It is not uncommon to see women of color leave the adventure during the first weeks of reality TV. Double Occupancy. We can think of Racky (OD Andalusia), Rasheeda (OD In The West), Kayshia and Naomy (OD South Africa), to name just a few examples.
It is only very recently, with Kiari d’OD South Africa during the show’s 13th season, that a black man made it to the finale. Then, Stevens ofOD In The West was the very first to be elected winner, in the 15th season, alongside Inès, herself of Moroccan origin. At the women’s level, it took 17 editions until OD Andalusiato see a woman of mixed origin, Mia, born to an Ivorian father and a Quebecois mother, win the adventure. Aïssa, a candidate born to a Malian mother and a Quebecois father, had also reached the final ofOD Martinique.
So there is indeed some progress for cultural diversity on television in Quebec. Nevertheless, the only black woman onOD Mexico left the first this season, Shaïna, followed by Stéphany who is originally from Mexico.
Also read: Shaïna from OD Mexico looks back on her adventure and her controversial elimination
This therefore opens up conversation and reflection, since there is still a way to go, and above all discussions to have on the subject.
Stephany, who recently returned from her adventure, spoke about the presence of women from cultural diversity in Occupation Double Mexicowhen Narcity asked her what she thought about her and Shaina being eliminated first.
“Honestly, I’m really happy that I’m being asked this question, because obviously, if we don’t address the problem, the problem doesn’t exist and therefore we don’t try to find solutions,” begins the 31-year-old candidate.
Stephany feels that her and Shaïna’s backgrounds may have contributed to their elimination, despite the production’s efforts to be more inclusive:
“I don’t think it was the determining factor in my career path. ODbut I think that’s part of the factors that may have contributed to my elimination in the end. I don’t think it was one person, necessarily, who could have put us in a box, but I think it may have been a matter of the boys’ preferences. The production tried to do its job by including people who, during the auditions, may have said that they were open to anything.”
The candidate ofOD explains that she knew what she was getting into, having researched the history of the show, and hopes that her journey, like that of her friend, will encourage discussion:
“Ultimately, we realize that, based on the history of other shows, because I’ve read a little about it too, it turns out that women of colour and visible minorities often end up leaving first. So, I think – I hope in any case – that it will shed some light on the subject and that it will open up discussions in families, among the people who listen ODso that we can ask ourselves more questions about why we make certain choices in our lives, even on a personal level,” she begins.
“Do I go for someone because they’re over six feet tall? Do you really base your choice of partner on a physical characteristic? I think it’s important, obviously, to be attracted to your partner. But there’s another part that we should question ourselves about. We should ask ourselves: should I block myself because the person doesn’t have blond hair? Should I block myself because the person has small eyes? I think you have to open yourself up to differences and then see people as human beings. That’s very important,” Stephany says.
Indeed, Stephany brought up an interesting point, because we’ve heard guys like Aleksa and Carl, for example, put their penchant for women with light eyes forward.
“It doesn’t matter, in the end, the physical characteristic. Whether it’s the size of boys, or right now, we’re talking about visible minorities… What’s important is just to ask the question. Why?” she concludes.
So Narcity asked her. If she has read about the history of women of color in Double Occupancywhat motivated her to join the adventure? Her answer is filled with the hope she cherished, and it is also a beautiful declaration of love towards the metropolis:
“I think that, ultimately, my reality in Montreal is very different from the reality in other places in Quebec. I’ve lived in Montreal for 10 years, if I’m not mistaken. And it seems like I had forgotten, precisely, the difficulties that I might have experienced in other cities in the province. Because when I arrived in Quebec, I lived in the Lévis area. [ NDLR: ville de la région de la Chaudière-Appalaches, près de la ville de Québec]. It seems like I had forgotten…but that’s why, maybe, I had a lot more hope. I said to myself: “It’s 2024”. In Montreal, there is a lot of diversity, and I find that difference is better accepted. Maybe that’s why I had a lot of hope.
” I think [qu’à Montréal] “We get to see beauty in all the different ethnicities, and all the different cultures, and I love it here,” she concludes.
Stephany didn’t find love on OD, but she definitely won the hearts of viewers.
Note that three men and three women will soon join the adventure ofDouble Occupation Mexico. However, no people of color were featured among these six singles.
To read the interview with Shaïna, it’s here.
To read the interview with Jimmy, it’s here.
