Parvati Shallow appears on Deal or No Deal Island Season 2. Photo: Monty Brinton/NBC
Parvati Shallow, known for her strategic gameplay on Survivor, rose to fame as the mastermind behind the all-female Black Widow Brigade alliance that secured her victory in Survivor: Micronesia back in 2008.
After participating in five seasons of Survivor and competing on The Traitors season 2, Shallow, 42, shared how her infamous reputation as the “Black Widow” continues to follow her as she joins season 2 of Deal or No Deal Island.
Parvati Shallow on 'The Traitors' season 2. Photo: Euan Cherry/PEACOCK via Getty
“I can’t escape my reputation, no matter what I do,” Shallow explained. “People always remember me as the one who united the women, blindsided the men, and convinced Erik [Reichenbach] to give up the Immunity Necklace. Even though it happened 15 years ago, it feels fresh in people’s minds.”
At this stage in her reality TV career, Shallow believes her image is set in stone.
“I can’t play a timid role,” she said. “That’s not who I am. I come in with the mindset of shaking things up—not out of a desire to cause chaos, but because my way of connecting with people, understanding emotions, and navigating relationships naturally stirs the pot. I’ve accepted that as my role.”
Shallow’s decision to join the show was partly inspired by fellow Survivor alum Boston Rob Mariano, who competed in the first season.
“We have a bit of a competitive dynamic,” Shallow said. “When I heard Rob did well, I thought, ‘If he can do it, I can do it too. I can win this thing and take the crown.’”
Before heading to Banker’s Island, Shallow sought advice from Mariano, 49, but his insights were limited.
“He told me, ‘The whole game is luck. It’s not social or strategic. Just play the Banker whenever you can and control your own fate,’” Shallow recalled. “But Rob’s experience was very different from mine—he was a primary target and couldn’t escape that.”
Shallow’s love for competition and adventure motivated her to take on this new challenge.
“I thrive on challenges and adaptability,” she said. “This game is the most unpredictable I’ve ever played. While it shares some similarities with Survivor, such as challenges and a social dynamic, the key difference is that you don’t want to betray your allies. Instead, building strong relationships and maintaining trust are critical to success.”
Still, Shallow acknowledged Mariano’s point about the game’s unpredictability.
The two-hour premiere of Deal or No Deal Island Season 2 airs Tuesday, January 7, at 8/7c on NBC, with episodes available to stream on Peacock the following day. Starting the following week, the show will air Tuesdays at 9/8c.
