Bio
Eliza Orlins is an American public defender best known as a contestant on the 9th (Vanuatu - Islands of Fire) and 16th (Micronesia - Fans vs Favorites) seasons of the reality competition Survivor.
Orlins was born in New York City to parents Susan and Steve. She grew up splitting her time between NYC and China.
When she was four years old, she and her parents went to Beijing where they adopted her sister, Sabrina. Sixteen months later, her youngest sister, Emily, was born.
Her father's career moved them to Hong Kong where she spent two years attending Hong Kong International School. Her family then moved back to New York until 1995 when they moved to Washington, D.C.
In 2001, Orlins graduated from the Sidwell Friends School where she ran varsity track and cross country. She also completed the Marine Corps Marathon with the AIDS Marathon Training Program her junior year.
At Sidwell, she also wrote and edited for the school newspaper and was the assistant director of the spring musical "Damn Yankees."
In 2005, Orlins graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Syracuse University in international relations and political science and a minor in Chinese. At Syracuse, she was a Dean's Scholar and made Dean's List every semester.
Orlins also received Phi Beta Kappa honours upon her graduation. As a member of Alpha Phi Sorority, she was the vice president of New Member Recruitment, for which her chapter won the award for best overall recruitment at their national convention.
Orlins graduated with her J.D. from Fordham University School of Law in December of 2008. At Fordham, Orlins participated in many school activities.
She describes herself as insanely over-committed, but happy. She was the Co-Intraschool Editor of the Brendan Moore Trial Advocates (Fordham's Mock Trial Team), the Co-Symposium Editor for the Urban Law Journal and the President of the Fordham Law Democrats.
For the Moores, Orlins competed in multiple trial advocacy competitions, bringing home an individual award for Best Opening Statement at the National Trial Advocacy Competition held at Michigan State University in Fall 2006.
For the Urban Law Journal, Orlins and her co-editor held a symposium on the constitutionality of lethal injection.
Orlins has worked for the Legal Aid Society, criminal defence division, Onondaga County District Attorney's Office, a large New York law firm, and interned for a New York Supreme Court Judge.
Orlins describes herself as an intense, vivacious, driven and politically-active woman who loves reality television, sports, especially New York and Syracuse teams, and her puppy Oscar. She says she brings her competitive nature, athleticism and enthusiasm to Survivor.
Orlins lives in Manhattan with her boyfriend Justin and her Yorkshire Terrier, Oscar.