459 - What Led You To Win The Squid Game Challenge? Mai Whelan - Season 1 Winner

Mai Whelan is a Vietnamese American woman who became the Season 1 winner of Squid Game: The Challenge. Mai shares her life story, beginning as a young refugee who fled Vietnam at eight years old after the fall of Saigon, to becoming a U.S. Navy service member at just eighteen. She went on to serve two decades in the Navy before continuing her public service career as a visa interview adjudicator for the U.S. government.

Her journey is defined by resilience, sacrifice, and a determination to rebuild life from the ground up — the same strength she later carried into the intense world of Squid Game: The Challenge.

Competing against 456 contestants, Mai relied on her discipline, clarity, emotional intelligence, and unwavering composure to make it to the finale and ultimately win the $4.56 million prize. What set her apart was not just strategy, but her ability to stay true to her values under pressure.

In this podcast, Mai opens up about the experiences that shaped her — from military life to motherhood, from navigating the immigration system to surviving fierce competition on a global stage.

She also reflects on what kept her going every. Mai is a testament that no matter your background or hardships, you can rise, rebuild, and redefine your future.

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Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth Nguyen

Visit vietnamstorybank.com today for more information.

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