“I Am So Lucky!”: An Interview with Hooking Up’s Shelly

Go on and admit it! Ever since you watched Hooking Up and read our recaps, you’ve either wanted to try online dating or you’ve actually given it a shot. No matter what, you probably still have questions about how it works and what you can expect from the experience. Shelly, the intriguing opera singer we met on the last episode of the program, recently answered some questions of mine in hopes of providing you with more insight into Internet dating and her own online encounters.

RealityNewsOnline: After reading your information on the show's web site, I thought you were going to be rude, out of control, and basically not fun to watch; however, you actually were one of my favorite women on Hooking Up! I was disappointed though that you were only on one episode. Since the viewers didn't get to know you very well, what is one thing you want to tell us about yourself?

Shelly: Glad to know you enjoyed my episode and that you said what you did about your assumption; it shows that people shouldn't make them. You never know, as they say! As far as my coverage I was told I would be introduced in the third episode and "fleshed out" in episodes four and five. I'm not exactly sure why I was cut to about 15 minutes, but I think they wanted to stick to "safe" women and portray me as the "hard ass" girl… you know, the outspoken one with no class type. That way, they could "redeem me" by showing me falling in love. I was rather disappointed in their editing choices.

They also only picked the dates that didn't work out for me. Anthony, the first date you saw me with, admitted that he actually had a girlfriend and was an actor who just wanted to get on television. I was shocked that ABC used his footage since they knew he was lying and it was supposed to be news. They also left out a few dates where things went great. I was the fall girl for sure.

RNO: Readers may be contemplating Internet dating for their own love lives. What advice can you give to them in order to make dating online all that it can be?

Shelly: Be honest! If you're looking for a casual encounter, a one-night stand or a soul mate, ‘fess up! Most people can hide their true personalities for up to a year, then all hell breaks loose. Do yourself a favor, avoid all the mess, and just be you. It sounds like a cliché, but it really is true; if you’re honest about who you are and are open to meeting someone, you will.

RNO: As with all things, I'm sure you had some great and some not-so-great experiences with dating online. What was the best experience you had and what was the worst one?

Shelly: One of the best online dates I had led to a wonderful relationship (with boyfriend Clint) and one of the worst involved a man who was actually a gay-for-pay porn star. I had no idea until this guy rushed the table where we were having dinner and said, "I love your movies!" This was an awkward situation to say the least. This is exactly what I mean by being honest. He should have been up front about his ahem... job.

RNO: Editing is always an issue when it comes to reality television, including news programs. You probably went on a lot of dates, yet we saw very little of them. What do you wish the viewers had seen that wasn't shown on the program?

Shelly: I went on about 10 (filmed for ABC) dates over a year and like I said, they picked the dates where I was "rejected" of sorts. I would have liked them to give me the same amount of development as they did other "characters." I also would have liked the audience to see the small talk, email exchanges, and the flirting. I would have especially liked if they had shown the opinions and ideas about Internet dating we had. There were plenty of nights where we (the cameraman and I) just talked about how we felt about dating and our lives in general. This is much better than, "So, where do you work?"

RNO: What was it like being on a date, meeting a guy for the first time, and having a camera in your face? Were the camera people close by or far enough away that you could still enjoy your date?

Shelly: I really feel confident about myself and actually enjoy social challenges. I'm the kind of woman who goes to a party alone even if she doesn't know anybody. As far as the camera goes, it was only one at a time and [the cameraman] was always about five feet away. The weird thing was waiting to re-shoot, and entering and exiting so they could get good shots… hardly natural. Also, sometimes I'd forget I was mic'd when I went to the bathroom. Good thing I never ate Mexican food on my dates!

RNO: Finally, I'm sure your fans want to know how things are with Clint! When the show ended, the two of you were moving in together! How is your love life? How are other aspects of your life now that Hooking Up has aired?

Shelly: Awwwww! Clint and I are very much in love! We celebrated our year anniversary recently. It's absolute bliss. I seriously never thought I would meet someone who was as trustworthy, selfless, kind, caring, and romantic as he is. I am truly blessed. He gave me a beautiful ring after the cameras left. He didn't want me to think he was doing it for the camera’s sake. I am so lucky!

RNO: Thanks, Shelly, for taking the time to address your fans! Good luck with life and love!

There you have it, friends… proof that Internet dating does work. If you’ve been thinking of trying it, let Shelly’s story encourage you to take that leap. If you’ve already tried it without much success, don’t give up yet. Love has a funny way of finding us when we least expect it!

Jill is an east coast mama who loves sharks, zombie movies, and reality television. She welcomes your comments about these and other subjects, and can be reached at jilljones@verizon.net.

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