Katie Fites is a 23-year-old marketing manager from Jacksonville, Florida, competing on NBC’s The Traitors: New Blood. She’s the youngest contestant in the 22-person civilian cast.
Youth isn’t the whole story here. Katie describes herself as an unusually strong people person, someone who can connect with strangers quickly and stay comfortable in unfamiliar social situations. That confidence comes from a mix of marketing work, entertainment-related experience, and years of dance and theater training before she ever set foot in a Scottish castle.
The premiere initially introduced Katie as a Faithful, but the season quickly placed her in its first major twist. She became an Accomplice alongside Xavier Scruggs before being selected by original Traitors Joe Vanella and Tomica Adams as the season’s third Traitor in Episode 3.
Latest status (spoilers through Episode 9): Katie Fites remains in the game through Episode 9 as a Traitor. She began as a Faithful, completed the Accomplice task alongside Xavier Scruggs, and was selected by Joe Vanella and Tomica Adams in Episode 3. Xavier was murdered and eliminated instead. Episode 9 aired Thursday, November 5, 2026, on NBC.
Katie Fites’ Age, Hometown and Job
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Age | 23 |
| Hometown | Jacksonville, Florida |
| Current occupation | Marketing Manager |
| Season | The Traitors: New Blood |
| Cast status | Youngest contestant |
| Self-described strength | Connecting with people |
| Self-declared superlative | “Tiniest But Mightiest” |
Katie’s hometown and occupation are consistently confirmed across cast reveals and coverage: she’s a Jacksonville native working as a marketing manager, and at 23, she’s the youngest player in this season’s civilian cast.
From Jacksonville to The Traitors Castle
Katie’s path to the castle runs through Jacksonville’s Bolles School, where she graduated in 2021 after years involved with the Bolles Dance Company and performances in school productions of High School Musical and Mamma Mia. From there, she attended Florida State University, earning her degree in 2025.
That background gives her more texture than a standard cast bio. She’s spent years in performance settings before ever considering a competition show, learning to be comfortable in front of people well before marketing became her profession.
Katie Fites’ Marketing and Entertainment Background
Katie’s official cast occupation is marketing manager, though her professional experience extends into entertainment as well. She’s described herself as already working “in entertainment,” where she says she’s used to interviewing people and helping others feel comfortable in unfamiliar settings.
Her professional background gives her experience communicating with different audiences, while Katie herself identifies her ability to form connections quickly as one of her biggest personal strengths. That’s a distinction worth keeping clear: her jobs have exposed her to a wide range of people, but the confidence she brings into the game comes from her own read on herself, not an assumed skill tied automatically to her résumé. According to thecinemaholic, Katie previously worked as a pharmacy assistant at A1A Pharmacy in 2020, studied Communication and Media Studies at Florida State University (graduating in 2025), and since May 2025 has worked as a Marketing and Media Sales Partner at 904 Happy Hour in Jacksonville.
Before the show, Katie had been rejected from a job she considered her dream job, shortly before the Traitors offer arrived. She told Jacksonville Magazine in October 2026 that the show had opened doors and given her visibility, that she was open to different career opportunities, and that she wanted to represent Jacksonville positively.
Katie Fites Says Being a People Person Could Be Her Biggest Advantage
Katie has described herself as an “incredible people person,” someone who’s been exposed to different kinds of people through different jobs and can build connections with strangers quickly, connections she says can last beyond a first meeting.
Three ideas run through her pre-season comments. First, connecting quickly: she believes she can establish relationships faster than most other players. Second, reading the room: she’s pointed to her comfort in socially intense settings as something that helps her gauge who to trust. Third, competition: Katie has directly called herself “incredibly competitive,” a trait that sits in interesting tension with her friendly, easygoing public persona.
Her clearest pre-show strategy quote captures all three:
“I’m going to give them hell. I am ready to do what feels natural. I’m going to trust my gut going into this, and I think that I have the potential to make a really fun environment while also reading people, connecting with people, and then if necessary, backstabbing people if it saves me.”
