Judi Love has touched on the misogynoir Black women can experience when dating, as she helps singles over 40 find love online and get digitally savvy.
The Loose Women presenter, 42, says the "nice thing about being in your 40s and dating is you kind of know yourself a bit better", as she explains the importance of getting those who are "single and want companionship" online - particularly after a couple of isolating years thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic.
She shares some funny anecdotes from her own stints online dating, after falling victim to meeting a date in real life only to discover her potential suitor looking completely different from their pictures shared online ahead of the date - jokingly comparing the experience to opening a Kinder Surprise.
Judi admits "dating as a whole is quite daunting for people" during an exclusive chat with the Mirror, as she explains how many single people over the age of 40 may be reluctant to get online due to being used to the "old school way of dating - going to a party and meeting someone."
"We’re used to having that old school face-to-face conversation with eye contact and then going home," the presenter and comedian recalls.
"I remember when I was younger, going to a party and meeting someone, and then you would go home with butterflies - wondering when they would call and waiting for the house phone or your brick mobile to ring," she continues when taking a trip down memory lane.
"All of that excitement goes which is why it feels so much different. It’s just a new way and this way may even give you more opportunities as you can date internationally or connect with someone from a different area and meet people outside of your usual circle," she adds when singing the praises of getting online to date.
New research by Virgin Media O2 reveals that 7 out of 10 single over 40s haven’t tried online dating, with around half saying that meeting potential partners via the internet is 'a younger person’s game' - something Judi is keen to change with her handy dating tips for over 40s looking to find love online.
"Keep it simple and provide enough information so that potential matches can see what you're really like. Shine a light on your personality and interests - everyone loves a bit of humour!" Judi tells potential daters looking for tips for how to make their online dating profiles pop.
"Try to make sure you do a thorough social media search before meeting anyone you connect with via an online dating site," she adds when discussing how to say safe when looking for love online. "If you can, find their LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and take a look to make sure their images and profile information match what you know about them."
Judi may describe herself as digitally-savvy these days and be in a position to help others navigate life online, but that doesn't mean the This is My House star doesn't have a few disaster dating stories of her own.
"Back in the day... I’ve got that one you always hear about where they look one way online and another when you meet them [in real life], Judi admits when quizzed about her stints using apps in an attempt to find love.
"I think we’ve all got stories like that," she laughs, adding: "They just look different. It’s like a Kinder Surprise - you open it up and go ‘Oh... but that will do'."
Our conversation turns to her upcoming Channel 4 documentary, in which Judi examines the inequalities experienced by Black females, using humour to address the social, political and economic barriers they face compared with their white counterparts.
Speaking with the Mirror recently, Judi called on society to open its eyes to the "shocking" misogynoir - sexism towards Black women and girls - that goes on in the U.K, so we ask the award-winning presenter if she has ever noticed misogynoir present in the world of online dating.
"This is what Black women face and they face that online as well," Judi explains.
"There wasn’t any [misogynoir in regards to dating discussed] in the documentary but there has been stuff mentioned from some of the young girls speaking [on the documentary] who talked about how the pressure on Black women to feel a certain way.
"Because Western society has Eurocentric ideas about what is beautiful and and that means Black girls have to go above and beyond to feel and look pretty - the expectations would be so much higher."
She continues to say: "But what we’ve clarified is that as a Black woman you are beautiful in your natural skin as yourself.
"We had girls in the documentary who were darker skinned when they were younger and [used to] wish they were lighter, because that’s what pushed out there.
"There has been conversations about dating online, [with statistics that reveal] that Black women are least likely to be ‘swiped’ right so all that stuff has come on, so this is why I say it’s important for you to pick the best app for you.
"Apps that suit you, what you’re looking for and what you feel comfortable with," Judi adds when discussing how to navigate the world of online dating.
Judi Love has partnered with Virgin Media O2 for this year’s Get Online Week, to help singletons over 40 swipe right and find romance. The annual digital inclusion campaign run by charity, Good Things Foundation, taking place between 17- 23rd October 2022, helps communities across the UK brush up on their online skills and become more digitally confident. To find out more and get involved, visit https://uk.getonlineweek.com/
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