In the world of online dating, the experiences of Black women can be lost in a sea of swipes and matches. However, recently more and more experiences are surfacing on social media, sparking important conversations.

From awkward first messages to genuine connections, we speak with three Black women who’ve navigated the highs and lows of dating apps. They open up their dating diaries to share the realities of seeking love.

Tanya is a 29-year-old actor from Glasgow who has been using dating apps on and off for the past few years. She describes the frustrating stereotypes she faces.

“I feel like people have these preconceived notions of Black women, especially if you’re curvy. They’ll just randomly throw in comments like, ‘I bet you have a nice ass,’ even when it’s not relevant to the conversation.”