Stranded in a remote section of the Amazon River rain forest in South America, an Orangeburg woman faced giant snakes, man-eating fish, alligators and hostile native people in her bid for a $1 million prize.

JoAnna Ward, 31, is one of 16 contestants in "Survivor: Amazon," the sixth installment of the popular "reality" series, CBS-TV announced Monday. "Survivor: Amazon" will begin airing in a month.

Ward could not be reached for comment Monday, but according to the CBS-TV Web site, www.cbs.com, "she is doing this to prove to herself that she is truly a survivor outside of life's common adversities" and has the support of family and friends.

She is a school guidance counselor, according to CBS.

The human relations department of Orangeburg Consolidated School District 5 said last year's list of available substitute teachers included "Joanne" Ward of Orangeburg, whose qualifications include guidance.

Ward was born and reared in Niagara Falls, N.Y., and moved to Atlanta, with her family when she was an adolescent, according to a biography posted on the CBS Web site.

She moved to South Carolina to attend college after being recruited on a basketball scholarship. She received her bachelor's degree in English education and her master's degree in education in school guidance counseling from South Carolina State University.

Ward, who is single, described herself as strong, courageous and independent. She has done several commercials and made a brief appearance in the movie "Juwanna Mann."

She considers becoming a born-again Christian as her greatest achievement. She enjoys fellowship with Christian believers and spending time with her son, Dontre'.

Ward is an Aerobics and Fitness Association of America Certified aerobic instructor. She also enjoys tae bo, basketball, biking, hiking, mountain climbing, running and rollerblading.

"Survivor" contestants are divided into two tribes. For the first time on the show, the tribes were separated by sexes -- men vs. women.

Ward and the other women who will comprise the Jaburu tribe are:

-- Deena Bennett, a 35-year-old deputy district attorney from Riverside, Calif.

-- Jeanne Hebert, a 41-year-old marketing director from North Attleboro, Mass.

-- Janet Koth, a 47-year-old homemaker from Manchester, Mo.

-- Shawna Mitchell, a 23-year-old retail saleswoman from Redwood City, Calif.

-- Jenna Morasca, a 21-year-old swimsuit model from Pittsburgh, Pa.

-- Christy Smith, a 24-year-old children's adventure guide from Basalt, Colo.

-- Heidi Strobel, a 24-year-old school gym teacher from Eldon, Mo.

The men comprising the Tambaqui tribe include:

-- Ryan Aiken, a 23-year-old model from Ellicott City, Md.

-- Alex Bell, a 32-year-old triathlon coach from Los Angeles, Calif.

-- Rob Cesternino, a 24-year-old computer projects coordinator from Wantagh, N.Y.

-- Mathew Von Ertfelda, a 33-year-old restaurant designer.

-- Dave Johnson, a 24-year-old rocket scientist from Pasadena, Calif.

-- Butch Lockley, a 50-year-old school principal from Olney, Ill.

-- Daniel Lue, a 27-year-old tax accountant from Houston, Texas.

-- Roger Sexston, a 56-year-old construction company executive from Valencia, Calif.

These select few already have -- to paraphrase the show's motto -- "outwitted, outplayed and outlasted" hundreds of applicants in a rigorous selection process.

For the next "Survivor," producers plan to interview about 800 applicants in March, from which about 48 will be selected for a second round of interviews.

Semifinalists must consent to a background check, provide medical histories and submit to physical and psychological examinations and testing.

Producers say they look for "a diverse group of men and women who represent a broad cross-section of American society."

Contestants must be "strong-willed, outgoing, adventurous, physically and mentally adept, adaptable to new environments" and have "interesting lifestyles, backgrounds and personalities," according to cbs.com

"Survivor" contestants "are forced to band together and carve out a new existence, form a cooperative society, build shelter, gather and catch food," says cbs.com

"The world will watch and experience (their) trials and tribulations as (the contestants) are eliminated one by one ... in yet another remote location. The sole survivor will win $1 million!"

Minus taxes, of course. The other 15 contestants will receive free air fare and accommodations and will receive cash consolation prizes. Ward plans to apply her winnings toward a new house, according to cbs.com

"This prize money will not come easily," the show's Web page warns. "Our competitors must be willing to commit to traveling and living in a remote location for approximately seven weeks."

"Contestants will be filmed up to 24 hours a day by television camera crews to be broadcast on national television.

"This is reality television. They will actually be living in a remote location, and they will actually be responsible for building their own shelter and finding their own food.

"Our competitors will be in excellent physical health. Building shelter and finding food will be much more taxing than a trip to your local hardware store or supermarket.

"Our competitors will also need to be in excellent mental health so that they will be able to cope with the extreme change in environment and the tension of the competition," the Web page says.

The show's creator and producer, Mark Burnett, said on CBS-TV's "The Early Show" that contestants will have to deal with scorching temperatures, torrential rains and "crazy animals."

He was referring to Cayman alligators, piranhas, anacondas and animals like the sloth, which he said he had never seen before.

"The sloth is almost like a miniature bear with these arms that just go like this and they can hook around and they've got claws and they sit in a tree," said "Survivor" host Jeff Probst.

"You can't see them. They're so camouflaged. But they're the coolest animals. They move at about a half a mile a year," he said.

T&D Staff Writer Lee Hendren can be reached by e-mail at lhendren@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5552.

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