Netflix’s reality competition The Circle has no business being as addictive as it is, but with contestants like Sammie Cimarelli, it’s impossible not to let that autoplay roll on to the next episode. Sammie Cimarelli, a Puerto Rican and Italian bisexual woman, entered the game on day one of season 1 and instantly scored plenty of attention. In the end, she won $10,000 as the fan favorite and placed third. So, what is she up to a year later? We’re getting into it.
Sammie played her cards very well on The Circle, and the fans loved her so much that she went on to become one of the most-followed contestants from season 1. To the other players in the competition, Sammie presented herself as herself – well, a single version of herself, that is. She posted sweet pictures and sexy pictures, was open about her bisexuality and her loud, proud, party-girl persona. But as the game progressed, she revealed her depth. When another female player started a group chat titled “Skinny Queens,” she balked at the concept of judging people based on their size or appearance. When fellow finalist Shubham was feeling rejected and alone, she opened up her DMs and offered him a safe place to chat.
As a behavioral specialist working with children on the Autism spectrum, Sammie clearly had the know-how to make the other players feel seen, heard, and safe with her. But then she went a step further and opened up about her own family life as well. Her mother died when she was just a baby, and since her father was unable to care for her, her 20-year-old aunt took her in and raised her as her own. The authenticity and realness traveled through those Circle screens and made everyone feel deeply connected to Sammie from Miami.
At the time of filming, the Delco, PA native, with degrees in Psychology and Criminology, had moved from her home to Miami where she was thriving and aiming to continue her education in graduate school. She was also in a relationship with Kenny Gamble. Things have since changed.
After skipping a semester to film The Circle, Sammie finally received her Masters in Applied Behavior Analysis. And as for social media, the girl who became one of the first two influencers in season 1 of The Circle is now became a real Instagram Influencer and brand ambassador for Savage x Fenty. Her feed is overflowing with stunning, goofy, and fun pictures of herself flaunting the brand flawlessly. But there’s no Kenny Gamble in sight.
The biggest news is that she’s made the Influencer jump and moved to Los Angeles. She spends her days with her growing plant family and her adorable pups. Whether she’s hiking up to the Hollywood sign or spending an afternoon on the beach, she’s clearly loving life.
Sources: Sammie’s Instagram
