Eliza Orlins

Eliza Orlins
Orlins on a U.S. military tour in 2008
Born (1982-12-25) December 25, 1982 (age 41)
New York City, New York, U.S.
EducationSyracuse University (BA)
Fordham University (JD)
Political partyDemocratic
RelativesStephen Orlins (father)
WebsiteOfficial website

Eliza Orlins (born December 25, 1982) is an American public defender. [1] She is best known for her appearances on Survivor and The Amazing Race. Orlins is also a public defender with The Legal Aid Society. In 2020, she announced her candidacy for the 2021 New York County District Attorney election; she finished 7th in the Democratic primary.

Early life

Orlins was born in New York City, and grew up between New York and China. She attended Hong Kong International School while in Hong Kong, and Sidwell Friends School after returning to the United States.[2] Orlins graduated summa cum laude from Syracuse University (2005), and cum laude from Fordham University School of Law (2008).[3][4][5][6] She is Jewish, and her grandmother escaped Nazi persecution by fleeing Paris during World War II.[7][8]

Eliza's father, Stephen Orlins, has served as the president of the National Committee on United States–China Relations since 2005.[9] Eliza's mother, Washington, D.C.–based writer Susan Orlins, appeared on the 11th episode of Survivor: Vanuatu as part of the loved ones visit challenge, which Eliza won.[10] Eliza has two younger sisters, Sabrina and Emily,[11] the former of whom was adopted from Beijing.[12]

Survivor

Vanuatu

Main article: Survivor: Vanuatu

In 2004, Orlins competed on the ninth season of the CBS reality show Survivor, entitled Survivor: Vanuatu. Orlins started the season sorted onto the all-female Yasur tribe.[13] Orlins caught the ire of her alliance when she flipped to vote out an indecisive swing voter in Dolly Neely in the second episode.[14] At the merge, the six remaining female castaways re-aligned,[15] and the group voted out their male competitors until only Chris Daugherty remained. Despite Daugherty losing immunity, Leann Slaby sought to eliminate Orlins. After Daugherty was informed by Julie Berry that he was safe, he successfully worked with Twila Tanner and Scout Cloud Lee to convince Orlins to vote out Slaby.[16] After Ami Cusack was voted out, Orlins re-aligned with Berry due to her dislike of Tanner. Orlins then won immunity, but was unsuccessful in convincing Daugherty, resulting in Berry's elimination.[17] Orlins was then the 15th person voted out the next day during the finale on Day 37, finishing in 4th place.[18]

Micronesia

Main article: Survivor: Micronesia
Orlins (second from left) and fellow Survivor: Micronesia castaways Yau-Man Chan (first from left) and Cirie Fields (first from right) pose with U.S. Army Master Sgt. Kieth Caraman at Camp As Sayliyah.

Orlins returned seven seasons later on Survivor: Micronesia.[19] Orlins started the season on the returnee player Malakal tribe. Orlins formed an alliance with Ami Cusack, Yau-Man Chan, and Jonathan Penner. Despite being targeted by an opposing alliance, Orlins survived the first Tribal Council after Jonny Fairplay asked to be voted out to be with his pregnant girlfriend.[20] However, in the following days, all of Orlins's original allies had been eliminated leaving Orlins as the target of Parvati Shallow when the tribes merged in the ninth episode. After Jason Siska won individual immunity, he agreed to give Orlins what he believed to be a hidden immunity idol, which in reality was a stick carved by Ozzy Lusth. Orlins was then eliminated, becoming the first member of the season's jury.[21]

Other television appearances

The Amazing Race

Main article: The Amazing Race 31

In 2018,[22] Orlins competed on the thirty-first season of The Amazing Race, which aired in 2019 and featured teams from CBS reality shows Big Brother, Survivor, and The Amazing Race, with fellow Survivor contestant Corinne Kaplan.[23] In the fourth episode Kaplan and Orlins fell behind after Orlins struggled with a task that involved driving a scooter through a driving test course in Ho Chi Minh City. The two finished in last place after checking-in at the finish mat behind Rachel Reilly and Elissa Slater and were eliminated in ninth place.[24]

Other appearances

Orlins has also appeared on Reality Obsessed,[25] The Dr. Oz Show,[26] and The Beat with Ari Melber.[27]

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2004 Survivor: Vanuatu Contestant 15th eliminated
2008 Survivor: Micronesia Contestant 9th eliminated
2019 The Amazing Race 31 Contestant with Corinne Kaplan 3rd eliminated

After graduating from law school, Orlins worked as a public defender for The Legal Aid Society.[28][29] Over a decade, Orlins represented over 3,000 clients.[30]

