Bumble, the women-first dating app, has uncovered a booming new trend of showcasing niche interests within the dating scene - from traditionalist hobbies discovered during lockdown, to unconventional competitive sports.
New Bumble research reveals that more than half (51%) of single people say that photos that reveal a skill for an interesting sport or activity would prompt them to strike up a conversation - whereas the least popular things to feature in profile photos are gym selfies (60%), pouty expressions (57%, photos that seem to crop out an ex (53%), and photos that reveal a messy bedroom (43%).
With hobby-based photos scoring highly, Bumble has identified a growing desire for partners who are unwaveringly passionate about their niche interests, with almost 1 in 4 (22%) saying that having a unique hobby trumps other desirability factors when it comes to finding the perfect partner, beating the likes of knowing multiple languages and being skilled at DIY. In fact, half of the UK agrees that having a passion for a sport or activity can even lead to being a more passionate partner in general.
