BELLEVUE, Wash. - Imagine the most uncomfortable introduction of your life, and then multiply it by 1,000.
That's the premise of the Discovery Channel's hit reality show Naked and Afraid. Two strangers meet in the wilderness, completely nude, and try to survive with each other for three weeks.
"That is the craziest thing on TV and it's the most legitimate thing on TV, and I wanted it," said Michael Jefferson, who will appear in an episode this weekend.
The Marysville native and current Bellevue banker traveled to the African nation of Botswana – an arid, land-locked, desolate section of the continent. The show required him to strip off all his clothes and shoes, on-camera.
"I don't walk around my house naked, I'm not the first guy at the beach to take off my shirt," Jefferson said. "I'm not like that."
But after a few awkward moments, he found himself naked and meeting his "partner," an equally nude woman.
Together, they survived for 21 days without being provided with shelter, food or water.
In those conditions, Jefferson said modesty didn't really matter.
"I got over that real quick because as we were walking to meet, there were animals out there. So seeing someone naked is the least of my concern," he said.
In addition to wild animals, the pair endured scrapes and puncture wounds from the thorny brush.
"Day one, my feet were thrashed," he said. "I mean, Africa's thorns are huge, even the ones you can't see, they're everywhere."
He's glad to be home, in Washington State's friendlier terrain. But he has no regrets about the experience or the exposure, in what's sure to be his life's wildest adventure.
"It was a true test of capabilities I have, and it was tough but it's an amazing adventure," Jefferson said.
You can watch Jefferson's episode on Sunday, Sept. 14 at 10 p.m. on the Discovery Channel.
