Chirichillo, who identified as non-binary during the show, admitted that his post-Survivor life has been filled with uncertainty. Reflecting on the period following the show, he explained that unlike his castmates, he didn’t return to a stable career or family life. Instead, he wrestled with his sense of self, writing, “there’s a lifelong accumulation of artifacts that has pulled my identity into focus, inside the museum of my own transness.”
After the trailer for his season aired in early 2024, Chirichillo recalled encountering “invasive” online comments about his gender identity. The comments debated his pronouns, questioning whether he was a girl, boy, both, or neither. At the time, he wasn’t ready to publicly label himself, especially within the high-stakes social environment of Survivor. However, Chirichillo did share with his castmates that he had recently consulted for top surgery before traveling to Fiji to film the show.
It wasn’t until after returning home that Chirichillo began questioning his non-binary identity, ultimately realizing that he had been living as a closeted trans man. He shared his ongoing challenges, including worries about how his loved ones might feel and the financial strain of testosterone injections.
Despite these challenges, Chirichillo concluded with a sense of certainty: “I know who I am,” affirming his journey towards embracing his true identity.