While the fan favorites on Naked and Afraid are the ones who perform well and rack up the biggest Primitivity Survival Ratings (PSR), others have remained entrenched in the hearts of fans due to their eccentric personality, bizarre tactics, sense of humor, and overall likability. Even though Naked and Afraid can be cringey, these contestants were more entertaining than annoying. With the newest season months behind, it's a great time to catch up with the best and brightest Naked and Afraid contestants.
EJ "Skullcrusher" Snyder
Naked and Afraid 2013-2021
One of the biggest mainstays on the popular reality show since day one, EJ "Skullcrusher" Snyder, continues to be the most impressive survivalist on the show. While he officially ended his Naked and Afraid run in 2020 and its spin-off Naked and Afraid XL in 2021, Snyder has upped the difficulty level by ing a new spinoff, Naked and Afraid: Alone (per ejsnyder.com).
Skullcrusher has become a fan favorite on the show due to his extensive survival experience, tactical knowledge, and ability to thrive in extreme wilderness conditions. His expertise in primitive survival techniques, along with his charismatic personality, has made him a memorable figure in the world of survival television. Beyond his appearances on Naked and Afraid, Snyder is also a retired Army combat veteran, motivational speaker, and survival instructor. He has shared his expertise online.
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Nowadays, Skullcrusher is in partnership with Stroup Knives, a brand he helps promote on his Instagram page, which just topped 100k followers. Whether posting Super Bowl BBQ videos or giving survival advice, Skullcrusher remains committed to the outdoors and continues to tour the country to meet fans at conventions.
Laura Zerra
Naked and Afraid 2013-2019
Thanks to her radiant personality, cool attitude, and superb 9.1 PSR score (equal to Skullcrusher), Laura Zerra instantly became a fan favorite. She's appeared in three iterations of the show, including the original, XL, and Savage. Since ending her competitive run in 2019, Laura has become a famous social media influencer specializing in survivalism. With 168k followers on Instagram, Laura continues to educate and encourage fans to embrace their outdoor experience.
Following her success on Naked and Afraid, Laura continued to pursue her ion for adventure and survival. She has appeared on several other television programs, including Naked and Afraid XL and Dual Survival. Laura has also authored books on survival and wilderness living, sharing her expertise and experiences with a broader audience.
Beyond her reality TV and writing endeavors, Laura is an advocate for environmental conservation and sustainable living practices. She continues to inspire others to embrace the outdoors and learn survival skills. According to an interview with Free Range Magazine, Laura currently resides in South Dakota, where she lives a simple life off the grid with no real idea of what's next. She recently wrote a guidebook entitled A Modern Guide to Knifemaking, and, perhaps most excitingly, Laura hosts Decivilized, a survival web series for Carbon Media TV.
Shane Lewis
Naked and Afraid 2013-2018
With roughly 30 Naked and Afraid episodes under his belt (or lack thereof), Shane Lewis earned fan favor for his gruff demeanor and no-nonsense attitude, much of which stemmed from his rough upbringing in foster care. However, Shane's skills earned him a sterling 8.4 PSR, which only endeared him to fans even more. Shane has a background in outdoor activities and survival training, which prepared him for the challenges presented on the show. He has extensive experience in wilderness survival techniques, bushcraft, and primitive living skills.
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Lewis first appeared in season 1, where he was partnered with fellow survivalist Kim Shelton as they attempted to survive in a remote location without food, water, or clothing for 21 days. Despite facing various obstacles and hardships, Shane and Kim demonstrated resourcefulness and determination throughout their journey. In the middle of his Naked and Afraid run from 2013 to 2018, Shane transitioned to acting, appearing in the film Exigence and TV series Pivot Point. After his TV run, Shane starred in the 2020 film Look Into Darkness.
Matt Wright
Naked and Afraid 2016-2021
Few Naked and Afraid personalities stand out like Matt Wright. Known for his rugged demeanor and impressive survival skills, Wright has become a fan favorite among viewers of the show. From his initial appearance on the show to his subsequent challenges and triumphs, Matt provided constant entertainment during his impressive five-year run on the show.
From 2016 to 2021, fan-favorite Matt Wright made roughly 50 appearances in four different iterations of the long-running reality television series. He earned an excellent 8.7 PSR. He even participated in the Shark Week special tie-in and became the first contestant to take down a wild animal with his knife.
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Since ending his time on the show, Matt has continued to work as a professional custom knifemaker. He owns and operates the website extremeinstinct.com, which offers merchandise, survival classes, Florida fishing trips, and more. When he isn't promoting his brand, he spends time with his wife, Brooke Wright, a fellow Naked and Afraid contestant.
Jake Nodar
Naked and Afraid 2016-2022
One of the most eccentric personalities on Naked and Afraid, Jake Nodar remains a fan favorite. Charismatic horse trainer and outdoorsman, Jake, appeared in four seasons of the show, totaling 38 episodes. Throughout his stint on the show, Jake accumulated a fan following, rocketing his social media presence. Jake’s Instagram, as of 2024, boasts 475k followers. Fans of the show eagerly track his whereabouts to stay updated with Jake’s newest quirky venture. For fans interested in reliving his past episodes, Jake’s podcast, Jaked and Afraid, features Jake, as well as other popular alum, recapping their episodes.
