Dee Valladares Biography: Survivor 45 Winner, Entrepreneur and Big Brother 28 Houseguest
Dee Valladares is a Cuban-born American entrepreneur and reality television personality known for winning Survivor 45. After becoming the Sole Survivor, she returned to CBS for another major challenge as a houseguest on Big Brother 28.
Valladares has built a public profile around competition, travel, business, and personal resilience. She is also the founder of Wanaroam, a travel brand focused on backpacks and travel accessories. Her experience on two major reality shows has made her one of the most recognizable contestants in the 2026 Big Brother cast.
Who Is Dee Valladares?
Dee Valladares is an entrepreneur from Miami who was born in Havana, Cuba, and raised in South Florida. She first became widely known after winning Survivor 45, where she defeated Austin Li Coon and Jake O’Kane in a 5-3-0 jury vote. Her victory earned her the title of Sole Survivor and a $1 million prize.
Valladares became known on Survivor for combining strong relationships with carefully timed strategic moves. She was part of the Reba alliance, but she also made decisions that protected her own position rather than simply following the group.
Her success was not based on one skill alone. She performed well in challenges, understood how to manage relationships, and knew when to make a move without exposing herself too early.
Age and Birthday
Dee Valladares was born on October 2, 1996, according to publicly available biographical information. She turned 29 in October 2025.
Because online biographies sometimes contain conflicting details, her age should be updated according to the publication date. Her confirmed public identity is more consistent than some of the personal information shared across entertainment websites.
Cuban Heritage and Early Life
Valladares was born in Havana and moved to the United States while she was young. She was raised in Hialeah, Florida, before building her adult life and career in the Miami area.
Her Cuban background is an important part of her public story. She became the first Cuban-born contestant to win the U.S. version of Survivor, a milestone that made her victory especially meaningful to many viewers.
Valladares has spoken about the influence of her family and the importance of valuing experiences over material possessions. Her interest in travel and exploration eventually became part of her professional life through Wanaroam.
Education and Career
Valladares studied psychology and has spoken about the personal lessons she gained from her education. Some reports state that she did not complete one stage of her college studies after struggling with a class, but the experience helped shape her confidence and approach to failure.
Before becoming a full-time entrepreneur and television personality, she worked in sales. Her professional history includes a sales development role at Drata, a software company focused on security and compliance, as well as earlier work in pharmaceutical sales and marketing.
Sales experience may have helped prepare Valladares for reality competition. Both sales and social strategy require careful listening, persuasive communication, and an ability to understand what motivates other people.
Wanaroam Travel Brand
Valladares founded Wanaroam, a travel and backpack company inspired by her interest in exploring new places. The brand sells travel gear and accessories designed for people who want practical products for their journeys.
Wanaroam also reflects Valladares’s broader personal brand. Travel has been central to her identity since before her television career, and the company allows her to connect entrepreneurship with her interest in adventure.
Her business background gives her another source of experience outside reality television. She is not only known for winning competitions. She has also worked to build a product-based business and an online audience.
Dee Valladares on Survivor 45
Valladares competed on the Reba tribe during Survivor 45. She developed a close working relationship with Austin Li Coon, Drew Basile, and Julie Alley as part of the Reba Four alliance.
Her game became more impressive as the season progressed. She remained socially connected while making several important decisions, including moves that affected her alliance and her path to the end.
At the Final Tribal Council, Valladares explained why she deserved to win. Her argument persuaded five jurors, giving her a 5-3-0 victory over Austin and Jake. She became the Sole Survivor and collected the season’s $1 million prize.
Survivor 50
Valladares later returned for Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans, a special season featuring returning players. Her return demonstrated how quickly she had become an important figure in the Survivor franchise.
She once again entered the game with a reputation for strategic ability. However, returning players face a different challenge because everyone already knows their previous game. A former winner cannot rely on surprise, and other contestants often target them before they have time to build protection.
Dee Valladares on Big Brother 28
In 2026, CBS revealed Valladares as the surprise seventeenth houseguest on Big Brother 28. Her arrival created a major crossover between two of the network’s best-known reality competition shows.
She entered the house with an unusual advantage and an obvious problem. Winning Survivor proved that she could manage a complex social game, but it also made her an immediate threat. The other houseguests already knew that she could form alliances, influence votes, and remain calm under pressure.
Valladares wanted to become the first person to win both Survivor and Big Brother. She made an immediate impact by winning the first Head of Household competition after competing against fellow reality television veterans Rick Devens and Angela Murray.
Her first HOH victory allowed her to shape the opening week, but it also placed attention on her before she had built long-term relationships with the rest of the cast.
Her Big Brother Strengths
Valladares brought several potential advantages into the house:
Experience managing alliances and jury relationships.
A strong understanding of social strategy.
Confidence in high-pressure competitions.
The ability to explain and defend difficult decisions.
A public reputation that could attract allies as well as targets.
Her biggest weakness was visibility. Unlike an unknown houseguest, Valladares could not quietly develop her game. Everyone knew she had already won a major reality competition.
Personal Life
Valladares has shared aspects of her family history and Cuban heritage, but she has kept some personal details private. Public reports identify her as the daughter of Lisset Valladares and Osmaney Valladares, with a brother named Osmel. These details should be updated if she provides new information through an interview or verified social media account.
Her current relationship status has not been reliably confirmed. She has not publicly identified a husband, wife, or long-term partner.
Dee Valladares Height
Her exact height has not been consistently confirmed by a reliable official source. Biography websites sometimes list an approximate measurement, but it is better not to present that figure as fact without a direct source.
Dee Valladares Net Worth
There is no verified public estimate of Dee Valladares’s total net worth. Unofficial websites often publish broad figures, but these estimates are not supported by financial records or a confirmed statement.
Her known income sources include her Wanaroam business, the $1 million Survivor 45 prize, television appearances, brand partnerships, social media work, and public engagements. Her earnings may change as her business and entertainment career develop.
Dee Valladares uses the Instagram handle @roamwithdee. Her account features travel content, fitness posts, business updates, personal photographs, and material connected to her reality television appearances.
Quick Facts
Full name: Dee Valladares
Birth name: Deyvis “Dee” Valladares
Date of birth: October 2, 1996
Age: 29 in 2026
Birthplace: Havana, Cuba
Raised in: Hialeah, Florida
Residence: Miami area
Nationality: American
Heritage: Cuban
Occupation: Entrepreneur and television personality
Company: Wanaroam
Known for: Winning Survivor 45
Survivor 45 prize: $1 million
Big Brother appearance: Season 28
Notable achievement: Won the first Big Brother 28 Head of Household competition
Relationship status: Not publicly confirmed
Instagram: @roamwithdee
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Dee Valladares?
Dee Valladares is a Cuban-born entrepreneur, Survivor 45 winner, and Big Brother 28 houseguest.
Where was Dee Valladares born?
She was born in Havana, Cuba, and raised in South Florida.
What is Dee Valladares known for?
She is best known for winning Survivor 45 and later appearing on Survivor 50 and Big Brother 28.
How much did Dee Valladares win on Survivor?
She won the $1 million prize after defeating Austin Li Coon and Jake O’Kane in the Survivor 45 finale.
Did Dee Valladares win Head of Household on Big Brother?
Yes. She won the first Head of Household competition of Big Brother 28.
What company does Dee Valladares own?
She founded Wanaroam, a travel brand that sells backpacks and related accessories.
Is Dee Valladares married?
Her current relationship status has not been publicly confirmed.
What is Dee Valladares’s Instagram?
Her reported Instagram handle is @roamwithdee.
