A certified matchmaker who seeks to connect single, middle-class professionals looking for a partner, Shae requires her clients to meet with a trained psychologist to determine whether they're mentally ready for love and healthy enough to be a match for her discerning clientele. As much as everyone dreams of a fairytale, Shae always keeps it real. Recently single, this mother of two is just as determined to find love for herself as she is for others.
As a straight Black man in the matchmaking industry, Joseph is something of an Atlanta unicorn. He started his own "Real Black Love" dating app in 2013 and it quickly grew to have nearly 500,000 members. He met his girlfriend, Paris, through his dating app and she now serves as his business partner. He parlayed his success with the app and natural matchmaking abilities into a burgeoning in-person business with a success rate of over 75%. His clientele ranges from businessmen to creatives to athletes and it can cost up to $30,000 to be part of his Elite subscription.
After having a horrible dating experience while making her way in the beauty industry, Ming switched careers and became a matchmaker herself. After only one year, she met a client who became her husband and their union helped conceptualize her vision to focus on interracial dating. Clients who are looking to meet someone outside of their social or cultural circle come to Ming if they can afford her pricey services that can cost up to $100,000. Her dates are usually high-adrenaline and experiential to give singles a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Kelli Fisher and Tana Gilmore have found major success for more than 12 years helping the most boss women in the country. With recruiters all over, Kelli and Tana not only dominate the scene in Hotlanta, but they are also one of the most sought-after matchmaking service for Black women in the U.S. They require clients in their program to take relationship coaching, image consulting and have a photo shoot. This thorough process takes about two months before clients are polished enough to go on their first date.