Katie Fites’ Dance and Theater Experience
Katie’s time with the Bolles Dance Company and her performances in High School Musical and Mamma Mia gave her early, sustained experience with presentation and communication in front of an audience.
The more interesting question isn’t whether that performance background makes her a better liar. It’s whether years of being comfortable performing and communicating publicly changes how she carries herself inside the castle, where composure and social ease matter as much as anything she says.
Why Katie Fites Wanted to Be a Traitor
Before the season began, Katie said she’d gone back and forth but ultimately wanted to play as a Traitor. Her reasoning centered on control: the role offers some say over who goes home and protects a player from nightly murder. She also said she liked the idea of the role pushing her outside her comfort zone.
That preference turned out to matter more than a simple wish. At the start of the season, Katie was a Faithful, with Joe Vanella and Tomica Adams selected as the original Traitors. But the premiere introduced a twist that put Katie directly in the path of the Traitor role she said she wanted. After completing the Accomplice task, Katie was ultimately selected by Joe Vanella and Tomica Adams as the season’s third Traitor, fulfilling the preference she had expressed before the season began.
Katie Fites and the Accomplice Twist
The premiere’s biggest storyline for Katie wasn’t her Faithful or Traitor status. It was her selection, alongside Xavier Scruggs, as one of the season’s first two Accomplices.
After Joe and Tomica became the original Traitors, they secretly chose Katie and Xavier as Accomplices, assigning them covert tasks to complete in plain sight among the Faithful. Both Katie and Xavier successfully completed the Death Warrant task, leaving Joe and Tomica to decide which Accomplice they wanted to recruit as their third Traitor.
NBC’s premiere coverage confirms the selection and the setup but doesn’t provide a detailed on-screen explanation for why Joe and Tomica chose Katie and Xavier specifically over any other Faithful. Katie was ultimately selected by Joe and Tomica as the season’s third Traitor, while Xavier was murdered and eliminated from the game.
Katie Fites’ Role on The Traitors: Episodes 1-9
Katie Fites’ role changed significantly during the first four episodes of The Traitors: New Blood. She entered the castle as a Faithful, became one of the first Accomplices alongside Xavier Scruggs, and was ultimately recruited as the season’s third Traitor. By Episode 4, her new role was already attracting suspicion from other players.
Episode 1: Katie Fites Starts as a Faithful
Katie entered The Traitors: New Blood as a Faithful alongside the rest of the civilian cast. Her first major involvement came when original Traitors Joe Vanella and Tomica Adams selected her and Xavier Scruggs as Accomplices.
Katie and Xavier were given a covert task to complete among the Faithful. Their performance would help determine which of them would ultimately have a chance to join the Traitors.
Episode 2: Katie Competes to Become a Traitor
Katie continued playing as an Accomplice in Episode 2, working alongside Xavier as the two contestants competed for the opportunity to become the season’s third Traitor.
Both Katie and Xavier successfully completed the Death Warrant task. That meant the final decision was left to Joe and Tomica, who had to decide which Accomplice they wanted to bring into the Traitor group.
Katie made the case that she had managed to stay under the radar among the Faithful as she competed for the Traitor spot.
Episode 3: Katie Becomes the Third Traitor
Episode 3 marked the biggest change in Katie’s game. Joe Vanella and Tomica Adams selected her over Xavier Scruggs to become the season’s third Traitor.
Xavier had circulated Katie’s name around the castle, which made Joe and Tomica question whether he would be reliable as a potential Traitor partner. Katie was therefore recruited into the turret alongside Joe and Tomica, while Xavier was murdered and eliminated from the game.
Katie’s original goal of becoming a Traitor had now become a reality, but the change also meant she had to begin hiding her new role from the Faithful.
In the turret, Tomica welcomed Katie warmly: “I think that you’re lovely. People like you, and I think you’re gonna have to play on that. And we’re counting on you to fly under the radar,” according to the Patriot Ledger. In a confessional, Tomica added that “we are excited to have Katie as our tiny traitor.” Joe’s take on the pick was more tactical: “If she has some close friends and a clique, it’s going to work out great for us, or it’s going to backfire,” as reported by thethings. Katie said she was “so happy” about the chance to do “bad things” with Joe and Tomica, thethings also reported.
