Taj From SWV Is A 'Survivor'
I was shocked when I read a blog post about Taj being a cast member and wasn't sure what to think. I saw SWV on tour with Bobby Brown, En Vogue and Bell Biv DeVoe a couple summers ago and was disappointed that Taj, Coko and Lelee were moving around like old ladies on the stage. Five minutes into that 20 minute set at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles, Lelee kicked her shoes off and joked that "things weren't the same." It was clear that she was referring to her energy level.
So I wondered is Taj going to be able to hang with all of the robust physical activities that the jungle excursion demands.
In her introduction video for Survivor the mother of two boys and wife of former NFL player Eddie George explained why she wanted to do the show and was surprisingly candid about her intentions to back stab competitors in her pursuit of the grand prize.
She made it clear that she is not on the show because she needs the money to pay her mortgage. If she wins, the money would benefit her foundation, Visions With Infinite Possibilities, which supports female victims of domestic violence and their children.
She is banking on some of her competitors underestimating her, thinking that she doesn't care about the money because of her singing career and rich husband. But she describes herself as a tomboy who is determined to win.
Actually, she said that her husband and sons gave her an ultimatum: "Don't come home without the money."
However, Taj did say a couple things on her intro video that
suggests that she is going to be great for reality TV. First, she admitted that
she is snippy and will try to exercise patience on the show. We all know
that these shows are set up to pit the snippy against the instigators, so there
will likely be at least one good catfight ahead that will make its rounds as a
viral hit. And considering that Taj wrote a book called Player HateHER: How To Avoid The
Beat Down And Live In A Drama-Free World, I would be concerned about
any of her castmates who might try to cross this Broklynite.
Taj also joked that she was not concerned about starving out in the Brazilian jungle. Just like a camel can feed off of the food stored in its humps, Taj was prepared to live off of her "belly fat".
When SWV released their debut, It's About Time, in 1992, I interviewed Taj for a cover story for Hype Hair. Based on her introduction
video she appears to be just as comical and down-to-earth as she was then.
It would be cool to see her make it far in the competition.
Though after Survivor she will resume her show dates with Sisters With Voices, for now SWV can stand for Sister With a Vision.
-Ms. Potts
-Concerned in Dallas
My Bellys achin in Omaha