Charity Lawson, Dotun Olubeko Interview on Nigerian Wedding

It’s been a protracted, lengthy time coming. But when Dotun Olubeko dropped on a knee to suggest to Charity Lawson (adorably at her top stage), I smiled. Then I cried. Then I texted my mother and buddies I knew who had been watching “The Bachelorette” (and people who stopped watching the franchise as a result of they gave up on seeing a Black love story seasons in the past). And then I rejoiced with Black Twitter, discovering our manner collectively to rejoice this historic second in Bachelor historical past.

I’ve been a Bachelor franchise viewer for a few decade, and though I’ve seen mixed-race ladies who seem like me on the journey to search out their companions, inclusive illustration was missing. The time for a good looking, melanated Black couple — a stunning lead in Lawson and each bit the prince charming in Olubeko — has been manner overdue. My pleasure stemmed from younger folks with pores and skin as richly darkish and wonderful as my mom’s — and all of the oft-ignored-by-the-mainstream unbelievable ladies who raised me — taking middle stage. It’s wanted, it is welcome, and we should not wait one other 25 years to see it once more.

Lawson and Olubeko spoke with POPSUGAR contemporary off their engagement reveal, broadcasted to hundreds of thousands Monday evening on ABC — and the love they’re feeling from followers is immense. “It’s been amazing to watch,” Olubeko shares. “We went into this leading with our hearts, just to find our person. And for this to end up being what it is, it’s an honor. And we respect the position so much, and we want to further that conversation and make sure that people understand what Black love can look like.”

“We want to further that conversation.”

For this Black love story, Black Twitter is already dialed in for the principle occasion: a bustling, vibrant Nigerian marriage ceremony. “Whether I like it, there’s no avoiding it. My mom wants that to happen, like, yesterday,” Olubeko says, laughing; he comes from a vibrant, welcoming Nigerian American household. Although the couple have plans to easily do life collectively, they guarantee two weddings will happen when the timing is correct. “We’re just going to take the next year or two to continue to enjoy each other’s company and live life, because it’s been so crazy for the past year. But we’re excited for the opportunity to have this Nigerian wedding, and likely that’s going to happen along with probably a more intimate one because we are meaningful people. So we want to have one that’s meaningful. But also a fun one, a fun one that’s vibrant and classic Nigerian fashion.”

Although there can be no marriage ceremony bells within the close to future, Lawson is already excited to immerse herself within the richness of Nigerian tradition. “I’m teaching her Yoruba,” Olubeko shares. And in fact, Lawson is right here for all the tradition’s scrumptious meals. Rice and jollof for the win, y’all.

That authenticity from each Olubeko and Lawson made it such a enjoyable journey watching the 2 discover love in a hopeless place: actuality TV. For Lawson, authenticity was important, and he or she remained true to herself all through your complete televised, extremely scrutinized journey. “I knew for myself, if I was to be easily molded or swayed, I was going to leave or walk away from here probably not having the outcome that I truly wanted, and so it was an active thing for me,” Lawson says. “But also not something that I had to think about. I didn’t want to think about being a certain way. I just was.”

To keep anchored in merely being Charity, religion and tradition led the way in which. “I did bring my journals and devotions and my Bible,” Lawson shares. “Just being a woman of faith, that was helpful for me to be anchored in.”

Her music, in the meantime, gave her the area to chop up. “The running joke for the season, the theme of the season, was ‘Wipe Me Down,'” she says, laughing, referencing the Boosie Badazz traditional. “I always listened to that before a rose ceremony. Or just Beyoncé, things like that that really just allowed me to feel empowered in the moment or have a moment where I could just feel more at peace or at home and connected.”

“After encountering something so powerful, now the approach and how we view things is totally different.”

As Lawson begins this thrilling chapter of her life — a brand new man and an upcoming run on “Dancing With the Stars” — she’s leaning on the works of certainly one of our biggest late elders. “After filming, I started reading a book by bell hooks, which is ‘All About Love,'” Lawson says. “And that just allowed me to really have this overwhelming transformative outlook on what love is and how we come to know what love is. And so we often talk about it, too. After encountering something so powerful, now the approach and how we view things is totally different.”

It’s a story as outdated because the Bachelor franchise: Lawson and Olubeko can lastly share their love off digicam. I’m excited to see the enjoyable shenanigans of “Bachelor in Paradise” ensue and for “The Golden Bachelor” Gerry Turner to search out his golden match. (My boomer mother is particularly eager about that one!) And I’m right here for Lawson’s runner-up, Joey Graziadei, to seek for his OTP on the following season of “The Bachelor.” It’ll be enterprise as common for my common rotation of Bachelor Nation choices. But the Charity and Dotun period may have my coronary heart for years to return.