Exclusive: The Anonymous Season 1 Winner Nina Twine Dishes on the Heart-Racing Finale

The family legacy continues! After 12 episodes of deception and strategy, Nina Twine became the first-ever winner of The Anonymous. She outsmarted the competition, and she’s $80,000 richer because of it.

In the season finale, we watched Nina dominate the final Face-Off. She chose to steal Andy King’s box, and it turned out to be the winner. Literally, she took the money right out of his hands.

Now that Nina has her first reality TV win under her belt, Reality Tea chatted through the details of her final Face-Off strategy, and what it means to be the first-ever Anonymous champion.

Nina Twine is here to stay, after becoming The Anonymous Season 1 winner

There’s nothing better than the glow of someone who just became $80,000 richer. When we spoke to Nina, she hadn’t fully had a chance to celebrate the win, but she was definitely riding high.

“Nina is here! Nina knew that, but now y’all do,” she triumphantly declared.

We asked if her phone had been blowing up with congratulatory phone calls, and she admitted that she hadn’t really peeked. She told us that her phone was on “Do Not Disturb” until the end of the day because she’s got her priorities straight. She’s got to work, and it’s that kind of laser-sharp focus that got her to the finish line in the first place.

“I have to take care of Nina first,” Nina admitted. “You have to make sure you’re prioritizing things.”

She continued, “I know what I need to prioritize,” I know what I need to let go. I know how to keep everything moving and keep it straight.”

The secret to a successful Face-Off

Throughout the season, we watched Nina masterfully navigate the game without anyone ever really finding out she was the daughter of Survivor star Sandra Diaz-Twine. A two-time Australian Survivor player herself, Nina made it to the final four with a game packed full of social strategy, all while keeping herself under wraps. Once she made it to the final Face-Off, she had to put it all to the test.

As we saw in the finale, Marcel Cunningham won a perk for the Face-Off that gave him the power to choose the order in which they’d play the game. However, Nina immediately spoke up and asked to go third. Marcel obliged, and the rest is history.

Nina was quick to say she wanted that third position. Is there a benefit to it? Maybe. Nina explained how going third in the Face-Off was a perk for her because it provided the most options. If you’re thinking about applying for Season 2 of The Anonymous, take notes.

“Being first, you only have one option. Being second, you only have two,” Nina explained.

“Being third? You have about three or four, and then the person after that only has one. So that person can steal from three people or get a new box, so the odds are in my favor,” she continued.

Of course, Nina didn’t rely on just that to make it to the finish line. She explained how she spent the entire game studying her competitors. When it came time to make her decision in the Face-Off, she relied on all of that knowledge. But what would have happened if Marcel didn’t give her third position?

Marcel’s game-defining decision

After winning the power of The Anonymous, Marcel had the game in his hands. Not only did he get to choose the order of the game, but he put himself in the ending spot. Obviously, that did not end up working in his favor, but Nina appreciated his Face-Off strategy.

“I would have won whether I was first, second, third, or last,” Nina teased. “But no, I think he made the best decision for himself. I really did.”

We all know that hindsight is 20/20, so Nina said she wouldn’t be surprised if Marcel felt differently about it today. However, she still felt confident that he made the best decision for his game.

“No matter what had happened if I had that win box, I would have done the same thing,” Nina explained.

“Marcel probably would have made the same choice and he would have questioned what I had done, who had it, or whatever,” she continued. “I think he made the best decision at that time for him.”

Why did Nina go after Andy’s box?

During the Face-Off, Andy selected the blue box. When it was Nina’s turn, she decided to steal that box, which turned out to be the right move. She doesn’t have x-ray vision, so what was it that made her grab Andy’s box? Studying.

“I had been in a Face-Off with each and every one of these individuals more than once, so I know what they look like when they have an at-risk or a safety box,” Nina explained.

“I also know I have taken a box from Andy and I did not take a box from Marcel and what their reactions were when I made my decision,” she continued.

“Watching Andy in previous Face-Offs, he moves a lot, he talks a lot,” Nina recalled.

During the final Face-Off when he grabbed the blue box, Nina said his reaction was totally different. He went into silent mode, so to speak, and that tipped her off.

“He just doesn’t move, and I’m like, ‘Okay,'” Nina recalled. “It’s kind of like when you see a kid get caught with something and they don’t want you to see them. I’m like, ‘This is weird.'”

Based on her observations, Nina felt very strongly that Andy had the winning box. Even if she was wrong, she still had a backup plan.

“In all honesty, I really did think he had the win box. I really did, but I thought if he doesn’t, maybe I can give Marcel a chance,” Nina admitted.

“He’s the last person. I can really give some information,” she continued. “But that wasn’t the case, and I wanted to hold on to it. Sorry, Marcel. My lips are sealed.”

Making mom proud and making Nina proud

Going into The Anonymous, Nina had a lot riding on her shoulders as Sandra’s daughter. During the finale, she admitted she felt the weight of her mom’s legacy and how important it would be to take home the win. It’s literally in her DNA!

Now that she has earned her first win, there’s no doubt she has made her mom proud. If you need proof, just check Sandra’s social media. She’s been bragging about her daughter ever since the finale aired. Meanwhile, Nina feels her own sense of pride in the accomplishment, which she knows is just as important.

“As the first-time players for the Anonymous Season 1, we didn’t have any kind of roadmap, so I knew going in there I wanted to contribute to that first roadmap.” Nina reflected.

“I would love for one day somebody to say, ‘I want to play like Nina, but put my own spin on it,’ she continued. “That’s what I want, and that’s what I think I did.”

Season 1 of The Anonymous is streaming on Peacock.

TELL US – WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE ANONYMOUS SEASON 1 FINALE? WERE YOU ROOTING FOR NINA? WHAT DID YOU THINK OF HER STRATEGY IN THE FACE-OFF?