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FAME… as Debbie Allen said, “it costs,” and while many people actively seek it, others were just seemingly thrust into it overnight. But with as many “ups” as one can enjoy, there are just as many “downs,” with judgment, scrutiny and flat-out jealousy and misunderstandings. Ready to Love’s Alexis “Fly” Jones had THE most memorable elimination scene in the history of the show that sent “Amen” shout outs across the internet in her favor, and now she sets the record straight, telling Vibe Houston “what’s really going on” in the world of OWN’s hit reality television show. Vibe Houston: How did you become a contestant on the show? Jones: A good friend of mine sent me the casting flyer via DM on Instagram back in January of 2020. She knew I had been single for a while and thought my personality would be a good fit for the show. Initially, I was hesitant to apply, but if I were to share my story and make the cut, I thought it may be a real chance to possibly meet the man of my dreams. I looked at it as an environment in which singles would be looking for the same thing…true love and commitment. It wouldn’t be any guessing games or struggling to determine a man’s true intent when dating you. So…I went for it and applied. To my surprise, I received a call the same day and went through several rounds of interviews. Funny enough, another casting associate reached out to me on social media to apply and I informed them I had already submitted — so I took that as a definite sign to see this journey through. COVID paused the process for some months and when January 2021 came around, I was still single and we were officially in the Texas saddle “ready” to film our journeys. [WATCH: BEST SCENE OF SEASON] Vibe Houston: Being a former first lady of a church, were you nervous about being scrutinized? Jones: I’ve always been a person that is openly transparent and my goal was to showcase my vulnerabilities so another woman (church-going or not) could relate and see herself in me. I took the chance of telling my truth and getting judged, pre-judged and misjudged for not being “traditional.” However, that’s how real life is – from the clothes you wear to the things you say – everyone has an opinion. But like Bishop TD Jakes once said, “friends, loved ones and even enemies influence us, but that doesn’t mean their comments are relevant to your destiny.” I was aware that scrutiny is a part of the territory when you sign up for a show of this nature. During this process, it has only pushed me closer to the roots of my Faith. I’ve stayed focused on the assignment…and not the adversity. Vibe Houston: Let’s get to it, how REAL was reality TV? Do you feel everyone on the show was “ready to love,” or do you feel some were there for the wrong reasons? Jones: Reality TV is an edited version of our full experience. It’s hours cut down to minutes to get to the meat of the narrative being displayed. I’ll tell you the emotions and connections were 100 percent real. I can’t speak for anyone else, but I can tell you that I was all in. Vibe Houston: What about yourself, are you confident that you will find your soulmate? Jones: One thing I know for sure is that “timing is everything” and for everything there is a season. I am confident that as I continue to be about my business…to FLY (First Love Yourself) …. that my King will find me. The Good Book states, “he that finds a wife finds a good thing and finds favor with The Lord.” When that right connection is made, I look forward to pouring into the man that I was designed for and vice versa. Vibe Houston: What do you have to say to those who labeled you as “aggressive?” Jones: It’s certainly a label that I think has been unfairly placed on Black women by other cultures because many of us carry a unique form of strength due to life’s experiences that are often misplaced and misinterpreted. Unfortunately, I’ve seen the label used by our community on ourselves and it can be painful. There is a difference between being aggressive and being assertive. Never at one point did you see me throwing hands or splashing a cup of wine in someone’s face. Not my style. Yet, I would admit that my personality is one of being a feisty firecracker. I came into the process knowing what I desire in a relationship having been married once before. I focused on the intent and heart of the men that I dated on the show. When my intuition told me something wasn’t sitting right, though I couldn’t necessarily “see it” naturally, I pressed for the truth to help me make the wisest decision for me at the time. I just kept my thoughts and opinions 100 with a splash of dry humor, flirtiness, and lots of facial expressions. Vibe Houston: Things got tense with Ron during