By NICOLE MORELLA
Staff Writer

ALEXANDRIA -- Pittstown native Michelle Tesauro will be part of the latest group of castaways trying to outwit, outplay and outlast on "Survivor: Pearl Islands."

Tesauro, 22, is a member of the Drake Tribe in the seventh installment of the reality show, premiering at 8 p.m. Thursday.

A 1999 Delaware Valley Regional High School graduate, Tesauro continued her education at Virginia Polytechnic Institute, where she recently graduated with a bachelor's degree in business and marketing.

Although Tesauro is unavailable for interviews, her family members were able to speak about their castaway relative. Her mother, Chris Tesauro, said her daughter has been a fan of "Survivor" since the second season and applied to be part of the show three times before she was accepted.

While Chris Tesauro said her daughter is not the outdoorsy type, she thinks her other personality traits will come into play on the show.

"She's outgoing and she's adventurous and she likes a challenge," she said. "Michelle has a great sense of humor. We try and make light of hard situations, so I think that will help her."

Chris Tesauro said she was not worried about the lack of food or shelter that her daughter would have to endure during her adventure.

"She pretty much will get down and dirty and do what you have to do to get something done," she said.

Michelle's older sister, Kim Katerba, also has confidence her sister will persevere.

"She's pretty tough. I think she can handle almost anything that is given to her," Katerba said.

Katerba, a teacher at Delaware Valley Regional High School, said she brings "Survivor" into her classroom as much as possible.

"Last week we had spirit week, and we had to dress up like our favorite celebrity -- and I dressed up like my sister," she said.

Chris Tesauro said the family will get together to watch the upcoming shows each week, with a no-talking rule in place.

"I am kind of interested to see the other people because I don't know anything about them. I am really looking forward to it," she said.

Nicole Morella can be reached at (908) 707-3132 or nmorella@c-n.com.

At a glance:

Michelle Tesauro

Favorites:

Color: Green

Board game: Scrabble

Movies: "Gladiator," "National Lampoon's Vegas Vacation"

Magazines: Self

Cereal: Fruity Pebbles

Source: CBS "Survivor" Web site