Australian Survivor: Model Shannon Lawson hits back at her critics

Australian Survivor: Brains vs Brawn star Shannon Lawson knew she would be underestimated on the show because she’s a model.

And on Thursday, she hit back at her critics – particularly those on social media – who question her place in the Brawn tribe simply because of her career. 

The 30-year-old told Who magazine: ‘People assume that as a model that I’m not smart or not strong, but I’ve been successful in my career and athletic my whole life.’

‘People assume I’m not smart or strong because I’m a model’: Australian Survivor’s Shannon Lawson has hit back at critics on social media who say she doesn’t belong in the Brawn tribe

She said she knew she’d be underestimated and made it her mission to prove herself.

‘I signed up to do the show to prove there’s more to me than my job, and to show that the girls can be just as strong in different ways to the guys,’ she added.  

The model also spoke about her alliance with Flick Palmateer and Kez McGee after noticing the men in the tribe, led by carpenter Simon Mee, forming their own group.

More than meets the eye: The 30-year-old, who has modelled for brands such as Seafolly and Running Bare, told Who magazine: ‘People assume that as a model that I’m not smart or not strong, but I’ve been successful in my career and athletic my whole life’

‘There’s more to me than my job’: The brunette said she knew she’d be underestimated and made it her mission to prove herself

‘I had to rally pretty quickly and in those girls, especially, I found players who also wanted to be part of an uprising of women to take down the boys,’ Shannon said, as she praised the women in the camp for building a shelter for the entire tribe.

In addition to modelling for brands such as Seafolly and Running Bare, Shannon is also a boxing instructor at the Hustle Boxing gym in Sydney.

The new season of Australian Survivor season was filmed in the unforgiving outback of North West Queensland. 

Girl power: She also spoke about her alliance with Flick Palmateer (right) and Kez McGee (left) after noticing men in the tribe forming their own group. ‘In those girls… I found players who also wanted to be part of an uprising of women to take down the boys,’ Shannon said

It was announced in February this season would be filmed locally after Channel 10 secured government funding to shoot closer to home due to the Covid pandemic.

The Location Incentive Program grant provided $3.9million for the reality show, which was expected to be a significant boost to the local economy.

Australian Survivor: Brains vs Brawn continues Sunday at 7.30pm on Channel 10

Local set: The new season of Australian Survivor season was filmed in the unforgiving outback of North West Queensland. Pictured: host Jonathan LaPaglia