Noura Salman

Noura Salman is a contestant on .
Noura's erratic and hyperactive personality put her on the chopping block on several occasions as she was seen as untrustworthy and a loose cannon, though she managed to stay in the game as bigger targets emerged. Despite her eccentricity, she proved to be a savvy player at times, playing a role in Molly Byman and Aaron Meredith's eliminations. Noura also proved her strength in individual challenges, winning three, including the Final Immunity Challenge. However, her gameplay was criticized by the jury, who believed that she was operating on her emotions instead of strategy, resulting in her finishing in as the second runner-up with no votes to win.
==Profile==
Retrieved from CBS.com
Age: 36
Hometown: London / Bethesda, Maryland
Current residence: North Potomac, Maryland
Occupation: Entrepreneur
Hobbies: Working out, creating healthy foods and beverages in the kitchen, traveling, and social media posting on self-help, food, and fitness.
Pet peeves: People lacking personal hygiene and table manners. I also cannot stand or be friends with people who are selfish, self-absorbed, or stingy.
Three words to describe you: Ambitious, passionate, and energetic.
What accomplishment are you most proud of? Experiencing the world, living in many places, trying many jobs, careers, and businesses. Exploring many different people and relationships; going out on my own and making my own living and path best suited for me!
Who or what is your inspiration in life? My mom. She is the most generous, loving, thoughtful, hardworking, and humble person I know. She has always encouraged us to "be ourselves" and do what makes us happy. She struggled financially for 20 years and emotionally in her marriage to my dad, but still gave us the world—happily and gracefully.
What's one thing we wouldn't know from seeing a photo of you? I love frogs. I don't drink and have never done a drug or smoked a cigarette in my life.
Which Survivor contestant are you most like? Malcolm. Physically strong and great at puzzles and problem solving and genuinely liked by most people. And easy on the eyes. But underestimated with a low threat-factor like Fabio and Jud.[sic]
What's your primary motivation for being on Survivor? Finally use all of my talents, skills, and abilities and push myself to the highest physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual limits I've ever reached.
Why do you think you'll "survive" Survivor? I'm multidimensional and not just one thing or person. I'm the nerd, jock, and model with brains, brawn, and beauty. Most importantly, I have the social skills needed to both win and influence people, and relentless drive to go after what I want.http://web.archive.org/web/20230523030801/https://www.cbs.com/shows/survivor/cast/216248/
==Survivor==
Noura was initially placed on the Vokai tribe. When Jason Linden was being targeted for presumably searching for a Hidden Immunity Idol early on, Noura felt compelled to alert him. Despite forming a tight bond, they were still in trouble as they faced the prospect of going to Tribal Council on Day 6 on the outside of the majority. Though Noura's personality and camplife antics began to rub some players the wrong way, Noura identified that Molly Byman was in a powerful position. Others would come to that realization too and blindside Molly that night. 
On Day 9, Noura got the opportunity to visit the , where she received the opportunity to win a Vote Blocker if she could convince her tribe to let her be the caller in the upcoming Immunity Challenge. Noura rushed into this challenge to the surprise of Rob Mariano and Sandra Diaz-Twine. After getting caught up in her lies and performing poorly during their practice time at camp, Vokai chose to sit Noura out of the challenge, though they still ended up winning.
Though Noura lost her vote at her next Tribal Council due to failing the task, she found herself in the majority on the new Lairo tribe after a tribe switch on Day 12. When Lairo lost the next Immunity Challenge, Noura joined the original Vokai contingent to vote out Tom Laidlaw, but quickly tried to target her original tribemates Jack Nichting and Jamal Shipman for targeting her before the switch. Noura would get this opportunity when Kellee Kim recruited her in a plan to vote out Jack on Day 19. Kellee gave Dean Kowalski an idol, which after being played, meant that Noura's vote helped send Jack out of the game in a 2-0 blindside. However, after returning to camp, Noura ratted Kellee out, drawing an angry reaction from Kellee.
