Who is Mai, player 287, in Squid Game: The Challenge?

If you're anything like us, then you will have raced through the every episode of Squid Game: The Challenge, with the final episode dropping on Netflix today [7th December 2023]. The new reality series sees 456 contestants from around the world compete for a cash prize of $4.56million, by completing a series of games and tasks inspired by the drama series Squid Game.

In the second set of episodes, things really went up a gear with tricky tasks, betrayals, and many more players eliminated, with three players making it to the final episode: Phill, Sam and Mai.

*Spoilers*

Netflix

Eventually, Mai was named the winner of the show, after beating Phill in a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors in the final round, which saw every single round giving them the chance to trial a key, and see if it would unlock the safe with the money in. After a series of failed attempts, Mai was crowned the winner, walking away with over $4million. So who is Mai, aka player 287. Here's what you need to know about her.

How old is Mai?

Player 287, aka Mai, is 55 years old.

Where does Mai live?

Mai grew up in Vietnam but left aged eight, and was nearly killed when a solider saw her move in a killing field. Now she lives in Virginia, and is a single mum and has one granddaughter. In her spare time she loves to garden and travel.

What is Mai's job?

Mai originally joined the Navy and worked there for 20 years, but from 2013 she began working as an immigration adjudicator, where she reviews visas of non-immigrant students who want to study in the United States.

Netflix

Where is Mai now, and what did she do with her Squid Game: The Challenge winnings?

After buying a nice Ralph Lauren dress to wear on the Squid Game: The Challenge press tour, Mai started renovations on her house. She hopes to build a little boat dock in their garden, before using the money to help others.

"My heart is with people, animals, and climate change," she told Netflix. "If we continue what we’re doing, there won’t be a future for all the little kids growing up right now."

Squid Game: The Challenge is now available in full on Netflix

Lydia Venn

Senior Entertainment and Lifestyle Writer

Lydia Venn is Cosmopolitan UK’s Senior Entertainment and Lifestyle Writer. She covers everything from , to the latest celebrity news. She also writes across our work/life section regularly creating , covering exciting new releases and sharing the latest must-haves. In her role she’s interviewed everyone from Margot Robbie to Niall Horan, and her work has appeared on an episode of . After completing a degree in English at the University of Exeter, Lydia moved into journalism, writing for the , before working as Features Editor at , where she spoke on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour and Talk Radio. She has an encyclopedic knowledge of Gilmore Girls and 00s teen movies, and in her free time can be found with a margarita in hand watching the Real Housewives on repeat. Find her on .

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