These Are The Best Dating Apps For Black Women — Trust Me
My relationship with dating apps is a love/hate one. As a single Black woman in my thirties, dating isn't always easy. Not only do you have to navigate the nuances of online dating and weed out the crazies, but deciding where to start can be difficult. In the past few years, I've used every dating app imaginable. Some were good, others were so awful. I vowed never to touch another app again. My dating app sabbaticals never lasted long since I'm single and searching for a life partner online. Wouldn't it be great if there was a guide that told us what the best dating apps are so we could save both time and energy? This article was birthed from that exact thought.
This is your dating app guide for Black girls who’ve considered life as a spinster when online dating wasn’t enough. Hopefully reading this will save you time and hopefully money. Listed below are some of the best dating apps on the market that I have used over the years. From the quantity of the dating pool to whether it provides daily matches to whether it's a free app or a paid service, I took everything into account.
Please be advised that online dating still sucks and you still have to engage and create “interesting” profiles to increase engagement but, based on my own experiences with online dating as a Black woman, these apps are the most promising.
1. BLK
BLK is probably one of my favorite dating apps because it is for us by us. BLK is a dating app that was built after watching Black people being discriminated against on popular online dating sites. The app focuses on connecting people with similar cultural backgrounds to create a more intentional space for Black singles.
BLK is a free dating app for singles looking for long-term relationships. It is a great option for Black women who are interested in finding a mate that shares their values and interests. This site has an intelligent matching algorithm, which can help find your perfect match.
2. eHarmony
eHarmony is an online dating site that focuses on compatibility rather than simply swiping through profiles. It has become increasingly popular due to its quality-over-quantity approach. For singles looking for long-term relationships, eHarmony is a popular dating platform. You will take a "Compatibility Quiz" after you sign up to find out more about yourself. The quiz covers six sections and takes up to 20 minutes to complete.
The site's matchmaking algorithm uses your personality and values from the quiz to match you with potential partners. If you upgrade, you'll get a personalized profile review and relationship tips based on the quiz. You can also check who has viewed your profile.
3. Match
Match is the world’s largest dating site, with over 25 million users. Its goal is to help users find matches based on their criteria. It has a variety of search options and features, such as a "Discover" section, which helps users learn about others in their area. It also has a search option for "top picks," which are matches deemed highly compatible with your stated criteria by the algorithm.
Once you have an account on Match, you can create a profile and upload photos. It also has a chat feature that lets you interact with other users. You can even get a free trial of Match to see how the site works before you commit to a paid subscription. If you do decide to sign up for a premium membership, there are several different packages available to choose from.
4. Tinder
One of the most popular and widely-used dating apps is Tinder. It has millions of users worldwide and offers a simple yet effective way to meet people near you. You’ll need to create a profile, upload photos and start swiping right on profiles that interest you. If two people both swipe right on each other’s profiles, then they’ll match and be able to communicate with one another. This is a feature that I love because every match means mutual interest.
5. Bumble
Bumble is similar to Tinder in that it uses swiping technology but has a few key differences that make it unique. For starters, only women can initiate conversations on Bumble. This gives women more power and control over who they talk to and eliminates getting messages from men you are not the least bit interested in! Plus, Bumble also has added features like Bumble Boost which allow users to unlock additional features such as having their profile seen by more people or extending matches' time limits for an additional 24 hours.
6. Hinge
Hinge is another popular dating app geared towards meaningful relationships rather than casual encounters. The "dating app designed to be deleted" uses an algorithm tailored specifically towards making sure users don't just get random matches but ones that are actually compatible with them based on things like interests and values. Additionally, Hinge also offers helpful icebreakers that can help kick off conversations between potential matches as well as different ways of filtering searches so users can find more tailored results faster than ever before!
7. EliteSingles
EliteSingles is the most expensive app on the list but offers more bang for your buck. EliteSingles is a serious dating site that takes online dating seriously, and its user base consists of educated, committed singles who are looking for a long-term commitment. EliteSingles has an extensive personality test that helps members find compatible matches. The app’s 115-question questionnaire takes about 20 minutes to complete, and you can even pause the test at any point.
The app also has a daily suggested match feature that streamlines profiles into quick overviews to swipe through. Premium members can send messages and winks to matches, as well as like or comment on their photos. Another great feature is the “Have You Met?” feature, which matches singles based on a common interest. It’s similar to a carousel of Tinder-like matches, but it only lists singles who have shown interest in your profile.
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ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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How A Stay At Switzerland's Luxurious 7132 Hotel Reminded Me To Live The Life I Deserve
Sometimes, as women—especially as single Black women—we simply need to be reminded that we are deserving of living a life we dream of. Even if that means creating it for ourselves. I recently set out on a weeklong trip to Switzerland, a trip I’ve been wanting to take for years, and near the end of my visit, I had an epiphany.
“DeAnna, this is the life you deserve,” I thought to myself as I took in the gorgeous bathroom in my suite at the famous 7132 Hotel and Thermal Spa. It was one of the most luxurious hotels (and bathrooms) I had ever stayed in—and that’s saying a lot for someone who often travels for work.
To help you better understand why this was such a mental awakening for me, I first need to give a bit of my backstory. I’m in my late thirties. I’m an attorneyand a journalist. I own a home and have traveled the world extensively. Essentially, I’ve done everything in life I set out to do. However, when it comes to dating, I struggle. Not because there is anything wrong with me per se, but because my career and “lifestyle” often create problems in my romantic relationships.
View from my hotel room
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I’ve been told everything from, ‘I can’t continue to date you because you seem to choose your career over wanting to settle down and have kids’ by a man after only the second date to ‘Maybe if you just sat down somewhere for a while, I’d actually wife you’ by someone who has honestly never proven themselves to be the settle down type. And these are only a handful of the things I’ve been told over the years.
It’s been frustrating, to say the least, and there have even been seasons where I purposely dimmed my light in hopes that my career wouldn’t push away potential suitors. I know what you’re thinking, “Girl, why would you even consider that? If they’re for you, it won’t matter what you do.” Hey, don’t judge me, but also, I one hundred percent agree.
My hotel bathroom
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That’s why this recent moment in Switzerland was right on time. When I first walked into the hotel to check in, I was blown away by the surrounding beauty. It was a five-star property with one of the world’s most famous thermal bathhouses. Yet, it was something about seeing that 90% of the hotel’s guests were couples, that forced me to sit back for a bit of introspection—while soaking in the thermal spa, of course.
As I went through the mental conversation, there was a battle of sorts. On one hand, I knew that being able to partake in experiences like the one I was having at that moment was important to me. I knew that, at times I actually love being able to dabble in the finer things—after all, I’ve worked hard to be able to afford them. On the other hand, and sadly, I knew that sometimes being a single Black woman that publicly showcases her “luxurious” habits can intimidate men and even scare them off from pursuing you under the guise of them feeling like they “can’t do anything for you, because you have everything.”
My hotel room
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So, what is a girl to do?
Do I minimize/hide the life and experiences that I have? Do I play down the hard work I’ve put in to get where I am professionally? Or, do I risk being single in exchange for being able to have said life, without backlash?
Luckily, the joy that I felt while being at this property won. There was something about taking a full day to simply pamper myself at the bathhouse and in my in-room steam shower and soaker tub, indulging in cuisine from a 2-star Michelin restaurant and doing all of this while surrounded by an amazing group of Black women that reminded me—this is certainly the life I was meant to live and that I deserve. Even if it means that right now, I’ll just have to provide it for myself until the right partner comes along. And honestly, I’m okay with that.
Restaurant at 7132 hotel
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