The winner revealed in the season finale of (often cataloged as Episode 16 or through retrospective specials like Episode 20) was Tina Wesson . In a historic 4–3 jury decision, Tina defeated Colby Donaldson to become the first female winner in the series' history on May 3, 2001. The Path to Victory
At the Final Tribal Council, the jury was divided between Colby’s physical "hero" narrative and Tina’s behind-the-scenes leadership. [S2E20] Winner Revealed
The win was seen as a significant evolution for the show; following the controversial win of Richard Hatch in Season 1, Tina proved that a player could be strategically ruthless while maintaining a "likable" public image. The winner revealed in the season finale of
Amber Brkich , Nick Brown, and Rodger Bingham . The win was seen as a significant evolution
She famously convinced Colby to vote out Mitchell Olson early in the game by framing the move around "who is most deserving," which effectively shifted the power to her and her ally, Keith Famie.