Dr. Stephanie Mitchell Surprised by Feud with Boston Rob Mariano on 'Deal or No Deal Island' (Exclusive)

Dr. Stephanie Mitchell never expected her adventure on Deal or No Deal Island to involve a conflict with Survivor legend Boston Rob Mariano. "I know who he is and how he plays. It's tough to separate that in this competitive reality TV setting," Mitchell, 41, shared exclusively with We on Tuesday, May 14, after the Deal or No Deal Island season finale. "When I saw him, I couldn't believe it was Rob. It felt so real."

Mitchell, a big fan of competitive reality shows, immediately recognized Mariano, 48, as soon as she saw him on Survivor season, Redemption Island, one of her favorite seasons. The midwife playfully mentioned that the moment Mariano set foot on the island, she knew the competition was serious.

"I felt like the Godfather had arrived, the Rob Father is here, so I felt safe," she joked. "I knew everything would be okay, but I also understood that I needed to stay alert."

In the first episode, Mitchell felt cautious about Mariano during the initial challenge. The goal was to find the famous Deal or No Deal cases with different amounts inside. As they searched in the water, Mariano talked to Martin about their strategy.

Stephanie Mitchell ‘Never’ Imagined Feuding with Boston Rob Mariano on ‘Deal or No Deal Island’

Stephanie Mitchell recalled her experience with Rob Mariano on 'Deal or No Deal Island.' She noticed right away that Rob was up to his usual antics, asking about the amount in her case. This raised alarm bells for Stephanie because she understood his strategic gameplay tactics. She felt uneasy being pitted against one of the top competitive reality gamers of their time.

Mitchell and Mariano clashed often during the season, with Mitchell not hesitating to challenge Mariano in the game. Mitchell even tried to persuade Mariano's closest ally, Aron Barbell, to betray him. This resulted in a tense confrontation between Mitchell and Mariano at the Banker's temple.

Stephanie Mitchell ‘Never’ Imagined Feuding with Boston Rob Mariano on ‘Deal or No Deal Island’

Mitchell was a fan of watching Mariano on screen. She admitted that they would never align due to their different personalities in the game.

She told Us that it would never work between them because of her strong and unchangeable personality. She emphasized that it just wouldn't work out.

Mitchell revealed that she was able to let go of the tension with Mariano after leaving the banker's island.

"We have to make sure we keep our game separate from real life," she explained. "When you're competing for the chance to change your life and your family's life for millions of dollars, the stakes are high. These prizes are unlike anything you'll find in any other program. You need to focus on your strengths and play to the best of your abilities. For me, that means leveraging my knowledge of competitive reality, strategy, and gaming. I don't feel bad about it - it's just what I happen to excel at."

Season 1 of Deal or No Deal Island can be streamed on Peacock.

Editor's P/S:

Dr. Stephanie Mitchell's encounter with Boston Rob Mariano on "Deal or No Deal Island" was a testament to the blurring of lines between reality and entertainment in competitive reality television. Mitchell's admiration for Mariano's Survivor prowess made it challenging to separate his on-screen persona from the game they were now playing. Despite their clashes during the season, Mitchell recognized the importance of compartmentalizing their in-game rivalry from their personal lives.

Mitchell's experience highlights the psychological impact that reality TV stars can have on contestants who are both fans and competitors. Mariano's reputation as a strategic mastermind cast a long shadow over the competition, creating a sense of unease for opponents who knew his tactics. However, Mitchell's ability to navigate this tension and ultimately reconcile with Mariano demonstrates that it is possible to separate the game from personal relationships, even in the high-stakes environment of competitive reality television.