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Dallas' 'Survivor' mom didn't win the million, but wants to raise it

Dallas' Missy Payne made the final three on Survivor: Blood vs. Water 2, which aired in late 2014.

The mom who owns Express Cheer competitive cheerleading academy in Dallas, played CBS' popular reality show with her daughter, Baylor Wilson.

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She didn't win the million dollars, but now she wants to raise it.

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Payne is putting her efforts into a charity called Cheer 4 Your Life, a non-profit organization that provides supportive funding for kids who want to participate in athletic and performance-based programs.

The charity's big event "It's A Jungle Out There" gives fans a chance to meet Payne and a bunch of Survivor players and reality stars. The event is Saturday night at Lofty Spaces ($150).

We caught up with Payne to see how she's doing since spending 39 days on the show last year.

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Tell us about your focus now:

I always wanted to scholarship kids and I do it out of my own pocket now. So I created Cheer 4 Your Life. We have been helping kids like soccer players, a dancer, a singer a couple cheerleaders, a ski racer, a girl who wants to be an Olympic weightlifter. We sit down with our committee and decide how much we can give. We want to keep these kids in a positive atmosphere. It only takes one person to get them on the right track.

Tell us about your annual benefit on Saturday:

We're having a dinner. There's going to be performances (including by Wilson, who sings). We're also going to compete on these enormous challenges outside. People will be able to bet on the winners and the money goes into a pot and is all donated at the end. Dress is casual. We called it Jungle chic. I feel like I'm directing a production with a charity event and a Survivor reunion so it makes it even better. ... People have asked, "What is your goal?" I might not have won a million dollars, but I am sure I'm going to raise it.

What is up with Baylor?

Baylor is living in Nashville as a singer, songwriter hoping to become rich and famous. But her entire band is flying to entertain at this party. She's also competing (in the challenges on Saturday).

What has been the reaction from Dallas folks to your appearance on Survivor?

My friends and family were avid Survivor watchers. I'll run into old friends and they'll have watched every episode. I felt very supported. People (strangers) will walk up to you and think they know you they spent 11 weeks in the living room. They'll say, "Missy from Survivor. Oh my God!" It's been all positive I've had more people write in that the mother-daughter duo was fun to watch.

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What is the biggest misconception about being on Survivor?

I've been told I was a completely underrated player because I wasn't as outspoken as other people.

What are some of the biggest things we don't see on TV?

I think the most important thing: I was in control of every single vote except (when daughter Baylor was blindsided by eventual winner Natalie). That was the only vote I wasn't in on. People didn't understand that. I was also not the one who made our tribe run out of rice. It's so funny how people latch on to something. I was gone from that tribe before it happened.

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Have you fully recovered from the experience? You suffered a severe ankle sprain on the show.

It was six months of rehab. I am fully recovered and back to running. it's not perfect. I dropped 23 pounds (on the show) and gained 30 and now back to normal. You start to hoard food and water and you don't know when you're going to be fed next. It's just very sensitive. People don't realize how tough the game is. Not physically, not even mentally, but the emotional stuff, mainly because having my daughter there.

Would you play Survivor again? The next season (airing in September) is a second-chance season of former contestants.

I'm not jealous (of them), because it's too soon. But I am crazy to play it again. But next time I'm not playing it with my daughter.

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You can learn more about Saturday's benefit and Payne's charity at c4yl.com.