Fox’s ‘The Snake’ challenges contestants on every front—physically, mentally, and socially. With a unique elimination format where players must save one another in a chain, the last two standing risk being voted out, which adds a layer of thrill and complexity to the game. In the first season, Amanda Short stepped into the game with a clear sense of confidence. As a practicing lawyer, she believed her skills in reading people, navigating high-stakes scenarios, and managing manipulation would give her an edge. She considered the game’s deception familiar territory and hoped her professional instincts would help her outwit her competitors and go far.
Amanda Short’s Alliances and Friendships Helped Her During the Season
Amanda Lynn Short entered the season with a strong presence that immediately made an impression on her fellow contestants. Her background as a lawyer gave her an edge, and she carried herself with confidence, poise, and a certain analytical sharpness that didn’t go unnoticed. Early on, Mena Samara was tasked with forming a team of six, and Amanda was the very first person she selected. While Amanda initially saw this as a strategic advantage, the twist of the game flipped that assumption.
It was the other group that got the opportunity to participate in the challenge to become the Snake, which left Amanda feeling vulnerable. What seemed like a position of power quickly became one of uncertainty. Still, she wasn’t left hanging as Mena saved her once again during the elimination round, reaffirming Amanda’s place in the game. In return, Amanda chose to save Jacob Buchholze, a pastor, which helped her further solidify alliances and carve a path forward in the competition.
Amanda Short is Shining Bright in Her Role as a Lawyer Today
After graduating from high school in 2014, Amanda Short attended the University of Mary Washington, where she pursued a double major in philosophy and psychology. It was an early indicator of her sharp analytical mind and deep interest in human behavior. While excelling in the classroom, she also held significant campus roles, such as serving as an executive member of the student government and leading as captain of the cheerleading squad. Determined to enter the legal field, she earned her paralegal certificate from George Mason University in 2019. That same year, she began her JD at the University of Richmond School of Law, where she truly came into her own. During her time there, she served as the Senior Manuscripts Editor for the Journal of Law and Technology and held leadership roles in multiple law associations. In 2022, she passed her bar exams and started her exciting career.
Amanda’s professional journey in law began to take shape in 2018 when she interned at the Fredericksburg Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office. That same year, she began working with the Northern Virginia Human Trafficking Initiative as a Client Advocate, where she developed a deeper understanding of victim advocacy and criminal justice. From July 2018 to September 2019, she balanced her academic commitments with this role. Alongside her studies, she gained hands-on experience as a paralegal for Charles B. Roberts, a personal injury attorney. Her ability to manage real case files and assist with litigation preparations helped sharpen her legal instincts early on.
In May 2021, she returned to the Fredericksburg Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, this time as a law clerk. She also interned with the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society, the US Department of Justice, and Henrico County, which expanded her legal exposure across different governmental and public service sectors. After graduating, she secured a position as a Judicial Law Clerk at Chesterfield County in August 2022. Since September 2023, she has been working as an Associate Attorney at Moran Reeves & Conn PC, where she continues to grow professionally in a respected and fast-paced legal environment.
Amanda Short Has Many Interesting and Exciting Avenues in Her Life
Amanda Short is a force in every sense of the word. She is unapologetically confident, endlessly dynamic, and someone who owns her narrative no matter where life takes her. Whether she’s in a courtroom or on a pageant stage, Amanda shows up with intention and impact. In 2023, she was crowned Miss Apple Blossom Festival and named first runner-up at Miss Virginia, making it clear that grace, grit, and ambition can all live in the same space. Even with a thriving legal career, she’s not one to limit herself and openly embraces the possibility of a parallel path in the world of reality TV and entertainment.
She has a bold spirit of exploration, both in life and in the air. In May 2025, she went skydiving, an exhilarating experience she added to her ever-growing list of accomplishments. She’s also known for her standout sense of style, which she shares through her curated Amazon storefront, giving followers a peek into her fashion-forward world. She currently lives in Richmond, Virginia, where she balances her professional commitments with a strong sense of social responsibility. In July 2024, she joined the board of Safe Harbor, an organization that supports survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.
Amanda is passionate about creating change, expressing herself, and living boldly. Her multifaceted life reflects a person who is not afraid to evolve and who finds power in her individuality. As for her love life, she seems to prefer keeping that part of her world private, or perhaps she’s simply focused on becoming the best version of herself before anything else. Either way, she continues to write her story with clarity and a distinct sense of self.
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