eddie george and Taj George in realities series

A contestant on the latest installment of Survivor will likely have a strong following in central Ohio.

Taj Johnson-George is one of 16 contestants vying to win $1 million in the show's 16th season that was scheduled to premiere on Thursday night.

Johnson-George has been in the spotlight before as part of the Grammy-nominated R&B group, SWV. Now she is taking center stage in Survivor: Tocantins - The Brazilian Highlands, 10TV's Andrea

"I wasn't going to be eating any bugs," Johnson-George said. "I'm not eating any baby embryos. I'm just not doing that!"

In addition to the legions of music fans she has across the U.S., Johnson-George, 37, is the spouse of a favorite son, former Ohio State Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George.

The show's producers went looking for a current or former NFL player's wife to try to outwit, outplay and outlast all the others and Johnson-George said she was game, Cambern reported.

"I think they were looking for someone posh, prissy, (and) comfortable in her posh setting - not being comfortable being out in the woods - they got me, the tomboy from Brooklyn," Johnson-George said.

She said that she had never seen a single episode of the original reality show.

"I had to watch them back-to-back-to-back and I thought, 'What am I getting myself into?'" Johnson-George said.

Eddie George said that he never had any doubt that his wife had what it takes to compete.

"That's what I love about her," George said. "She's so independent. She has dreams, goals that she wants to fulfill."

Learning to swim was at the top of Johnson-George's to-do list.

"I said you couldn't swim all this time (but) all of a sudden you're going on "Survivor," you can swim like Michael Phelps," George said.

The couple has been married for five years and has a son together and another from a previous relationship, Cambern reported.

"(Eddie) may walk on water in Columbus, but here we keep him right on the ground," Johnson-George said. "We keep him level here."

Johnson-George said that she can overcome the backstabbing in Brazil and has a plan to kill the other competitors with kindness.

"I'm a friendly person," Johnson-George said. "I can make the devil feel loved."

Eddie George does not doubt that at all. He has faith that his wife will go far in both "Survivor" and in the game of life.

"Her resilience and her spirit - that's what people are going to come to love and that's what I love about her is her spirit," George said.

FROM R&B TO REALITY: SWV’S TAJ DOES SURVIVOR

Well then of course you remember TAJ (nee Taj Johnson-George), the most statuesque of the trio. And guess what, she’s got a new gig! Looks like the singer will be testing her tough on the CBS reality series Survivor: Toucantins. According to the show’s website:

In addition to her music career, Taj is also an accomplished writer. The author of “Player HateHER: How To Avoid The Beat Down And Live In A Drama Free World,” she tries to practice what she preaches as her true pride and life’s focus lies within her family. The wife of Heisman Trophy winner and former Tennessee Titan running back Eddie George, she warns all opponents, “I’m not the average NFL wife and mother.”

Taj is no stranger to fighting for survival. Over the years, she has spoken openly about childhood abuse and says that she’s naturally distrustful and perhaps one of the most underestimated players on the island.

“I am literally, truly a survivor, who has survived more things you can ever imagine.”

Hey, it’s a recession. And as long as that CBS check clears, I say good for her.

How random is this! But remember SWV? Of COURSE you remember SWV!