Ready to Love Cast Guide
The following is a cast guide for the OWN program “Ready To Love” and its spin-offs.
Season 4 Cast Members
| Network(s) | OWN |
| Created or Developed By | Will Packer |
| First Aired | 4/2/2021 |
Groups & Organizations
- Frick and Frack: Chrisantheium and Stacy’s group nickname
Other Noteworthy Information
- Length Of Time (4.12): This all took place over 10 weeks
Joel
42-year-old Joel is a Drilling Fluids Engineer who has fraternal twins (a boy and a girl) who are 8 years old. He enjoys working out, loves living a carefree life, has a few tattoos and some of his favorite singers are Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, and Anita Baker.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 4 (Casting Special)
- Ex-Wife (4.4): Her name is Courtney
- Widow (4.10): Lost his wife two years ago
- Reunion (4.14): Is no longer with Verneashia
Quotes & Gifs
Jason
Jason is a 36-year-old teacher who spent a good portion of his life as a basketball player, and he notes he even went pro. However, in modern times, he focuses on being a teacher and his youth organization “I-AMM” which he has run for over 8 years.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 4 (Casting Special)
- Workplace Romance (Casting Special): Jason shares that he dated a co-worker who was cheating on him in such a way that everyone knew.
- Familiar Faces (4.2): Jason was Alexis’ son’s basketball coach at one time.
- Michael Phelps Ain’t Got Nothing On Me (4.3): Reveals he was on the swim team and went to diving school in the past
- Asking All The Right Questions (4.3): After dealing with depression, he went to therapy
- Reunion (4.13): Ends up with Liz
- Height and Shoe Size (5.1): Jason is 6’4 and wears a 13 to 14 sized shoe
Quotes & Gifs
Ron
Ron is a Regional Sales Director, with a focus in corporate sales, with two side hustles. One is running a small car lot and the other importing caskets. One of the reasons he is single deals with feeling there are too many options in Houston alongside seeing how his father’s divorce affected his dad.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 4 (Casting Special)
- Dad’s Divorces (Casting Special): It is noted his dad was divorced twice.
- Background (4.4): Was in jail at 18 and was from a bad part of Detroit.
Quotes & Gifs
Eliminated Episode 9
Verneashia
39-year-old Verneashia is a salon owner and mother of 4 daughters she co-parents with her ex. Currently, she has been single for 10 years, and her last relationship was with the father of her daughters. They were together for 8 years, 5 of which she was a stay-at-home mom, and she notes, while he was a great father and provider, her ex, he also was controlling and a cheater.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 4 (Casting Special)
- Oldest Child (4.2): She notes her oldest is 19
- Reunion (4.13): Is single
Quotes & Gifs
Chrisantheium (Chris)
Despite being a social butterfly, Chris has had trouble maintaining her relationships due to being a flight attendant. For if it isn’t the man being insecure, it is her constantly traveling and no one deciding to pick up the phone and maintain a connection.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 4 (Casting Special)
- Ethnic Background (4.2): Notes she is half-Italian, and grew up in Italy
- How Long In Italy (4.6): She notes she grew up in Italy until she was 7
- Relationship With Father (4.6): Notes she didn’t meet her dad until 6 years ago
- Met The Mom (4.13): Met Ron’s mom
Quotes & Gifs
Eliminated Episode 7
Alexis “Fly” Jones
A TV news producer in Houston, Alexis’ nickname “Fly” comes from having a notable style throughout her life and her usual demeanor. The reason she is single comes from being unable to work it out with her ex, who was a pastor in Houston, Texas, and that she was with for 5 years. Now, what went wrong? Well, it was not feeling like she was a priority. As for modern times? Well, the problem deals with men more so approaching her for sex than a relationship. Which, with her having a son, and wanting a The Notebook type romance, sex and lack of commitment aren’t what she is looking for.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 4 (Casting Special)
- Love Language (4.4): Her love language is time
- Hold Up, Be Careful Now! (4.10): Has Vertigo
Quotes & Gifs
Eliminated Episode 11
Stacy
Stacy introducing herself
From Pass Christian, Mississippi, 39-year-old Stacy formerly was a basketball player’s wife for 10 years but is now divorced. Her focus now has been her insurance and financial services career alongside her 3 kids, of which the oldest is her 19-year-old son.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 4 (Casting Special)
- Previous Relationship Length (4.2): While married for 10 years, she notes the relationship was 17 years.
- What Kind of Insurance? (4.2): She does do life insurance
- Divorced When (4.5): Four years ago
Quotes & Gifs
There’s a difference between transparency and trust.
