Two Houston natives, now New York models, team up in new NBC reality show

Fasten your seatbelts reality TV junkies, Houston natives Chekesha Johnson and Tiffany Jackson will be behind the wheel March 31 on the premiere of NBC's latest reality series, Escape Routes.

The network has teamed up with Ford Motor Co. in this quasi-promotion that pits six duos in an on-the-road competition in which they'll be driving — what else? — a 2013 Ford Escape.

The beauty of the Chekesha/Tiffany team is that they were selected by online voters in a competition with three other wannabe reality TV duos. In the words of a Ford spokesperson, "They are America's choice." Ford hand-picked the remaining five teams that include a duo from Boulder, Colo.; musician brothers from Seattle; two teams from Los Angeles and a brother and sister act from Florida.

Six episodes are planned during which contestants will enjoy stopovers and face challenges in Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, Miami and San Francisco. The program will be hosted by Rossi Morreale.

With eight-time Emmy Award-winning producer Elise Doganieri and David Leener from the Profiles Television team behind the project, creds for the series are strong. Doganieri was co-creator and co-executive producer of CBS's reality series The Amazing Race. (You might recall that Houstonians Uchenna and Joyce Agu won $1 million in the 2005 episode of that reality show.)

The Saturday night, prime time series offers an interactive component for those logging on at escaperoutes.com. Each stop will engage online followers, who can win trips, high-tech gadgets and a brand new Escape.

The winning team will receive $100,000 and two 2013 Ford Escapes. Here's rooting for Chekesha and Tiffany!