Fans of “Survivor 48” alum Star Toomey will tell you that she was one of the most unforgettable personalities from her season. Before she even stepped onto the beach, she described herself as “hilarious,” “smooth,” and “laugh-out-loud funny.”
She has carried that same energy beyond the show, as seen in a recent clip of the Liberian-born star performing Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone” on karaoke at a “Survivor 50” watch party at the Ron Clark Academy.
For Toomey, however, the game itself was never the full story. In this exclusive interview with The Blast, she opens up about the importance of family, the impact of losing her father, and the life experiences that shaped her long before she flew to Fiji to play “Survivor.”
Star Toomey’s Father ‘Worked Morning To Night’ As She Grew Up Between Liberia And The U.S.
Perhaps the most unmistakable influence in Toomey’s life is her father. She often talks about the impact his death had on her and their family at large. Still, the weight of what he did while he was alive appears to resonate just as strongly.
Toomey was born on September 25, 1996, in Monrovia, Liberia. She was just three years old when she moved to the United States, arriving on her birthday in 1999.
The future “Survivor” star joined her mother through the Diversity Visa lottery, while her father remained briefly in the West African nation to “tie things up.”
She speaks about how, once in America, her dad truly showed up for their family, mostly through his tireless work ethic.
“My dad always did it for me. I watched him work [from] morning to night,” Toomey explains. “Sometimes [he] worked three jobs just to make sure he’s taking care of us. Those sacrifices is what brought me here today.”
Watching Brittney Griner Shaped Toomey’s Early Competitive Mindset
Toomey also points to sports as an early source of inspiration, citing elite women’s basketball players who motivated her to want to be just as competitive.
“We already watched the Brittney Griners. We already watched the Maya Moores,” Toomey says, reminding everyone that the pioneering hall-of-fame player went to school in her home state, “Maya Moore came from Collins Hill!”
Unsurprisingly, her father was involved in that process, too. “I love my dad because he’s always been my biggest supporter, always gassing me up,” she adds. “He was like, ‘You could do this. You could play hard!”
Star Toomey Reflects On How Her Father’s Death ‘Shook Everything’ In Her Family
Toomey describes her father as the “glue” that kept everybody in their family together. When he passed away, she says their entire world turned upside down.
“My dad, when he passed, it seems like things disconnected, and everything got shaken up,” the 29-year-old recalls. “At the end of the day, our dad wanted everybody to be together, and that’s all that matters.”
In her pre-game interview with Parade, Toomey spoke about how, years later, his fierce ambition for his family continues to drive her own aspirations.
“Experiencing the death of my father [is the one life experience that has prepared me for the game,]” she said. “I am chasing my dream, believing in myself, and living and enjoying life as my dad would have wanted.”
Speaking to The Blast, Toomey still clings to that sentiment: “For me, I use that fire, that love, that drive, cause I’m an ambitious person.”
Why ‘Survivor’ Is ‘Deeper Than A Million Dollars’
When Toomey and her siblings were brought to the United States at the turn of the millennium, they first settled in Park Hill, Staten Island. She describes the neighborhood as “a little Liberia,” and maintains that she sees what most people label “the projects” simply as “the place that raised me.”
Today, her siblings are grown, each building a life of their own. But in some ways, “Survivor” has become one of the things that still connects them, like their father once did.
“My older sister and her husband, they live in Florida,” Toomey says. “She and he are the only two that [also] watch ‘Survivor.’”
For her, that connection is what makes the show so special: “That’s what matters to me. ‘Survivor’ is deeper than just a game show. ‘Survivor’ is deeper than just a million dollars.”
Star Toomey ‘Kills Karaoke’ At RCA As She Embraces ‘Survivor’ Community
That “Survivor” sense of community was on full display at Ron Clark Academy shortly before Toomey sat down for this interview. The institution had brought together a wide mix of people connected through the show for a watch party of the ongoing Season 50.
In a clip she shared on her X account, the aspiring rapper is seen delivering a rendition of “Since U Been Gone” that may remind you of those adjectives she used to describe herself, “hilarious” and “laugh-out-loud.”
For Toomey, these connections are the real reward of being part of the community.
“The best part about being a ‘Survivor’ is being in those spaces,” she explains. “Shout out Ron Clark, shout out to the people who [came], because you get a whole meet. This was a celebration of everybody who’s been there. This is my Super Bowl!”