The striking similarities between Australian Survivor 2025‘s Logan Johannisen and former contestant Shonee Bowtell have led to ongoing fan comparisons and even a later-season placement by casting.
However, Logan has told Chattr that while she’s flattered by the comparison, she wants to be recognised for playing her own game.
Shonee first appeared in the 2018 Champions V Contenders season of Australian Survivor and went on to compete on All Stars and Heroes v Villains. She will return again later this year for Survivor: Australia v The World.
Logan told Chattr that producers were initially interested in casting her in 2018 but decided against it.
“They told me that I was a bit too similar archetype to Shonee on that first Champions versus Contenders season.”
Shonee and Logan are similar in age and undoubtedly have strong social skills. Not to mention, back in 2018, they both had professional athletes as partners—Logan is now married to AFL player Jason Johannisen, who she’s been with for eight years, and Shonee split from her pro-skater husband Benny Fairfax in 2021.
But the Brains v Brawn II player said that while she’s flattered to be compared to Shonee, who holds the record for most days lasted of any contestant in Australian Survivor, she wants to create her own legacy.
“It is such a compliment because Shonee was an incredible game player. She’s been called back for four seasons. You don’t get called back for four seasons without being a fan favourite and really, really good at the game.
“But I’m not Shonee. I’m Logan. So it’s really frustrating at times to not be seen as your own person, especially when we’re playing very different games.
“We both have very big social personalities, and we were both quite strategic at the game, but we have a completely different approach, so whilst it’s a huge compliment, I would really love to be just seen as myself.”
How Logan thinks her Survivor gameplay differs from Shonee’s
Like Shonee, Logan has won over most of her teammates (aside from AJ) with her charming personality and strong social game.
However, Logan pointed out that there are plenty of differences between her and Shonee’s Survivor strategies.
“I think I’m a bit harsher, to be completely honest,” Logan laughed.
“I think Shonee is mostly really sweet. Well, she came across as really sweet to everyone, whereas I didn’t really mind if I had to burn some bridges, and I was willing to get my hands a bit dirtier.
“I was really a bit more forthcoming with my opinion in front of everyone, and I loved a good debate out there. So I think the sassiness, we really have that in common. But I think I’m a tad harsher than Shonee.”
Why Logan’s happy that she was pushed to a later season of Survivor
Although Logan missed out on being cast on Survivor 2018 because of the likeness between the two women, she told Chattr she’s glad she didn’t play when she was 21.
“I don’t think I was mentally ready at all,” the 28-year-old explained. “I told them that in my next chats over the years, I didn’t think I was ready at the time, and I’m glad I didn’t go on then because it is so mentally tough. It’s challenging.”
Logan said that while she was with her now-husband when she first applied for the show, the couple hadn’t had kids yet. She explained that she drew strength during the gruelling Australian Survivor 2025 challenges when she thought of her daughter Lola and son Ziggy.
“The hard challenges, like when you’re standing on pegs that are about to push through the soles of your feet, so when you go to your happy place, you’re really picturing your family and everything that makes you strong. And I’m not sure that mentally I was there yet when I was a bit younger.”
Like Logan, Shonee is now a mum, too; she gave birth to her son, Vally, in December 2023. Could we see Vally and Ziggy in a future Survivor season? One can dream!
Australian Survivor airs at 7pm on Sundays and 7:30pm on Mondays and Tuesdays on Channel 10 and 10Play.
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