At the Episode 3 Round Table, suspicion briefly touched Katie, but her fellow Traitors covered for her. Joe declared that Xavier “didn’t bring up Katie’s name once” and said, “I don’t really have suspicion on Katie,” while Tomica added, “We need to move on to something else,” according to realityblurred.
Episode 4: Katie Comes Under Suspicion
By Episode 4, Katie was operating as one of the season’s three Traitors alongside Joe and Tomica. Her recruitment, however, quickly created a new problem because Xavier’s earlier suspicions about her continued to influence the conversation after his elimination.
In the Episode 4 turret, the Traitors debated their next murder, and Tomica pushed for Logan Smith: “He is super smart, and he’s too organized.” Katie added that Logan always speaks up at the Round Table, and Tomica concluded, “I don’t see any negatives to murdering Logan,” with Joe agreeing, according to the Patriot Ledger. It was Katie’s first murder decision as a full Traitor. Logan, however, had his own reasons to watch Katie. Xavier Scruggs had been “picking up vibes” that Katie seemed “nervous and anxious” and planned “to keep an eye on Katie,” and Logan shared what he heard with Michael Foote, Ben McDonnell, and Abbey Benjamin, as reported by thethings. Logan later told Parade that he clocked Xavier throwing Katie under the bus the night before Xavier’s murder, and suspected she was “silencing the person gunning for her.”
The episode ended on a cliffhanger for Katie. During the “Death Parade” mission, Jay Vinnedge named Kriste Lewis (“It’s Kriste!”), then opened the Round Table by declaring, “I believe Miss Katie is a traitor,” according to realityblurred. That put additional attention on Katie as she tried to maintain her relationships with the Faithful while concealing her role in the Traitor group. The two had already clashed: Katie had earlier snapped at Jay’s antics, telling him to get in the cage, realityblurred also reported.
Through Episode 4, Katie remained active in the game as a Traitor, with her biggest challenge becoming the balance between the social connections that helped her secure the role and the suspicion now beginning to surround her. She was also one of seven players safe from murder in the Episode 4 mission, according to realityblurred.
Episode 5: Katie Survives Jay’s Accusation
Episode 5 put Katie directly in the crosshairs when Jay Vinnedge laid out his case against her at the Round Table. She survived by turning his shifting theories back on him: when Jay pivoted to accusing Kriste Lewis, Katie pointed to the inconsistency and the room turned on Jay instead. In the turret, Katie suggested Morgan Cook as the poisoned-apple murder target. She remains an active Traitor through Episode 9.
Episode 6: Katie Helps Take Down Michael Foote
In Episode 6, Katie helped push suspicion onto Michael Foote, deflecting attention away from herself, and the turret (Joe Vanella, Tomica Adams and Katie) survived another week intact. At the FruitGate Round Table, the Faithful dismissed Victor’s correct theory about the cursed apple. Michael Foote was banished by a vote of 8-3-3-1 and revealed as a Faithful.
Episode 7: Katie Votes for Tomica Adams
In Episode 7, the Traitors shortlisted Mark Zgoda, Wyatt Gillespie and Kriste Lewis for murder in the turret. Katie suggested Wyatt Gillespie, who was close to Victor and whose murder would shock the Faithful, but the group chose Mark Zgoda. In the scarecrow mission, Ben McDonnell found a black heart and ejected Katie, making her ineligible for the Power of the Pardon.
At the Round Table, Victor Vollbrechthausen exposed that Tomica Adams had named Katie as her suspect in an earlier conversation, then claimed she had said Kriste Lewis. After that confrontation, Katie voted for Tomica, her fellow Traitor, in the first open crack among the Traitors. Ben McDonnell has also begun to suspect Katie after her unconvincing reaction at breakfast to Mark’s murder. Katie remains in the game, and no Traitor has been caught through seven episodes.
