’s clear is that Sage Ahrens-Nichols is stepping into the game with honesty, vulnerability, and a willingness to embrace the unexpected.
As Survivor 49 launches its new season, fans will find out if this Roxboro native can turn her quirks into strengths and whether her biggest fear becomes her downfall — or simply part of her unforgettable story.
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