2021 Manhattan District Attorney primary

On March 5, 2020, Orlins announced her candidacy for the New York County District Attorney Democratic primary to replace incumbent district attorney Cyrus Vance Jr.[31] Orlins finished seventh in the Democratic primary with 4.2% of the vote.[32]

References

  1. ^ Ross, Dalton (January 6, 2021). "Survivor Quarantine Questionnaire: Eliza Orlins reveals Micronesia almost ended in a tie". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  2. ^ Reynolds, Donna (August 20, 2004). "Syracuse University Senior to Appear on Next Survivor". The Post-Standard. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  3. ^ "Eliza - Survivor Cast Member" – via www.cbs.com.
  4. ^ Paul, Deanna (May 17, 2021). "Manhattan District Attorney Election: A Guide to the Eight Democratic Candidates". Wall Street Journal – via www.wsj.com.
  5. ^ Krakauer, Steve (September 15, 2004). "Alpha Phi sister spends summer on cast of 'Survivor'". The Daily Orange. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  6. ^ Awit, Jujemay (March 13, 2017). "'Survivor' favorite meets fans in Cebu". SunStar. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  7. ^ @elizaorlins (15 September 2017). "I am a Jewish woman and a public..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  8. ^ Kassel, Matthew (June 19, 2020). "Eliza Orlins's amazing race". Jewish Insider. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
  9. ^ "Stephen A. Orlins, President". National Committee on United States–China Relations. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  10. ^ Lei, Richard (December 2, 2004). "The Reliable Source". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  11. ^ McQuiston, John (October 26, 1992). "Millionaire and Comptroller Square Off". The New York Times. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  12. ^ Kassel, Matthew (June 19, 2020). "Eliza Orlins's amazing race". Jewish Insider. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  13. ^ Susman, Gary (August 17, 2004). "Meet the Survivor: Vanuatu cast". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  14. ^ "Dolly Neely gets fleeced, becomes second contestant to be booted from 'Survivor: Vanuatu'". Reality TV World. September 24, 2004. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  15. ^ "Rory Freeman becomes the ninth contestant to be booted from 'Survivor: Vanuatu'". Reality TV World. November 5, 2004. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  16. ^ "Leann Slaby becomes the twelfth castaway to be booted from 'Survivor: Vanuatu'". Reality TV World. November 26, 2004. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  17. ^ "Julie Berry becomes the fourteenth castaway to be booted from 'Survivor: Vanuatu'". Reality TV World. December 10, 2004. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  18. ^ "Chris Daugherty defeats Twila Tanner to win 'Survivor: Vanuatu'". Reality TV World. December 13, 2004. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  19. ^ Ross, Dalton (January 3, 2008). "New 'Survivor' cast revealed!". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  20. ^ Rocchio, Christopher (February 8, 2008). "Jon 'Jonny Fairplay' Dalton first castaway cut from 'Survivor: Micronesia'". Reality TV World. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  21. ^ Rocchio, Christopher (April 11, 2008). "Eliza Orlins the eleventh castaway cut from 'Survivor: Micronesia'". Reality TV World. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  22. ^ Andy Dehnart (June 10, 2018). "Amazing Race season 31 teams: a 'reality clash' of TAR vs. Big Brother vs. Survivor". reality blurred. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  23. ^ Vick, Megan (April 5, 2019). "The Amazing Race 31 Trailer Introduces Fan Favorites to Big Brother Houseguests and Survivor Castaways". TV Guide. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  24. ^ Walker, Jodi (May 9, 2019). "The Amazing Race recap: A very picky polar bear". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  25. ^ "2025 The Blonde Ambition". Reality Obsessed. Archived from the original on December 22, 2010. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  26. ^ "Bethenny Frankel: How Skinny Is Too Skinny? & Dangerous Dog Food". The Dr. Oz Show. Season 6. Episode 159. May 12, 2015. Fox.
  27. ^ "'Survivor' contestant on what 'Apprentice's' Mark Burnett taught Trump". MSNBC. September 5, 2017. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  28. ^ Jim Dwyer (February 11, 2014). "Facing Jail Time, Until a Lawyer With Survival Skills Helped Her Find Her Way". The New York Times. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  29. ^ James C. McKinley Jr.; Stephanie Clifford (January 7, 2015). "As Police Go Idle, So Do New York City Courts". The New York Times. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  30. ^ King, Nelson (March 13, 2020). "Public Defender Eliza Orlins runs for Manhattan District Attorney". Caribbean Life News. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  31. ^ Wester, Jane (March 5, 2020). "Public Defender Promises Major Change as She Joins Crowded Field for 2021 Manhattan District Attorney Race". New York Law Journal. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  32. ^ "Eliza Orlins". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
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