The second episode of Age of Love saw two women eliminated, including the first twenty-something. This afternoon I had the opportunity to talk to said twenty-something, 27 year old lighting designer, Lauren Bryant, about her Age of Love experience.
Trevor MacKay: When you first found out about the whole twenty-somethings versus forty-somethings part of the show, what were your thoughts on it?
Lauren Bryant: Well, it was an interesting twist. But it didn’t really bother me so much. I don’t know. You feel a little bit awkward, not even because of the age but just because there’s another group. That, you know, you didn’t know about. And you thought you were competing with five other girls and all of the sudden there’s six others that come in that you’re competing against.
TM: Right, right.
LB: It didn’t have so much to do with the age, as the fact that there was just another group.
TM: Oh, okay. So you didn’t think one group had an advantage over other or anything it was just you were kind of shocked there was a second group?
LB: Yeah, I wouldn’t say shocked so much as it was just confirmed, you know? Because initially when we all met each other we were like, “Well, where are the rest of the girls?”
TM: Okay.
LB: And then when we actually did get into the house, and we saw that there were only six girls, we were kind of put a little bit at ease. And, then when we walked down to the elimination and saw that there were other women standing there, I was like “Oh, gosh. Here we go.” We did know that there was a twist and then… you know…
TM: Okay. Yourself, Lauren, when you’re dating do you have a preference of age?
LB: I definitely prefer a little bit older. I generally don’t date guys that are my age or younger. It hasn’t really worked out.
TM: Did you feel you had a bit of an advantage going in, as you were the closest in age to Mark?
LB: I didn’t really, again, because I didn’t know the premise of the show, I didn’t really think too much about my age.
TM: Oh, okay. What was your first impression upon meeting Mark?
LB: First impression when I met Mark, he’s tall, good-looking, seems to be nice. But then, you know, when I got a little bit more one on one time with him, it was definitely apparent to me that there was not a connection.
TM: What was your impression of the other girls you were on the show with?
LB: We really had a great time together. I liked the other girls, I really did. We got along really great.
TM: What would you consider to be the highlight of your time on the show?
LB: I believe it was a good opportunity for me to do a little bit of self-exploration. And it was amazing to just meet other young women that come from very different backgrounds and to be put in a house with strangers that you wouldn’t normally have met under everyday circumstances. I think it was a good learning experience for me.
TM: If you were to do the show again, do you think you would do anything differently?
LB: I can’t really say that I would do anything differently. I pretty much am who I am, either you like it or you don’t. *laughs* The only thing, and again, I don’t really have any control over this, my personality wasn’t really shown.
TM: You felt like you didn’t really get a chance to show who you were?
LB: No, not at all. I mean, I do love food and all… *both laugh* as anyone one of my friends will tell you. But that’s not all I’m about, you know? I do have other interests and aspirations that really wasn’t addressed on the show. *laughs* Again, it wasn’t a show about me, but if it were… *laughs*
TM: Yeah. *laughs*
LB: It would have been done a little differently.
TM: Do you think in the long run, Lauren, one of the groups has an advantage over the other?
LB: Initially I had thought that the twenty-somethings had an advantage, because I know Mark was looking to start a family. And, you know, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, there’s something to be said about doing things for the first time. A lot of the older women have been married before, had kids before and I think a lot of men today, are sensitive to the fact that they don’t want to be second, you know?
TM: Right.
LB: So I think if you’re someone like Mark that has a history of dating women significantly younger than he is, you know, I think that the younger women have an advantage. I do however think that’s it’s a good experience for him, just to see that he shouldn’t be so set on one particular age group. I think it’s probably an eye-opening thing for Mark, to be dating these older women who are accomplished, who are beautiful and sexy and older.
TM: Right. Well, that’s all I have for you here Lauren, I’d like to thank you again for taking the time to talk to me today.
LB: Thank you.
– Age of Love airs on NBC on Monday nights at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
– Age of Love airs on the Global network in Canada on Monday nights at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