Episode 8: Katie Votes for Tomica Again
In Episode 8, Katie voted for Tomica Adams for the second episode running, her fellow Traitor, in the 10-2 banishment that revealed Tomica as a Traitor, the first Traitor banished all season. Tomica had already been angry in the turret about Katie’s Episode 7 vote for her, after Tomica wrongly named Katie as her suspect to Victor. Nobody at the table treated Katie as a suspect in Episode 8, and she drew no votes herself in this round. With Tomica out, Katie and Joe Vanella are the only two Traitors left, and Katie remains the quiet danger: unsuspected while Joe is now exposed.
Episode 9: Katie Chooses Morgan
In Episode 9, Katie and Joe chose Morgan Cook for the murder, passing over Victor Vollbrechthausen. Katie said killing Victor would be “too obvious” and warned that he might switch chalices, which would bring too much suspicion on Joe. Katie’s own verdict on the choice was blunt: “Sorry, diva.”
At the dinner toast, players could keep their chalice or swap with another player. Katie watched as Joe swapped with Shane Beatty, the only exchange of the night, and Victor’s attempt to swap with Joe was declined. Morgan drank from the poisoned chalice and was revealed as the murder victim the next morning at breakfast. Katie remains the quiet danger: unsuspected while Joe is now exposed. Read the Episode 9 recap for the full story.
Morgan Cook’s exit interviews made clear that Katie was not as unsuspected as the castle believed. Cook told Parade on November 6 that Katie was ‘playing a great game’ and ‘playing very middle of the road,’ and that she had a speech memorized to blow up both of their games. She told Decider she had been on Katie and Joe in her last two days, and believes that is why they murdered her. Cook also said that if Joe is banished, Katie would have to recruit a new Traitor, and that Victor would be the obvious but risky pick.
Katie Fites vs. Xavier Scruggs
| Katie Fites | Xavier Scruggs |
|---|---|
| 23 | 38 |
| Marketing manager | MLB analyst |
| Jacksonville, Florida | Wesley Chapel, Florida |
| Youngest player | Former MLB player |
| Emphasizes people skills | Brings professional sports experience |
| Selected as an Accomplice candidate | Selected as an Accomplice candidate |
The comparison is now a completed part of the season’s Traitor storyline. Katie and Xavier both completed the Accomplice task, meaning their fate rested with Joe Vanella and Tomica Adams rather than task performance. The original Traitors ultimately chose Katie as their third teammate. Xavier had circulated Katie’s name around the castle, creating doubt about whether he would be a reliable Traitor partner. Katie was recruited, while Xavier was murdered.
What Is Katie Fites’ Strategy on The Traitors?
Katie’s stated strategy centers on building relationships quickly, staying adaptable, and using her outgoing personality to make herself likable without losing her competitive edge. She’s said she plans to trust her instincts, connect with as many people as possible, and backstab if it becomes necessary to protect her own position.
Katie’s pre-season emphasis on relationships became immediately relevant once she entered the Accomplice twist. In making her case to Joe and Tomica, Katie argued that she had kept a low profile among the Faithful. After her recruitment, her task changed: she now has to preserve the social connections that made her a viable Traitor pick while concealing her new role alongside Joe and Tomica.
That transition carried immediate risk. Xavier’s earlier suspicions about Katie continued to circulate after his murder, and Jay Vinnedge named Katie as the contestant he believed was a Traitor in Episode 4. Katie therefore entered the turret with additional attention on her as she began her new role as a Traitor.
Is Katie Fites Still on The Traitors?
Yes. Katie Fites remains in the competition through Episode 9 as a Traitor. She began the season as a Faithful, became an Accomplice alongside Xavier Scruggs, and was recruited by Joe Vanella and Tomica Adams as their third Traitor in Episode 3. Xavier was murdered and removed from the game.
Katie Fites’ Connections to Other Contestants
Katie’s defining current game relationships are with Joe Vanella and Tomica Adams, the original Traitors who recruited her in Episode 3. Their relationship is not a normal Faithful alliance: it is a covert partnership requiring them to coordinate murders and manage suspicion while appearing socially independent in the castle.
Xavier Scruggs was Katie’s Accomplice counterpart, not a lasting ally. Both completed the Death Warrant task, but Joe and Tomica selected Katie for recruitment and murdered Xavier. Xavier’s earlier suspicions about Katie subsequently created a potential problem for her because they continued to influence the Faithful conversation after he left.
