Stephenie LaGrossa

Stephenie LaGrossa
Born	(1979-12-06) December 6, 1979 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Television	Survivor: Palau Survivor: Guatemala Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains
Spouse(s)	Michael Ward (2006-2007) Kyle Kendrick (2010-present)

Stephenie LaGrossa (born December 6, 1979) was a contestant in Survivor: Palau, where she placed 7th, Survivor: Guatemala, where she placed second and Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains, where she was the second person voted out and placed 19th. She was one of the most popular players ever to play the game, with her popularity peaking at 97% (her final popularity ended at 92%).^[1] LaGrossa was an In-Arena host for the Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL, and currently works for the radio station WRDW-FM. She is also one of the owners of GIGI Restaurant & Lounge in Old City Philadelphia.^[2]

Personal life

As the youngest child and only daughter to Stephen and Marguerite LaGrossa, her name was a variant of Stephanie, yet spelled so it would look like her father's name. She grew up in Glenolden, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Archbishop Prendergast High School in 1998, and she went to Temple University, before transferring to Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey. She was a four-year starting varsity lacrosse player at both schools, a multiple Northeast Conference All-Conference and Academic Honor Roll selection, and captain of the team in her senior year at Monmouth. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration with concentrations in marketing and management.

LaGrossa is a former territory sales representative for a pharmaceutical sales company and now models and makes personal appearances. On July 7, 2006 she married longtime boyfriend Michael Ward in Seaside Heights, New Jersey, the same town where they originally met.^[3] They were divorced in early 2007.

In 2009, LaGrossa became engaged to Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Kyle Kendrick.^[2] They were married on November 13, 2010.^[4] On February 22, 2011, the couple announced they were expecting their first child in September.^[5] The couple welcomed their first child, a girl named Sophia Marguerite Kendrick, on September 3, 2011.^[6] On July 30, 2013, Stephenie gave birth to their first son.

Subsequent to her divorce, and prior to her engagement to Kendrick, Stephenie had a brief relationship with Shane Victorino, the Phillies' center fielder at that time. This did not appear to create any friction in the club house, however.

Survivor

Survivor: Palau

In the beginning of the game, LaGrossa made an early alliance with Katie Gallagher, Tom Westman, and Ian Rosenberger. When the tribes were picked, LaGrossa ended up on Ulong, while Katie, Tom, and Ian were put on Koror, thus alienating Stephenie from her alliance. After Ulong lost every single immunity challenge, LaGrossa and Bobby Jon Drinkard competed in a fire-making challenge, with the loser being eliminated from the game. LaGrossa won and returned back to her camp alone. The following day, she was instructed to go to the Koror camp as she was joining their tribe (an unofficial merge). LaGrossa survived the first vote with her new tribe, however, at the second vote, the tribe was torn between voting for Janu Torell or Stephenie. Eventually, Janu quit the game, saving LaGrossa from elimination. Before the following tribal council, LaGrossa tried to pull the girls into an alliance, but despite strong lobbying, she was unanimously voted out. As a member of the jury, she ended up voting for Tom Westman.

Survivor: Guatemala

In one of the bigger twists at the start of the 11th season of Survivor, Survivor: Guatemala, LaGrossa and Bobby Jon Drinkard returned as players to the game. Stephenie was the opposite of her character in Palau, and played a more cutthroat game, and made it to the final 3 along with Rafe Judkins and Danni Boatwright.

In the final 3, Boatwright, who had won the immunity during an endurance challenge, and chose to take LaGrossa instead of Rafe Judkins. Boatwright's decision turned out to be the right one, as LaGrossa lost by a 6-1 vote to Boatwright in the final 2.

Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains

LaGrossa was a contestant in the 20th season of the show titled Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains. She was a member of the Heroes tribe and was voted off in the second episode after she was labeled kryptonite by fellow cast member James Clement due to his repetitive statements that whatever tribe she is on, it will be destined to fail. She was in an alliance with Tom Westman and Colby Donaldson and they were forced into the minority by the other contestants including Clement who all had a pre-existing alliance from Survivor: Micronesia as well as several ties from outside the game. She was eliminated 6-3 despite an effort to target Amanda Kimmel.

References

External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Stephenie LaGrossa

• Official website
• Stephenie LaGrossa at the Internet Movie Database
• Stephenie LaGrossa biography for Survivor: Palau at CBS.com
• Stephenie LaGrossa biography for Survivor: Guatemala at CBS.com
• Stephenie LaGrossa biography for Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains at CBS.com