The music contestant gained recognition on the inaugural series in 2000, which was filmed on Pulau Tiga in Malaysia
She became the first contestant to be voted off the island on day three, while Richard Hatch went on to win the season as the Sole Survivor, later returning for various spin-offs.
Liz Wilcox, a fellow Survivor star from the currently airing 46th season in Fiji, announced Christopher's passing on X (formerly Twitter).
She wrote: ‘Today, the legend herself Sonja Christopher of Season One passed away.
‘I had the pleasure of meeting her on Christmas.
‘She had so much spunk + love for Survivor and what the show brought to her life.
"I hope you're singing and playing your heart out somewhere beautiful, Sonja," Liz Wilcox, a star of the 46th season of "Survivor," wrote in a tribute on X (formerly Twitter) after announcing Sonja Christopher's passing.
Fans and viewers expressed their condolences in the comments. Christian wrote, "So glad that you had the opportunity to meet her! Rest in peace to a legend. I think it's safe to say Sonja Christopher will never be forgotten."
Liz Wilcox shared that they had many conversations, with Sonja asking numerous questions and expressing her excitement for season 46, stating she never missed an episode. "She really was a legend!" Wilcox replied to a comment.
Messages of grief and respect poured in. @TallyTheVote commented, "Very bittersweet. I'm glad you had that opportunity," while @stadbabby wrote, "Oh, my heart :( RIP to a legend."
Chase added, "nooo :( rest in peace to a massive survivor legend," and Chrissa wrote, "aw RIP to her a true legend from what I've seen and heard."
In a follow-up post, Liz Wilcox noted that Sonja Christopher's family has requested no flowers. Instead, they ask that donations be made to one of the following organizations: Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church in Walnut Creek, California, the Cancer Support Community of the San Francisco Bay Area, or the Sjogren’s Foundation.
The cause of Sonja Christopher's death or the exact date has not been confirmed. In 2020, marking two decades since her appearance on the first season of "Survivor," Christopher reflected on her experience in an interview with Entertainment Tonight.
She commented on the legacy of her brief time on the show, saying, "If somebody recognizes me—which is nothing like it used to be—and asks, 'Weren't you on Survivor?', I'll say, 'Yes, I have the dubious distinction of being the first person ever voted off Survivor.' Now, how many people can say that? I think it's pretty funny."
Reflecting on her journey to "Survivor," Sonja Christopher shared that her application was influenced by significant life changes. “I was newly recovering from breast cancer treatment, and I had been in an 11-year relationship where my partner found comfort elsewhere during my illness," she revealed.
With her life in transition, Christopher explained, “I had moved to a senior retirement community and was by myself, with no ties. My son was grown and taking care of himself. While reading the morning paper, I came across an article mentioning CBS was looking for 16 Americans to cast away on a deserted island to see who could survive for 39 days.”
The idea intrigued her: “I had always wanted to see if I could survive using only my hands and my wits.”
Regarding her experience on the challenging reality series, Christopher noted, “I’m so fortunate to have had it. I've learned lessons about how to treat it, regard it, live with it, and go with the flow. The whole thing was so fortuitous.” Despite being the first contestant voted off the island, she found value and perspective in the experience.