his elimination, did you ever see signs before that indicated he had that type of character? Jones: There were certainly red flags in the manner that he spoke to me in which I was not pleased. I made note of that during the elimination alluding to him that he often sounded condescending in speech. Yet, the temperament he displayed during elimination was simply confirmation that I made the best decision for me, along with him texting me the next day stating that he agreed I had made the right choice. At the end of the day, this process was emotional, eye opening and we all learned vital lessons. For those reasons, I wish Ron the very best in life. Vibe Houston: What’s up with AJ? His back and forth was unsettling for some. How do you feel about
HOUSTON — Edwin D. Henderson has the best of both worlds for many women. He is a “manly man” with a military (veteran) background, and he can FEED a woman, because he is a chef. In fact, Henderson is executive chef and founder of Chefs in the City, which has gained an impressive customer base and quite a following on social media. Henderson is a native Houstonian, father to a 14-year-old son, and has never been married. “I was once engaged, however, I broke it off once I started thinking about divorce before getting married,” he shared with Vibe Houston. With an answer like that, we definitely wanted to see if, now, he is “Ready for Love.” Q: When it comes to dating – specifically in Houston. What has been your challenge? A: I have a very demanding schedule and many times I come across those who aren’t understanding. I will always make time for the one who is special to me however the road to success doesn’t come without consistency and hard work. Q: Before going on the show…did you feel there really weren’t any good brothers or sisters around? A: I believe Houston and beyond are full of good people. Many times we can miss opportunities of meeting the good people God brings into our lives because we’re too busy or don’t make time to cultivate those relationships. [Watch the official trailer] Q: We noticed that many of the men were “rocked up” or muscle bound…or the women were a little dolled up on the “glam” side. Do you feel the show was LACKING the presence of the AVERAGE JOE or JOANN? (Be real…we want you to consider all the people who are walking around every day looking for love.) A: I believe there was a proper representation of the average person. Everyone had their own imperfections and not everyone had the “perfect” body. I personally have a “Dad-Bod,” according to Symone. Q: What’s your philosophy on dating? A: Feed your date tacos and everything should go well. Women love food and everyone loves tacos. Fellas, you’re welcome. Q: What is your perfect date? Did you get a chance to experience a “perfect date” on the show? If so, with whom? A: The perfect date to me is one where fun, laughter and great conversation flows naturally. I had several amazing dates while on the show. Make sure to tune in so you can see with who. I will give you a hint – she has a gorgeous smile. Lol!!! Q: We know you can’t tell the outcome of the show, and some of you left before making it to the end. But even if you did not connect with the person you were hoping to, do you feel that your soul mate was at the resort with you? A: With the allotted time, I made some genuine connections. I can’t say that I met my soul mate because that would require more time of getting to know a person. Q: Do you have any “unfinished business” with any of the people on the show. For instance, is there someone you wish you could have gotten to know better? Give us a little hint .. even if you can’t say their name. A: There is someone I wish I had more time to spend with. You might be able to determine who that is from watching. I will give you a hint…she’s a woman and she’s Black. LOL!!! Q: We know everyone is not always going to get along. Do you feel there was too much “drama” with the cast..or in reverse.. not enough? How was your experience? A: There was a small amount of drama, however, the Houston cast was a very respectful group. I believe if they (production) showcase certain things, you’ll see just how dynamic of a group we were during filming. Separate from trying to find our lifetime “Boo,” the men had great conversations which I feel would help bring positive change in the lives of other Black men, and men as a whole. Q: Would you ever try reality TV again? A: I wouldn’t do a dating reality show again, but I’m open to doing a cooking show. Q: Lastly…in ONE WORD… Tell us what Black Love is to you…(and sorry, you can’t use the typical answer of “Beautiful.”) A: Impactful You can check out Chef Henderson and the rest of the “Ready to Love, Last Resort” cast on OWN every Friday 9/8 CST.
