11 Iconic Moments for Black Women in Reality TV in 2024
Spoiler alert! Winners of individual series will be disclosed within this article.
1) Jana and Serena: The It Girls of Love Island USA Season 6
Love Island is one of the few popular reality dating shows for 20-somethings that I haven’t followed religiously over the years. In fact, Love Island USA season 6 is the first season I’ve watched of this 30+ episode production, and I’m so glad this was my introduction. After many years of watching dating shows that didn’t cast Black girls, or treated the Black girls that were casted like afterthoughts, it healed something in me to watch two dark-skin Black women be front and centre of this season. Not only were they winning in the villa, being part of the final three couples with Serena actually winning the whole thing, but they continue to win outside of the show, too. New relationships, strong friendships, brand deals, music videos. You name it, they’re doing it.
They gave looks, hilarious quotes, and brought the drama and emotion that every good reality dating show needs. They were beauty, fashion and charisma. They looked out for each other. They were multifaceted.
Love them or hate them, there is no denying that these two were the it girls of Love Island USA.
2) Tolú: Proving That it Pays for Black Women to Look Out for Ourselves and Each Other on The Trust
Our fierce and gorgeous Nigerian sis, Tolú, consistently stood up for herself, and the other Black woman in the room (Winnie) during her season of The Trust, and what did that get her? Over $73,000 richer and recognized as one of the seasons’ most popular and stylish cast members.
Shoutout to my fellow baldie!
3) Monica: Not Playing With Her Coin on Love Is Blind Season 7
Monica is the perfect example of how Black women can be your biggest support system, but if you cross us, we can quickly take all that love back…every last cent of it. After finding out that her fiancé-who she had been pulling the financial weight for since he lost his job- cheated on her while getting way too comfortable in someone else's DM’s, she iconically ended their breakup conversation by telling him to Venmo her back the money she had recently lent him. I know that’s right!
4) Nina: Showing us That Winning is in Her DNA on The Anonymous
Not only did Nina win the very first season of The Anonymous, but as some of her castmates clocked- although she denied it during the game for strategy purposes- her mom is also a reality challenge show baddie; two- time winner of Survivor Nina Sandra Diaz-Twine. Making them both the first to accomplish something in their shows that hadn’t been done before.
In the wise words of Jay Rock, ‘F**k everything else, win, win, win, win!’
5) Ruth: Showcasing Sex Positivity and Prioritizing Women’s Pleasure on The Ultimatum South Africa
Regardless of how you feel about Ruth and her decisions on The Ultimatum South Africa, she definitely gave us the reminder we all needed that women’s pleasure matters. Time and time again I’ve watched reality shows where men prioritize their wants at the expense of other people without apology or fear of repercussion. So I loved watching Ruth be on her grown and sexy ish while having enjoyable, consensual sexual relations without shame. Get it, Ruth!
6) Bri: Reminding Us That Bad B*tches Wear Bonnets on Too Hot To Handle Season 6
It would be easy for me to pull from the many looks Bri served us all season on Too Hot To Handle season 6. From her gorgeous natural curls, to her stunning makeup looks, we all know Bri is a certified baddie. But what made her even more of a baddie in my books? When I’d watch her and her man at the end of the day in bed together, side by side, bonnet and durag, giving us Black love realness on the biggest streaming platform in the world.
7) Muna: Serving Beauty and Brains on The Mole
I was a Muna stan the moment I watched her get on that confessional in the first episode and talk about how her strategy was to rely on the stereotypes she knew her cast mates would have about her as a Black, Muslim, Hijabi woman. She knew she would be underestimated due to her perceived “innocence” and she played into that.
She also gave us sickening looks and repped her Somali heritage with pride. Team Muna til it’s backwards!
8) Demi: Getting Real About Reproductive Health in Love Is Blind UK
Demi made us all feel like we were in the room with her when she got vulnerable about her battle with endometriosis; a painful condition that can cause heavy periods and impact fertility. Sharing this on such a huge platform opened up a much larger conversation about reproductive health, and encouraged others to come forward with their similar experiences.
Her infectious smile and close relationship with her family also made her a joy to watch all season.
9) Nicole: The Ultimate Comeback Kid of Love Is Blind UK
Oh, Nicole. You almost lost me, girl. Watching you choose Sam; the love-bombing, clout chasing narcissist, was super concerning, but once you found your way back to Beniah, I was thrilled to see the joy that decision brought you.
Also, reality TV rarely gives Black women love stories where we have multiple options, or are being wooed by multiple people, so seeing that in Nicole’s love story on Love Is Blind felt really good.
10) Naisha: Rooting for Everybody Black on Pop Star Academy
This show was concerning on so many levels, and for me, really spoke to the disturbing reality of the entertainment industry. The way these adults behaved was wild, and for 19-year old Naisha to have so much swag, talent, and sense of self, despite their unfair and arguably straight up mean treatment towards her, was nothing short of admirable.
After all of the contestants were caught breaching their NDA contracts by creating secret social media pages, Naisha was the only one to be kicked off of the show - and in the coldest, most impersonal way.
As Naisha packed her bags and held her head up, she looked at the camera and said with a smile: “I just hope they bring in, like, 20 more Black girls.”
Period!
11) Jela: Whoopin Ass in the Name of Racism on Baddies Caribbean
If you’ve watched Baddies Caribbean, or have watched the many recaps of it on social media, then you know the number of times Gretchin, a white woman of Puerto Rican descent, said the word nigga, was higher than the number of minutes of screen time she actually had in the show. I will give it to Gretchin the Colonizer, though, because there is a different kind of bravery - or audacity-to be in a house with predominately Black women, and feel comfortable enough to spew racial slurs at them whenever you’re upset. Gretchin Colombus, like many palm-coloured people, has caught a case of what I like to call BADD, Black-adjacency Delusion Disorder-a result of dating and birthing Black, and believing that suddenly changes your racial status.
Gretch the Gentrifier had a rude awakening, though when all of the ancestors of us actual niggas came through my girl Jela Luther King as she whooped that ass. If this isn’t Black excellence at its finest, then I don’t know what is. We appreciate you, Jela! *puts Black panther fist in air.*