Carolyn is regarded as a strong strategic player. Her gameplay style was likened to the behavior of a "stingray" by Shirin Oskooi, and it helped her infiltrate the majority alliance.
Her strategic play, physical prowess, and possession of a Hidden Immunity Idol brought her to the Final Tribal Council. However, her social game was deemed lacking compared to that of her high-profile fellow finalist, Mike Holloway, and she lost the title of Sole Survivor to him in a 6-1-1 vote.