When the tribes merged into the Lumuwaku tribe the following day, Noura was part of the coalition that attempted to take out Dan Spilo, but after that plan failed, she briefly found herself in the outs. A Double Tribal Council twist on Day 27 saw Noura win her first individual Immunity Challenge. As part of the purple team, Noura was keen on taking out physical threat Aaron Meredith before outsider Janet Carbin, thus helping to send Aaron home that night. With the numbers back under the Vokai Alliance's control, Noura appeared to be in a comfortable position. At the loved ones' challenge on Day 31, Noura was able to see her sister Lana. However, Noura would not be picked by Janet and Tommy Sheehan to go on reward, causing her to go on a long tirade directed at her original tribemates. She formulated a plan with the outsiders to overthrow the alliance of Dan, Janet, Tommy, and Lauren Beck, but this crumbled when Dean leaked the plan to Tommy, leading to Karishma Patel being voted out.
Noura then found herself being targeted by Elaine Stott at the next vote in an act of self-preservation. Elaine explained to Janet and Lauren that Noura would likely take their spots at Final Tribal Council due to Noura's perceived status as a goat. The plan failed, and Elaine's vote out, coupled with Dan's ejection the next day, meant that Noura had a spot in the final five. When Dean won immunity on Day 37, he selected Noura to go on the reward with him. Noura was happy about the situation, even flirting with Dean, though he was just trying to get her on his side going into the crucial Final Immunity Challenge after she joined the majority in voting Janet out that night. Noura's third overall individual immunity win on Day 38 left her with a difficult choice to make on who to bring to the end, and which two tribemates she would force to compete in the fire-making challenge. A previous conversation with Tommy caused Noura to believe that he could not make fire, so in order to take out Lauren, who she believed to be the biggest remaining jury threat, she chose to have to her face Dean in the fire-making challenge. Lauren was upset with Noura, and further annoyed when Noura tried to explain her reasoning while she was practicing making fire. Noura stuck by her decision at Tribal Council that night; Dean won and eliminated Lauren, joining Tommy and herself in the Final Three.
At the Final Tribal Council, Noura tried to explain her game to the jury, but when she went off on a tangent, the jury quickly disregarded her and shut her out. She futilely attempted to argue that her gameplay was unique and effective, but despite receiving some praise for her challenge performances and authenticity, she was not awarded any jury votes and became the second runner-up to Tommy and Dean.
<tabber>Challenge History=
Episode 	TribeAffiliation 	Challenge 	Challenge Type 	Sit-Out? 	Result
1 	rowspan=4 	Tower of Equality 	Reward/Immunity 	No 	
2 	Rung O Star 	Reward/Immunity 	No 	 	
3 	Beam Me Up 	Reward/Immunity 	No 	 	
4 	Ow Pairs 	Reward/Immunity 	Yes 	 	
colspan=6 	 	 	 	 	
5 	rowspan=6 	Headlong Flight 	Reward 	No 	
5 	Discography 	Immunity 	No 	 	
6 	Heroes End 	Reward 	No 	 	
6 	Cage Against the Machine 	Immunity 	No 	 	
7 	Box Car Blues 	Reward 	No 	 	
7 	Faulty Towers 	Immunity 	No 	 	
colspan="6" 	 	 	 	 	
8 	rowspan=11 	Pegs Over Easy 	Immunity 	 	
8 	Raise the Roof 	Reward 	 	 	
8 	I Hold On 	Immunity 	 	 	
9 	We Will Go Round 	Reward/Immunity 	 	 	
10 	Crocodile Rock 	Immunity 	No 	 	
11 	Full Tilt Affair 	Reward 	 	 	
11 	Ballin' A Jack 	Immunity 	 	 	
12 	Unaired 	Reward 	 	 	
12 	Dizzy Miss Lizzy 	Immunity 	 	 	
13 	Born to Rung 	Reward/Immunity 	 	 	
13 	You Shook Me 	Immunity 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
Notes: An unaired Reward Challenge was held on Day 17. An unaired Reward Challenge was held on Day 23. The challenge was played for team reward and individual immunity, with the last person standing winning reward for their team. Noura won individual immunity but not the reward. Later, it was decided that both teams would win the reward on the basis of a production error. An unaired Reward Challenge was held sometime between Days 33 and 34. Dean shared his reward with Noura.	Notes: An unaired Reward Challenge was held on Day 17. An unaired Reward Challenge was held on Day 23. The challenge was played for team reward and individual immunity, with the last person standing winning reward for their team. Noura won individual immunity but not the reward. Later, it was decided that both teams would win the reward on the basis of a production error. An unaired Reward Challenge was held sometime between Days 33 and 34. Dean shared his reward with Noura.	