Virginia McIntosh Venuto and Shauna Hakim Miller had both recently ended long-term relationships when they met on Tinder in September 2022. Mx. Venuto, who calls herself Gin, was new to online dating, while Ms. Miller described herself as a “seasoned pro.”

Their mutual attraction was instant. “I thought Shauna was cute and had confidence,” Mx. Venuto said. “I was very intrigued.”

“Gin seemed like a catch from her bio because she went to Mount Holyoke, a school I admired,” Ms. Miller said. “Plus, I loved the oversized glasses in her profile picture.”

After messaging and sharing jokes, they agreed to meet for drinks a few weeks later at Broken Shaker, a rooftop bar at the Freehand Los Angeles, a hotel downtown.

Mx. Venuto, 37, said she was “a mess” in the hours leading up to their meeting. “I hadn’t been on a date in years and called every close friend for advice on what to say and how to dress.”

Ms. Miller, 38, was excited. “I had a sense we would hit it off,” she said.

Mx. Venuto arrived first and said that her eyes lit up when she saw Ms. Miller walk in. “She was wearing a short-sleeved floral dress and was pretty and elegant,” she said.

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