Available coverage does not establish a confirmed Katie-led Faithful alliance, a documented trust list, or a sustained one-on-one partnership beyond her secret Traitor relationship with Joe and Tomica.
What Makes Katie Fites Different From the Rest of the Cast?
Katie enters this civilian season as the youngest contestant, a marketing professional with entertainment-adjacent experience, someone with a dance and theater background, and a self-described people person who’s comfortable meeting strangers.
Katie openly said she preferred the Traitor role before the season began. The show then gave her a direct route toward it: she started as a Faithful, became an Accomplice, completed the Death Warrant task, and was selected over Xavier Scruggs as the season’s third Traitor.
That full arc, not just her age, job, or theater background, defines Katie’s early game. Her challenge is that recruitment did not erase suspicion; it appears to have left her carrying some of Xavier’s earlier doubts into the next stage of the game.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Katie Fites?
Katie Fites is 23 years old. She is the youngest contestant in the cast of The Traitors: New Blood.
Where is Katie Fites from?
Katie Fites is from Jacksonville, Florida.
What does Katie Fites do for a living?
Katie Fites works as a marketing manager. She has also described herself as having entertainment-related experience.
Is Katie Fites an actress?
Katie Fites has a background in dance and theater, including performances during her time at Bolles. She has also described having entertainment-related experience, but her listed occupation on The Traitors: New Blood is marketing manager.
Is Katie Fites the youngest contestant on The Traitors?
Yes. At 23, Katie Fites is the youngest player in The Traitors: New Blood cast.
Is Katie Fites a Traitor or Faithful?
Katie Fites is a Traitor. She began the season as a Faithful, became an Accomplice alongside Xavier Scruggs, and was recruited as the season’s third Traitor in Episode 3 by Joe Vanella and Tomica Adams.
Is Katie Fites still on The Traitors?
Yes. Katie Fites remains in the game through Episode 9 as one of the season’s two remaining Traitors.
Who are Katie Fites’ fellow Traitors?
Katie Fites’ fellow Traitor is Joe Vanella. Joe and Tomica began the season as the original Traitors and recruited Katie as their third Traitor in Episode 3. Tomica was banished in Episode 8, leaving Joe as Katie’s only fellow Traitor.
Why did Katie Fites want to be a Traitor?
Before the season began, Katie said she preferred being a Traitor because the role would give her more strategic control over who went home while protecting her from being murdered. She also liked the idea of being pushed outside her comfort zone.
Why was Katie Fites chosen over Xavier Scruggs?
Katie and Xavier both completed the Accomplice task, so Joe Vanella and Tomica Adams made the final choice. Xavier had circulated Katie’s name around the castle, which made him appear less reliable as a potential Traitor partner. Katie was recruited, while Xavier was murdered.
What is Katie Fites’ strategy on The Traitors?
Katie’s strategy combines her pre-season focus on building relationships with her new role as a Traitor. During the Accomplice decision, she argued that she had stayed under the radar among the Faithful. After being recruited, she joined Joe Vanella and Tomica Adams as one of the season’s three Traitors and must now manage suspicion while maintaining her social relationships. In Episode 4, Jay Vinnedge publicly identified Katie as the contestant he believed was a Traitor, adding immediate pressure to her new role.
Is Katie Fites under suspicion on The Traitors?
Yes. In Episode 4, Jay Vinnedge publicly identified Katie as the contestant he believed was a Traitor. Xavier Scruggs had also previously circulated Katie’s name, and that earlier suspicion continued to create attention around her after his elimination. In Episode 9, she again drew no suspicion while choosing Morgan Cook for the murder.
How tall is Katie Fites?
Katie Fites has not publicly shared her height, so no verified figure exists. Her official NBC cast superlative was “Tiniest But Mightiest,” and in cast photos she consistently appears shorter than the contestants around her. Based on visual comparison across multiple photos, our estimate puts her at approximately 5 feet 3 inches (160 cm), likely in the 5’2″ to 5’4″ range. This is an estimate, not a confirmed measurement.