Wynter Patterson is a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, but raised in Houston, Texas. She has been married before and has no children. Her personality is a standout, as well as her curves. On the season premiere, her “orange dress” was a conversation piece among the men. We want to know, did she find love? Q: When it comes to dating – specifically in Houston. What has been your challenge? A: My challenges were meeting men who were looking for the same things out of a relationship that I was and who possessed the qualities I was looking for in a man. Since the pandemic, it is a challenge for many people since our social lives have been restricted and you aren’t meeting men in the same environment you normally would. I give people who use dating apps credit because I would NOT use a dating app ever again after some of the interesting experiences I had in the past. Q: Before going on the show, did you feel there really weren’t any good brothers or sisters around? A: No, I felt that there was potential in a lot of men out there however, I didn’t have the opportunity to meet men who were specifically ready to find love. Q: We noticed that many of the men were “rocked up” or muscle bound…or the women were a little dolled up on the “glam” side…Do you feel the show was LACKING the presence of the AVERAGE JOE or JOANN? (Be real…we want you to consider all the people who are walking around every day looking for love.) A: I feel like there was a good range of people on both the men and the women side of the show. We were a really good-looking cast and I was very thankful to be a part of such a number of beautiful people. [Watch the official trailer] Q: What’s your philosophy on dating? A: Live in the moment! You can really ruin the relationship by thinking too much into the future. Try not to think so much into what could be or what if and be present. Q: What is your perfect date? Did you get a chance to experience a “perfect date” on the show? If so, with who? A: My perfect date for me varies. I would enjoy doing something fun like ice-skating or bike riding. I also enjoy having a nice conversation over dinner. Q: We know you can’t tell the outcome of the show, and some of you left before making it to the end. But even if you did not connect with the person you were hoping to, do you feel that your soul mate was at the resort with you? A: I met some amazing people I plan to stay in touch with throughout my lifetime and am very thankful to the OWN Network for that. You will just have to tune in to see if I found my Soulmate 😉 Q: Do you have any “unfinished business” with any of the people on the show…For instance, is there someone you wish you could have gotten to know better? Give us a little hint .. even if you can’t say their name. A: I feel like you could never leave an experience like this without any second thoughts or regrets and I can be honest and say there are some things and people I still think about. Q: We know everyone is not always going to get along…do you feel there was too much “drama” with the cast..or in reverse.. not enough? How was your experience? A: I feel like I get along with everyone and make it a point to mind my own business. I like to give good vibes and I think that works in my favor. I had a great experience on the show. Q: Would you ever try reality TV again? A: Under the right circumstances, yes. Q: Lastly…in ONE WORD… Tell us what Black Love is to you…(and sorry, you can’t use the typical answer of “Beautiful.”) A: Enduring You can check out Wynter and the rest of the “Ready to Love, Last Resort” cast on OWN every Friday 9/8 CST.
Rashid A. Floyd, a native Houston, is the CEO of Level Luxury Automotive. He’s divorced and a proud father of a son, Pierce. After only one show, you can tell that he’s true to be a crowd favorite. We had a “Vibe With” session with Floyd, who was honest about his philosophies on love, but is keeping us in suspense about some of the nitty gritty on the show. Q: When it comes to dating – specifically in Houston. What has been your challenge? A: Finding a woman who wants the same things and at the same time! Timing is everything. They also seem to be very entitled without any substance to warrant the entitlement. Q: Before going on the show, did you feel there really weren’t any good brothers or sisters around? A: I definitely feel there are some good ladies out there. You just have to be patient and be willing to weed through the bad to get to the good. Q: We noticed that many of the men were “rocked up” or muscle bound, or the women were a little dolled up on the “glam” side. Do you feel the show was LACKING the presence of the AVERAGE JOE or JOANN? (Be real…we want you to consider all the people who are walking around every day looking for love.) A: I respect and understand how someone watching could feel that way. However, at the end of the day, we are on TV. I guess sometimes the networks feel that the people at home want to see a certain style of person on TV, whether that is cute, attractive or just plain beautiful. We definitely have all of that and more on the show. Don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t make it right but it’s often the case. However, I feel that everyone needs and deserves love regardless of size, shape and color. [Watch the official trailer] Q: What’s your philosophy on dating? A: To be patient, honest and transparent with women about what I want in a mate and not waste too much time staying on the surface. Q: What is your perfect date? Did you get a chance to experience a “perfect date” on the show? If so, with whom? A: To be honest: the BEST date I’ve ever had was actually recently on the show! But unfortunately I can’t give out any details. So, you’re going to have to watch. But I will say my perfect date is by far going to really stand out. Everyone is going to be talking! Q: We know you can’t tell the outcome of the show, and some of you left before making it to the end. But even if you did not connect with the person you were hoping to, do you feel that your soul mate was at the resort with you? A: You know, I still can’t really answer that. Not just yet. But what I will say is that there were definitely women there that I could see myself with long term. Q: Do you have any “unfinished business” with any of the people on the show? For instance, is there someone you wish you could have gotten to know better? Give us a little hint, even if you can’t say their name. A: Yes, there are a couple of people I would have liked to spend more time getting to know, even if it would’ve ended on a friendship level. But it’s not like I was disappointed with who I did have connections with. I’m absolutely happy with those connections as well. Q: We know everyone is not always going to get along. Do you feel there was too much “drama” with the cast, or in reverse.. not enough? How was your experience? A: No, I don’t think it was too much drama. I actually think it was just the right amount. But it wasn’t ratchet drama like throwing drinks and jumping across tables to fight! It is REAL drama: the drama that like-minded, well-educated and mature adults and individuals have living in today’s society. Like we were dealing with some real life stuff in there. Q: Would you ever try reality TV again? A: I don’t know yet! Ask me AFTER the show! LOL Q: Lastly…in ONE WORD… Tell us what Black Love is to you…(and sorry, you can’t use the typical answer of “Beautiful.”) A: NEEDED You can check out Rashid and the rest of the “Ready to Love, Last Resort” cast on OWN every Friday 9/8 CST.
