Hayley Leake WINS Australian Survivor: Brains v Brawn

Hayley Leake has been crowned the sole survivor on Australian Survivor: Brains v Brawn. 

The academic received five votes at tribal council during Sunday’s finale, defeating runner-up George Mladenov who received four. 

Surrounded by her friends and boyfriend Jimmy Meegan, Hayley admitted the $500,000 prize money would change her life. 

‘I am in complete shock at what’s just happened. I am the Sole Survivor. I have learned that I can do way more than I think I can. I survived for 48 days,’ she said. 

‘I made massive blindsides. I was a physical beast out here and I never thought I would be.’

However, the pain researcher said playing the game was harder than she had imagined. 

Beaten: She defeated fellow finalist George Mladenov (right) 

Votes: The academic received five votes at tribal council during Sunday’s finale, defeating runner-up George Mladenov who received four

‘I’m proud of being able to come out here and play a really big strategic game. I didn’t want to hide in the shadows,’ she admitted. 

‘I wanted to make big moves from the start and I did that. I think the relationships surprised me most about this game.   

‘I thought I could come in here and deceive people and vote them out and I wouldn’t feel bad about it. 

Wow! Hayley has won $500,000 and said the money will change her life

Sweet: She was surrounded by friends and her boyfriend Jimmy Meegan, who had been flown in for the finale

‘But the truth is, you make really close friendships here and it really is difficult to vote someone out of this game.’

She added: ‘I have wanted to play this game for so long and half a million dollars is gonna change my life. 

‘And just never, ever, ever giving up, I think is the secret to winning.’

Done well: ‘I am in complete shock at what’s just happened. I am the Sole Survivor. I have learned that I can do way more than I think I can. I survived for 48 days,’ she said