— Stacy (4.4)
Eliminated Episode 5
Dedrick
Dedrick is a chef who is 47 years of age, has two daughters, one 26 and the other 21, and is a grandfather of a 3-year-old. He has been single for two years and feels not having a partner is holding him back, but with encountering too many women who wish to be sugar babies, he has been hesitant to date.
Though he does note, when it comes to being with him, the woman should be willing and ready to have a child – with him specifically aiming for a son.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 4 (Casting Special)
Quotes & Gifs
Eliminated Episode 6
Andrea
Single since 2004, so between 16 to 17 years, 38-year-old Andrea’s struggle with dating is similar to Chris’ due to being a flight attendant. However, unlike Chris, Andrea makes it clear she doesn’t get hit on much, which is part of the reason she is single.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 4 (Casting Special)
- How Long Has She Been A Flight Attendant? (4.2): 6 years
- Reunion (4.13): Is dating Christian
Quotes & Gifs
Eliminated Episode 3
Liz
The CEO of her own production company, Liz is ready to love after putting it off to focus on her career. Making her, like Andrea, single for nearly 17 years! But, while Andrea’s last relationship was in college, for Liz it was right after high school.
As for why she remains single? Cheating and the men she meets liking polyamory just don’t work for her. She prefers something more old school. A guy who is spiritual, not religious, but does have a relationship with God. Which she hopes to find on her time on Ready To Love.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 4 (Casting Special)
- Side Hustles (4.2): While Liz being a CEO of a production company is focused on, with David, she notes she was in a gospel singing group, and even sang with him a bit.
- Abstinence (4.4): Is practicing abstinence until marriage
- Understanding the 17 Year Gap (4.4): While she wasn’t in a real relationship for 17 years, she was in situationships
- Reunion (4.13): Is with Jason
Quotes & Gifs
AJ
From the great city of Chicago, AJ is a 38-year-old music producer who has been in the industry for over 15 years, and because of that, he doesn’t date in the industry – anymore. As for what he is looking for? He wants a woman who is family-oriented for he’s ready to settle down. Especially since, in his 11 years in Houston, he has run through many women and even says, not in a joking way, there is a chance he may know one of the women cast for this season.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 4 (Casting Special)
- Does He Have Kids (4.2): No, but wants them
Quotes & Gifs
Troy McAlister
Troy during an interview segment
A Houston native, born and raised, Troy is a regional manager for a GPS company whose pickiness seems to be getting in his way. For with him only liking small and petite women, women who work out and aren’t full-figured, it seems he has struggled to find what he is looking for and maintaining a connection when he does find them.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 4 (Casting Special)
- Age (Casting Special): 51
Quotes & Gifs
Eliminated Episode 4
Ida
37-year-old development manager, Ida, has over 20 years of relationship experience and her last serious relationship was 2 years ago, and the relationship lasted 3 years. The problem with it? He changed up on her. As for why she is here? Well, with being raised by a teen mom she was raised with the understanding that she doesn’t need to have a man. Yet, with her wanting kids, and it being clear she is loved enough to be proposed to, multiple times, now she just wants to find a man she would accept the proposal of.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 4 (Casting Special)
- Vicki (4.2): Growing up, Ida like the robot from Small Wonders named Vicki, and so she made that her nickname throughout her childhood.
- Reunion (4.12): Is dating Khaleel
Quotes & Gifs
Eliminated Episode 3
Tressa
A Chicago native, Tressa is 42 and is a comedienne and entrepreneur. She was married for 13 years and got married at 19, and since then she has struggled with finding only men who are “hobo-sexual” aka homeless, asking her out. Also, she has had issues with just being the breadwinner in past relationships, making it so, she just wants someone on her level. Someone who her daughter, who she is close to, can love and approve of.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 4 (Casting Special)
- Comedy Career (4.3): Has been doing comedy 6 years
- Absence (4.13): Had COVID, so couldn’t attend the reunion
Quotes & Gifs
Eliminated Episode 5
Christian
From a side hustle in the events industry to his job of being a mailman, for over 6 years, Christian is a 36-year-old who is ready to love. Especially since there was a time when he was a ho and he feels that chapter is over.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 4 (Casting Special)
- Sobriety (Casting Special): After a really bad night, that included passing out at a stop light, Christian has been sober for 3 years.
- I Want To Know What Love Is (4.2): Notes he is married, doesn’t have kids, or wants them, and didn’t have a positive representation of relationships growing up.
