Remember Zeke Smith from Survivor? The reality TV star is now engaged. That’s right, Zeke proposed to Nico Santos on stage at the 2022 GLAAD Media Awards, four years after they first met at the same event.
Read on Zeke Smith Biography to learn more about him.
Zeke Smith and Nico Santos’ Relationship
Zeke Smith first met the love of his life, Nico Santos, in April 2018 at the 29th GLAAD Media Awards. However, the two kept it quiet until June of that year, and then Zeke let the world know they were dating via a tweet — “I guess everyone knows about my hot 25 year old boyfriend. Oh, haaayyy @nicosantos”
Exactly four years after their first meeting, Zeke got down on one knee and proposed to Nico in front of a roaring crowd at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
“He said yes. I am the luckiest guy in the world. Thank you @glaad and @tiffanyandco for making it happen,” Zeke posted to his IG on April 3, 2022, to reveal the big news. https://thesanddollarlv.com/
Similarly, Nico wrote on his IG, “I said yes. You have my heart forever @zekerchief.”
Congratulations to both stars.
Did you know: Before Zeke came out as gay, he was in a relationship with Hannah Shapiro, another contestant on Survivor.
Zeke Smith Before Surgery
Before the surgery, Zeke Smith looked no different than he does now. However, the reality TV star admitted that he felt very lonely and didn’t have many friends before.
Notably, when Jeff Varner came out as transgender on Survivor, Zeke “suffered a pretty severe bout of depression, like a lot of people.” He confessed that he almost failed Harvard and had to live at home in despair.
“I watched 20 seasons of Survivor and it took me so far. I had an adventure and it got me through. Little by little, I got my life back,” Zeke explained how the game show helped him get his life back.
Additionally, Zeke also thanked his fans for the overwhelming support he received during that difficult time.
Furthermore, Jeff Varner losing his job for causing Zeke pain certainly helps the reality TV star a little. Additionally, Jeff later reached out to Zeke on social media to publicly apologize and compare his actions to “assault.”
When it was all said and done, Zeke revealed that he wasn’t ashamed of being transgender. Instead, he just wanted to avoid being remembered as the first transgender contestant to appear on Survivor. “I just wanted to have an adventure and play a great game. I just wanted to be known for my game,” he explained.
What is Zeke Smith’s birth name?
Zeke Smith never liked his birth name. So, because he was into martial arts as a child, he felt like he “identified” with Tum Tum from the 3 Ninjas series. So he insisted that everyone around him call him Tum Tum from then on.
And they did! Until he was old enough. “They called me Tum Tum for a long time until people had to say, ‘We can’t call you Tum Tum anymore,’” he recalls.
Zeke Smith As A Child And As A Teenager
Zeke Smith’s favorite things to do as a child were eat and practice martial arts. He even competed in the National Taekwondo Championships in Orlando, FL when he was around 10 years old.
To further recall his past, he shared that Garth Brooks was the soundtrack to his childhood, and the Oklahoma City bombing happened when he was in first grade.
In his teenage years, Zeke was a bright student, ranked as one of the top 16 debaters in the nation in his high school. But then he got the plague and things went from bad to worse.
Zeke Smith’s work
Zeke Smith is a wealth manager turned screenwriter, comedian, activist, and reality TV star. Last we checked, he was also serving as a creative consultant and contributor to the Netflix documentary Disclosure: Trans Lives on Screen.
But Zeke’s main job is comedy writing. He spends most of his day writing comedy scripts. Although no one pays him to do it, his work has been highly commended in writing competitions such as Slamdance, Final Draft Big Break, and Screencraft.
In addition to writing, Zeke enjoys storytelling and motivating people. With a background in theater, debate, and improv, Zeke’s expertise includes a unique and powerful blend of presence, argument, and humor to deliver educational and inspirational messages.
Educationally, Zeke graduated from Harvard University with a degree in Religious Studies. His research focused on biblical interpretation and LGBTQ-inclusive theology.
How old is Zeke Smith?
Zeke Smith is 34 years old in 2022.
He is 8 years younger than his boyfriend Nico Santos.
Zeke Smith Family
While Zeke Smith may not have had many friends growing up, he was never short of love. His family accepted his differences and supported him every step of the way. It’s no surprise that when his father, Sam, appeared on Survivor, viewers adored him.
“Yeah, this is my hero. This is the strong guy here. This is the guy I look up to and the guy I look up to,” Zeke shared on the show.
As for Zeke’s mother, she lives with her two dogs (Roxie and Sophie) in Texas.
Zeke Smith Height
Zeke Smith is 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm) tall.
Related FAQs
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What is Zeke Smith’s net worth?
Zeke Smith boasts a net worth of over $400 thousand in 2022.
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When is Zeke Smith’s birthday?
Admittedly, he celebrates his birthday on January 25.
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Where is Zeke Smith from?
This reality TV star is from Oklahoma City, OK.