HOUSTON – Symone Redwine, an attorney living in Houston, is a proud Dallas native. “Oak Cliff – that’s my hood!” she told Vibe Houston. Redwine has never been married, has no children, and is single – ready to mingle! We tried to get “all up in her business” as she appears to be a standout on OWN’s “Ready to Love, Last Resort.” We must say, this sistah definitely keeps it real! Q: When it comes to dating – specifically in Houston. What has been your challenge? A: I have quantity, but the quality sucks. I actually moved to Houston in March from Dallas because Dallas men are pitiful and Houston men have been a much better experience. But they hoes, just sewing their royal oats. So, my challenge so far is finding out if Houston men are ready to love. Q: Before going on the show, did you feel there really weren’t any good brothers or sisters around? A: Hell yes. Particularly in Dallas where I was previously living. [Watch the official trailer] Q: We noticed that many of the men were “rocked up” or muscle bound, or the women were a little dolled up on the “glam” side. Do you feel the show was lacking the presence of the average Joe or Joann? (Be real…we want you to consider all the people who are walking around every day looking for love.) A: I’m pretty, so I like very handsome men. They can’t be fat or average looking. So I was glad they were fine. I know many viewers were complaining that they didn’t have any regular looking people, but let’s be real, nobody wants to look at unattractive people on TV. My issue was, I needed them to have muscles and be financially stable. Those abs ain’t gonna fool me. Q: What is your philosophy on dating? A: First, I have to be attracted to you. If I don’t want to see you naked, then I don’t want to see you. For some reason, there is a double standard with men and women. People call me shallow for wanting to be attracted to my man, but nobody ever tells a man that he’s shallow for wanting a beautiful woman. Secondly, I want my intellectual equal. I would prefer a man smarter than me, but that’s damn near impossible. I want a teammate where my strengths may be his weaknesses and vice versa. So basically, he needs to be my intellectual equal + personal cheerleader + a strong leader + very best friend that I wanna “do it” to. Q: What is your idea of perfect date? A: A perfect date to me is one where we laugh, get out of our shells and learn about each other. One of my best dates in life was getting some Popeye’s chicken and then dancing in the rain til the early morning. Q: Did you get a chance to experience a “perfect date” on the show? If so, with whom? A: Sure did, but I can’t say with whom. Q: We know you can’t tell the outcome of the show, and some of you left before making it to the end. But even if you did not connect with the person you were hoping to, do you feel that your soul mate was at the resort with you? A: I don’t think I believe in soul mates, but if one exists, I definitely believe that what I learned and how I grew from the show, has made me a much better girlfriend and ready to love my soul mate in the way he desires Q: Do you have any “unfinished business” with any of the people on the show? A: Oh yes. Apparently there are some two-faced folks that will be dealt with at the reunion. We don’t hear or see what’s said about us until it airs. But it was a whooooooole bunch of folks smiling in each others’ faces and saying raggedy stuff when they got bold in the confessional, so in my Mystikal voice “we gon’ see.” Q: Would you ever try reality TV again? A: Probably, as long as Mona Scott ain’t involved. She scares me! Q: Lastly…in one word… tell us what black love is to you…(and sorry, you can’t use the typical answer of “beautiful.”) A: Resilient You can check out Symone and the rest of the “Ready to Love, Last Resort” cast on OWN every Friday 9/8 CST.
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