This Maryland native, with a PSO of 8.0, won over the hearts of audiences during all four seasons of the show. Notably, the kind-hearted competitor showed his empathetic nature when his partner, Melissa Miller got disoriented and lost in the jungle. While Jake had ventured off in search of food for the woman, she wandered off and got lost. Jake can be seen saying, “I want her to be okay, I really care about her a lot.”
Amber Hargrove
Naked and Afraid 2013-2017
Amber Hargrove earned her place as a memorable and respected figure in the Naked and Afraid world. With her impressive survival skills and engaging personality, Amber captivated audiences. Facing extreme challenges such as harsh environments, lack of food and water, and encounters with dangerous wildlife, she became one of the best cast of the show.
As one of the most challenging and most impressive contestants of all time, Amber appeared on four seasons of Naked and Afraid, winning legions of adoring fans for her excellent fishing and knifemaking skills.
As one of the most challenging and most impressive contestants of all time, Amber appeared on four seasons of Naked and Afraid, winning legions of adoring fans for her excellent fishing and knifemaking skills. She used years of experience as a military instructor to leave her competition in the dust. In addition to selling custom-made knives, Amber is poised to star in her reality survival series titled, Forging Across America. The rugged survivalist resides in Colorado with her husband, Peter Kohler, and their children, Leila and Easton.
Ryan Holt
Naked and Afraid 2015-2021
Marine Corps veteran, Ryan Holt, served for eight years before his five seasons on Naked and Afraid. His involvement in the competition, which spanned over 100 days, established Ryan as one of the hardiest men to be featured on the show. After his stint, he would continue his challenging expeditions, with journeys on the Appalachian Trail and hundred-mile snowshoe hikes. His conviction in the healing power of nature led Ryan to establish a nature reserve in Maine. The “Human Nature Hostel” offers a beautiful retreat aimed at the reconnection of humans with the environment.
With the mantra of “thrive,” Ryan proved to audience that he was more than capable of taking on the show’s challenges. Ryan successfully hunted snakes, catfish, alligators, and a six-foot monitor lizard. Testing the show’s creditability, he even claimed that the show only showed a portion of his hunting and foraging successes to make the challenge not look too easy. After surviving the treacherous environment, Ryan said he would undoubtedly do it all over again.
Steven Lee Hall Jr.
Naked and Afraid 2013-2022
Steven Lee Hall Jr. was invited to appear on over 30 episodes of the guilty-pleasure reality show thanks to his incredible ability to conjure fire with friction and build a shelter. Throughout his time on Naked and Afraid, Steven demonstrated an impressive ability to navigate challenging environments, from dense jungles to barren deserts. His resourcefulness and ingenuity in sourcing food, water, and shelter are impressive.
The man of faith has been on a personal improvement journey. A true survivalist, he carried favor from fans thanks to his calm personality under pressure and awesome 8.6 PSR. After making his final appearance on the show in 2022, Steven continues to reflect on his experiences and host Q&As. For fans hoping to catch up with Steven’s whereabouts after the show, his Instagram page regularly posts life updates.
Max Djenohan
Naked and Afraid 2018-2022
Max Djenohan proved his invaluable talents throughout his time on the Survivalist series. Appearing in Naked and Afraid, and its spin-offs: Naked and Afraid: Alone and Naked and Afraid XL, Max was one of the few competitors to return for several seasons. Surviving a total of 156 days across five countries, in six of the show’s challenges, Max was undeniably one of the best contestants in the show’s long-running history.
Max’s outdoorsman ions began early in life, with Max’s website crediting hikes with his mother, at just eight years old, igniting his love for the outdoors. By the age of 28, the show had reached out to Max to offer a position as a competitor. Max was eager to accept the challenge. Fortunately, fans can rest assured through updates on Max’s Instagram, that she survivalist continues to pursue meaningful ventures. According to his website, the Seattle native continues to work with “The Service Board,” a non-profit “promoting social justice, equity and opportunities for BIPOC youth to gain access to the outdoors.”
Alison Teal
Naked and Afraid 2013
Hawaiian native Alison Teal instantly won fans' hearts by appearing on Naked and Afraid, leaving the competition in the dust with her stellar 8.3 PSR, the highest total of the 2013-14 season. Funny, brave, talented, and wildly adventurous, few contestants were as easy to root for as Alison. It's unfortunate that she only starred in one season.
Funny, brave, talented, and wildly adventurous, few contestants were as easy to root for as Alison.
Nowadays, Alison has parlayed her survival experience and magnetic persona to become a successful author, filmmaker, TED speaker, and massive social media influencer. With 2.2 million TikTok followers to go with roughly 108K Instagram followers, Teal made an autobiographical documentary short film and wrote the book Alison's Adventures: Your port to the World, published in 2020. She continues to share her experience with the show across her social media platforms.