Notes: An unaired Reward Challenge was held on Day 17. An unaired Reward Challenge was held on Day 23. The challenge was played for team reward and individual immunity, with the last person standing winning reward for their team. Noura won individual immunity but not the reward. Later, it was decided that both teams would win the reward on the basis of a production error. An unaired Reward Challenge was held sometime between Days 33 and 34. Dean shared his reward with Noura.	Notes: An unaired Reward Challenge was held on Day 17. An unaired Reward Challenge was held on Day 23. The challenge was played for team reward and individual immunity, with the last person standing winning reward for their team. Noura won individual immunity but not the reward. Later, it was decided that both teams would win the reward on the basis of a production error. An unaired Reward Challenge was held sometime between Days 33 and 34. Dean shared his reward with Noura.	Notes: An unaired Reward Challenge was held on Day 17. An unaired Reward Challenge was held on Day 23. The challenge was played for team reward and individual immunity, with the last person standing winning reward for their team. Noura won individual immunity but not the reward. Later, it was decided that both teams would win the reward on the basis of a production error. An unaired Reward Challenge was held sometime between Days 33 and 34. Dean shared his reward with Noura.	Notes: An unaired Reward Challenge was held on Day 17. An unaired Reward Challenge was held on Day 23. The challenge was played for team reward and individual immunity, with the last person standing winning reward for their team. Noura won individual immunity but not the reward. Later, it was decided that both teams would win the reward on the basis of a production error. An unaired Reward Challenge was held sometime between Days 33 and 34. Dean shared his reward with Noura.
|-|Voting History=
Episode 	Noura'sVotes	Voted AgainstNoura
1 	 	
2 	 	
3 	 	
4 	 	
5 	 	
6 	 	
7 	 	
8 	 	
8 	 	
9 	 	
10 	 	
11 	 	
12 	 	
13 	 	
Jury Votesfor Noura	colspan="2" 	
 	 	
 In , Noura wagered her vote at the Island of the Idols for an advantage. She lost the wager, making her ineligible to vote at the next Tribal Council she attended. In , Jamal used a Hidden Immunity Idol on Noura, but did not negate any votes against her. In , Karishma used a Hidden Immunity Idol, negating Noura's vote against her. Also, the vote ended with a 1-1-0 tie between Elizabeth and Janet, forcing a revote. Noura changed her vote to Elizabeth on the revote.</tabber>
==Post-Survivor==
*In November 2020, Noura posted a statement on social media expressing her belief in COVID-19 conspiracy theories, which resulted in backlash from various Survivor alumni.https://heavy.com/entertainment/survivor/noura-salman-covid-conspiracy-theory/ She has since deleted the post containing the statements.
==Trivia==
* Noura started applying for the show in 2012 and had previously applied for , , , and .https://www.instagram.com/p/B_lbcYmAEsx/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSBpAM3mxxA&t=1shttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fI9-jj9k-lE&t=78shttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjnaLJkKkkk&t=1s
* Noura previously dated contestant Jamie Newton.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JHQv_zajAU&t=40m19s
* Noura is the first person to volunteer to go to the , the first person to be offered an advantage other than a Hidden Immunity Idol, and the first person to be immune from the next Tribal Council after going to the Island of the Idols.
* Noura is the first woman to win the Final Immunity Challenge and receive no jury votes to win.
** Noura is the third person to win the Final Immunity Challenge and finish as the second runner-up, following Amanda Kimmel in and Russell Hantz in . She would be followed by Xander Hastings in and Romeo Escobar in .
==References==
Category:Contestants
Category:Female Contestants
Category:Asian-American Contestants
Category:Island of the Idols Contestants
Category:Finalists
Category:Vokai Tribe
Category:Lumuwaku Tribe
Category:3rd Place
Category:Survivor (U.S.)
Category:Survivor (U.S.) Contestants
Category:Survivor: Island of the Idols
Category:1982 births
Category:Living people