- Eliminated (4.2): Due to being timid compared to the rest of the men
- Match (4.13): Ended up with Andrea
Quotes & Gifs
Khaleel
A 41-year-old teacher in Houston, Khaleel was married before, but the circumstances are very different from his fellow castmates. His marriage was born from having a near-deadly car accident in 2013, and the woman he was with, a United Kingdom native, taking care of him and proposing the idea of marriage. This led to him moving to the UK and after dealing with a lack of stability there, it being decided to annul the marriage. Thus, he went back to Houston and is now ready to love. Specifically, someone dark-skinned, full-figured, with a Lauryn Hill or Erykah Badu vibe.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 4 (Casting Special)
- Match (4.13): Is dating Ida
Quotes & Gifs
Eliminated Episode 1
Amber
With her job being a criminal attorney, Amber has spent a good portion of her life committed to her job and not looking for someone who expects or wants to argue after she spent all day doing so. What Amber really wants is someone who can allow her to be the loving and nurturing person she sees herself as because keeping the wall up is becoming tiring.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 4 (Casting Special)
- The Struggle Is Real (4.2): One of the issues Amber has faced in the past is that she is more logical than emotional, and that leads to men sometimes feeling insecure, especially when you combine her commitment to her job. Thus, she feels she needs a man who is sure about himself.
- Adoption (4.4): She was adopted when she was 5, and has a two year older sister
- Reunion (4.13): Is with Kris
Quotes & Gifs
David
44-year old David is a real estate agent, real estate investor, and also officiates weddings on the side. He is someone very big on family, as he has 7 siblings, and 4 kids of his own. Also, he has been married twice and is still dealing with his parents divorcing after 40 years.
As for why he is single? Well, being picky. Though rather than present the idea it is over something superficial, he makes it appear to be he wants someone who isn’t just complimented for her beauty but how sweet she is.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 4 (Casting Special)
- Till Marriage (4.3): Believes in waiting until marriage before having sex
- Background (4.4): He grew up with a very strict household where girls couldn’t call the house, so when he went to college, he left the church and went all out. But he returned to being a prodigal son after college.
- 2nd Marriage (4.4): She walked out on him after 1 year
Quotes & Gifs
I’ll take you in the frame that you are.
— David (4.4)
Eliminated (Though He Pretends He Self-Eliminated) Episode 9
Kyra
34-year-old Kyra is an attorney whose last major relationship was with her college sweetheart, and the relationship lasted 9 years. Why did it end? Can’t you guess? He cheated. Because of that, she stopped dating for a year but is ready to get back in the game and find herself a nice dark-skinned man. One that doesn’t mind she can be both classy and ratchet, depending on the situation.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 4 (Casting Special)
- Bad Romance (4.2): Notes she previously dated AJ but due to him being unable to pay for the second date (his card was declined), and not telling her about it, she felt he was cheap and made sure to spread that around.
Quotes & Gifs
Kris (KG Smooth)
Kris is a 42-year-old man known for his radio persona, KG Smooth, and his radio career spans 20+ years. But, he isn’t just an entertaining on the radio, he is also a social activist whose last relationship was in 2012. So he is in dire need of a woman with some melanin.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 3
- Kids (3.3): Wants 3 children
- Update (4.8): The number is now 5
- Eliminated (3.6)
- Family (3.6): Has a younger brother
- Minister Kris (3.6): Is ordained
- The Return (Season 4: Casting Special): Is the first member of a past cast to return to Ready To Love.
- Siblings (4.4): His father has 11 children by 9 women
- Reunion (4.13): Is with Amber
Quotes & Gifs
You mad? Why? Can you answer my question? ?
Why?
Does everyone on ready to love wear veneers? They all have perfectly straight white teeth.
Does everyone on ready to love have veneers? Every last one of them seem to have perfect teeth.
I’m mad you said that lol
Can “Ready to love” consider a BBW (big and beautiful), version? I know you have to have a variety of ladies in your pool. However, I felt it was unfair for full figured sisters like Tessa, who almost got eliminated early, because she just wasn’t the majority of the men’s “type”. You’re either attracted to plus size or you’re not. In the end, they may reconsider their position, but those types usually end up not lasting or having a brother wanting to change a sister. BTW, thanks for changing your format from what you had in season 1. Having 12 women competing for just 4 men, had me livid. WTF?!
I totally agree with Crystal about Arron, he should not have even been on the show Period!
Just wondering if OWN TV and Will Packer Productions conducted background checks (criminal, civil) on the cast of Ready to Love. An internet search revealed one of the females has a criminal record and the occupation of one the males is questionable. Both were in the Cabin episode. Were these people properly vetted?
Hello, I’d like to say I really liked the Series Ready to love watching the show really represents the reality of what it’s like to get to know someone on a different level which was real for me, I can’t wait until the next season. One more thing Arron was full of mess from the beginning I don’t know how he made it to the end.