OWN'S POPULAR LOVE AND RELATIONSHIP DATING SHOW "READY TO LOVE" RETURNS WITH 18 HOPEFUL SINGLES LOOKING FOR LOVE IN DALLAS

ALL-NEW SEASON PREMIERES FRIDAY, JULY 7 AT 8 PM EST | 7 PM CST

OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network will premiere the all-new 8th Season of its hit love and relationship dating series "Ready to Love" Friday, July 7 at 8 PM EST | 7 PM CST.

"Ready to Love" is not your mother's "let's fall in love in thirty minutes or less" dating show; these are grown men and women in their 30's and 40's who are seeking the special relationship-of-a-lifetime that has eluded them thus far, and the baggage they each bring to the party is real. The old adage that "The course of love never did run smooth" is proven to be truer than ever when these eager singles come together to meet, date, cross-date, group-date and re-date, all in an effort to discover and claim "the one." The romantic high drama is palpable from the moment that 18 attractive and successful women and men first set eyes on one another at the Mansion Mixer in Dallas that sets them all off on the bumpy road to love.

Before the Mansion Mixer has ended, the women will decide which of the men will be eliminated from their pool of potential suitors, and the men must do the same, eliminating one of the women. From that point on, it's up to the remaining singles to stay in the game as long as possible to better their chances of meeting and courting their match, since each week somebody is eliminated. Throughout the season drama, love triangles and broken hearts will threaten - and strengthen - budding romances, as only the strongest connections will remain intact.

Host Tommy Miles encourages everyone to open up with their dates and reveal their authentic selves in order to better connect, and he also issues dating challenges that will allow potential partners to get to know one another better. It might be inviting your ex to meet your new potential love, or taking your date home to meet family and friends. But no matter how simple the challenge, you can be certain that the drama will ensue each time somebody unpacks their baggage.

The show has been Friday night's #1 original cable series among African-American women (18+) in 2022.

The show is executive produced by Will Packer and Richard Brown of Will Packer Media, and Jeff Spangler and Rob LaPlante of Lighthearted Entertainment. Anthony Sylvester and Angela Fitts executive produce for Lighthearted Entertainment.

Women -

· Aries, 44 - Software Sales Manager, Podcaster

· Lee, 34 - Health & Wellness Coach, Gym Owner

· Eunik Richard, 32 - TV & Film Producer

· Janelle, 42 - Entrepreneur

· Jessica, 38 - Entrepreneur

· Keyra, 30 - Realtor

· Leiann, 49 - Realtor/Fitness Advocate

· Sierra, 33 - Stylist

· Taquilla, 35 - Executive Assistant

Men -

· Brandon, 36 - Train Dispatcher

· Chris, 39 - Construction Developer and Investor

· Herbert, 37 - Partnership Manager

· Jack 'Quent,' 34 - Personal Trainer

· James 'Red,' 42 - Celebrity Tour DJ, Comedian

· Maurier, 36 - Entrepreneur

· Marvin, 41 - Erotic Author 'Adonis'

· Phil, 41 - Supply Chain Analyst

· Travis 'Habibi,' 33 - Saxophonist

About "Ready to Love"

Record-breaking Hollywood producer Will Packer's popular dating series hosted by Tommy Miles explores the real-life dating interactions of sexy, successful, and grown Black men and Black women in their 30s and 40s who are each looking for lasting love and an authentic relationship. Will Packer Media and Lighthearted Entertainment produce the series.

About Will Packer Media

Led by Hollywood producer Will Packer, Will Packer Media is a first-of-its-kind production and branded content company focused on the New American Mainstream audience, with an urban millennial core. In partnership with Discovery, Inc. and Universal Pictures, the company produces episodic scripted and unscripted series across television and digital platforms, compelling content for brand clients, and short-form digital content for millennial audiences. Will Packer's films have earned more than $1 billion, with ten opening at number one at the box office.

About Lighthearted Entertainment

Lighthearted Entertainment creates ground-breaking, unscripted content for television and digital platforms around the world, and is fiercely committed to translating the team's creativity, energy and ideas into content that taps into the zeitgeist of popular culture. The company is led by co-owners and Presidents Rob LaPlante and Jeff Spangler.

About OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network

OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network is the first and only network named for, and inspired by, a single iconic leader. Oprah Winfrey's heart and creative instincts inform the brand and the magnetism of the channel. OWN is a leading destination for premium scripted and unscripted programming from today's most innovative storytellers. OWN connects with its audience wherever they are, inspiring conversation among a global community of like-minded viewers on social media and beyond. Launched on January 1, 2011, OWN is a joint venture between Harpo, Inc. and Warner Bros. Discovery. The venture also includes the award-winning digital platform Oprah.com. Access OWN anytime on http://WatchOWN.tv or across mobile devices and connected TVs.