Melissa is a well-known reality TV star and outdoors enthusiast who captured audiences’ attention with her appearance on Discovery Channel’s intense survival show, Naked and Afraid. Known for her resilience and deep connection to nature, Melissa has built a strong following by embracing the wild with confidence and skill. Over the years, she’s become especially passionate about mountain biking and hiking—two activities that allow her to explore rugged terrain while staying active in the great outdoors.

But Melissa isn’t just an adventurer—she’s also a talented content creator. Through her popular YouTube channel, MelissaBackwoods, she shares engaging videos focused on essential survival tools, particularly knives, as well as detailed reviews of camping gear. Her practical advice and hands-on demonstrations have resonated with outdoor lovers around the world, helping her grow the channel to over 1.4 million subscribers—a true testament to her influence in the survival and bushcraft community.

Before all the fame and viral videos, Melissa was a student at Fenton High School in Illinois, where she began shaping the disciplined and determined mindset she now brings to every challenge. She comes from a supportive family; her parents, Bill and Maggie Miller, played a key role in nurturing her independence and love for the natural world. Today, Melissa continues to inspire others by living authentically off the grid, sharing her journey one adventure at a time.