look book

The Look Book Goes to We Met IRL

Singles at the speed-dating series for people of color, whose tickets tend to sell out minutes after they go live.

Photo: DeSean McClinton-Holland
Photo: DeSean McClinton-Holland

Rashi Mitchell (pictured above)
Marketer, Park Slope

Was it intimidating?
Yes, because I’m usually really shy. I was just focused on making it from one side of the room to the other. But since I moved to New York from Atlanta a year ago, I’ve become a lot more personable and open to new experiences. Speed dating would have been an Atlanta “no,” but it’s a New York “yes.”

How’d it go?
Really well. I met this woman, Wagaye. I’d noticed her right away because of her hair. She had a curly Afro that just stood out. And then when I saw her face, I was like, Wow, she’s gorgeous. When we talked, she told me she was from Florida but then moved to South Dakota. We both laughed about that because I was like, “Are there any Black people in South Dakota?” She said “yes” because her family moved there, so there are like ten Black people. I got her Instagram. I hope I can take her on a real date.

Jovannye Hill

Legal assistant, West Orange, New Jersey

Christian Lindqvist

Barback, Bushwick

Jada Draffin

College-enrollment director, Westchester


Any memorable conversations?

There was definitely one. Everything started off good but took a turn when he started talking about caring for his seahorses and proceeded to show me videos of them. I felt a little awkward, but I saw a video a couple months back about seahorses, so I brought that up to fill the silence.

Katrina Sainvil

Social-media associate, Bergen Beach

Vivek Sharma

Writer, Bay Ridge


Was this your first time?

Oh, no. I enjoy speed dating because it gets me out of my house and increases my emotional intelligence. It’s like a social experiment. The more you talk to other folks, especially of very diverse personalities, the more confident you are in yourself and your personal elevator pitch.

Taylor Cooley

Fitness instructor, Upper West Side

Randy Narain

MTA maintenance worker, Richmond Hill

Lenisha Nathaniel

Occupational therapist, Harlem

Charity Gates

Lawyer, Prospect–Lefferts Gardens

Charnele Crick

Videographer and editor, Woodside

Adrian Kombe

Mechanical engineer, Crown Heights

Arianna Medina

Associate scientist, Fort Lee, New Jersey


What was your last good date?

It was in Europe a couple months ago. I tried using Tinder but ended up only finding people I was attracted to in real life: one guy at the beach and another on the street. Honestly, I have trouble with American guys. I’m a person of color, and I’m queer, and I just feel like they don’t like me. Although the women love me, not to be cocky.

Yesenia Ramos

Social worker, Garfield, New Jersey

Maxine Williams

News producer, Prospect–Lefferts Gardens

David Drysdale

Student, West Hempstead

Yashiema Stephens

Nursing student, Williamsburg


Was it easy to get a ticket?

No. I tried to go to the last three, but tickets go on sale at noon and sell out at, like, 12:01. I’m a nursing student with a 12-year-old, so life is pretty hectic, but I wanted to take a night off for my love life, so I was on it this time. It was worth it. One guy opened by asking who my favorite civil-rights leader was.

Audrey Blackmore

Videographer, Fresh Meadows

Brianna Ramos

College recruiter, Park Slope

Photographs by DeSean McClinton-Holland

Jovannye Hill

Legal assistant, West Orange, New Jersey

Christian Lindqvist

Barback, Bushwick

Jada Draffin

College-enrollment director, Westchester


Any memorable conversations?

There was definitely one. Everything started off good but took a turn when he started talking about caring for his seahorses and proceeded to show me videos of them. I felt a little awkward, but I saw a video a couple months back about seahorses, so I brought that up to fill the silence.

Katrina Sainvil

Social-media associate, Bergen Beach

Vivek Sharma

Writer, Bay Ridge


Was this your first time?

Oh, no. I enjoy speed dating because it gets me out of my house and increases my emotional intelligence. It’s like a social experiment. The more you talk to other folks, especially of very diverse personalities, the more confident you are in yourself and your personal elevator pitch.

Taylor Cooley

Fitness instructor, Upper West Side

Randy Narain

MTA maintenance worker, Richmond Hill

Lenisha Nathaniel

Occupational therapist, Harlem

Charity Gates

Lawyer, Prospect–Lefferts Gardens

Charnele Crick

Videographer and editor, Woodside

Adrian Kombe

Mechanical engineer, Crown Heights

Arianna Medina

Associate scientist, Fort Lee, New Jersey


What was your last good date?

It was in Europe a couple months ago. I tried using Tinder but ended up only finding people I was attracted to in real life: one guy at the beach and another on the street. Honestly, I have trouble with American guys. I’m a person of color, and I’m queer, and I just feel like they don’t like me. Although the women love me, not to be cocky.

Yesenia Ramos

Social worker, Garfield, New Jersey

Maxine Williams

News producer, Prospect–Lefferts Gardens

David Drysdale

Student, West Hempstead

Yashiema Stephens

Nursing student, Williamsburg


Was it easy to get a ticket?

No. I tried to go to the last three, but tickets go on sale at noon and sell out at, like, 12:01. I’m a nursing student with a 12-year-old, so life is pretty hectic, but I wanted to take a night off for my love life, so I was on it this time. It was worth it. One guy opened by asking who my favorite civil-rights leader was.

Audrey Blackmore

Videographer, Fresh Meadows

Brianna Ramos

College recruiter, Park Slope

Photographs by DeSean McClinton-Holland

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The Look Book Goes to We Met IRL