The Hunt For The One Was On At The 'Ready To Love' Premiere
Will Packer is a Hollywood gamechanger who is known for producing romantic comedies such as Think Like a Man and his newest box office hit Night School but now the powerhouse producer has forayed into reality television with the OWN dating reality show Ready to Love.
While we typically think of reality dating shows as a melodrama, ratchet soap opera that usually shows multiple women all vying for the attention of one man (thanks to the Flavor of Loves and For the Love of Ray Js,) Ready to Love puts a more refreshing spin on reality dating shows. Both women and men have power in choosing who stays and who goes. Hosted by comedian Nephew Tommy, Ready to Love is set in Atlanta and features 20 of the city's most eligible black men and women in their 30's and 40's all coming together in the name of love. The show doesn't discriminate as its cast is made up of an array of people from an international DJ to a pastor and they all have the chance to discover dating while also discovering themselves.
The cast of 'Ready To Love' alongside host Nephew Tommy and producer Will PackerFreddyO
In one word, cast member Angel summed up her experience with the word "maturity" saying, "the reason being is you never know how you're going to react to certain situations and things until you're in that moment and when you react in a way that's totally different than what you've done a long time ago means you matured, which makes me ready to love."
xoNecole's EIC Necole Kane was also in the buildingFreddyO
Men also get the chance to grow and learn more about themselves from participating on the show. "I think as men and women, we blame other people for why [we're] single and I found out I'm single because of me and I think that people that take accountability, they're gonna find true love," says cast member Michael.
As viewers get insight on what it's really like dating, the cast will receive insight from Nephew Tommy who not only brings the funny but keeps it real by openly giving relationship advice. Both he and Will Packer brought their beautiful wives as their dates to the premiere on Tuesday while they joined the cast to watch the show in real time.
Will and Nephew Tommy with their beautiful wivesFreddyO
Will also took time to shed light on finding love. "I've learned that love is very much specific to your perception," Will explains. "So you had people who came onto this show who were open-minded. They weren't closed-minded, they didn't come in with the idea that 'oh woe is me' and 'I'm not gonna be able to find love, there's no good men, no good women.' They came in because of the way we set up the show saying, 'I'm open to finding that one.' 'My heart is open,' 'my mind is open' 'my eyes are open,' and 'I'm going to be ready for what comes.' It's interesting because we can do that in our daily lives. You don't have to be on a dating show to make yourself open and available and a lot of times, we go into dating with the wrong mentality."
Make sure to catch Ready to Love, Saturdays at 10PM on OWN. The second part of the series' two-night premiere airs tonight at 10 PM, only on OWN.
London Alexaundria is the contributing editor for xoNecole. She is an alum of Clark Atlanta University, where she majored in Mass Media Arts and has worked in journalism for over ten years. You can follow her on Instagram and TikTok @theselfcarewriter
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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Rihanna Talks Shedding Expectations And Finding Balance As A Mother
Since becoming a mother in 2022, Rihanna has defined parenthood by her terms and hopes to pass that sense of autonomy on to her children.
For Vogue China’s April cover story, Rihanna shared her perspective on raising her two sons with A$AP Rocky, and how she hopes to preserve her children’s uniqueness, devoid of societal expectations.
"The most beautiful thing...is that [children] come into the world with their own individuality and sincerity, without any logic or conformity,” she told the publication. “Which usually makes you feel that you must fit into a certain group."
The “Work” artist, known for her trendsetting style and captivating persona, expressed her desire to support children in fully embracing their individuality and encouraging them to be whoever they want to be. "It's really beautiful to see and I want to continue to help them navigate that and make sure that they know they can be whoever they want to be,” she says.
She continues, “They should embrace it completely, because it's beautiful, and it's unique. I love them just that way."
From shattering music charts to shaking up the beauty industry, Rihanna has forged a path that has since created the “dream” life we see today. One that she says has made her parents proud of.
“I’m living my dream,” she continued. “My parents were very proud of that because they just wanted me to be happy and successful. So, I think the key thing is to find some kind of balance. Yes, balance is important. Do this and you get the best of both worlds. You can write your own life the way you want, and it will be beautiful. Sometimes, you just need to let go of everyone’s expectations and start living your own story.”
Rihanna, who shares sons, RZA, 23 months, and Riot, 8 months, with rapper A$AP Rocky, recently shared her vision for expanding her family in the future in Interview Magazine.
When stylist Mel Ottenberg asked about the number of additional children she hoped to have, Rihanna replied, "As many as God wants me to have.”
"I don't know what God wants, but I would go for more than two. I would try for my girl,” she adds. “But of course, if it's another boy, it's another boy."
Featured image by Neil MockfordWireImage