Some say you must risk it all for love—in the case of Netflix’s Love Is Blind, that means finding your partner blindly, relying solely on a strong emotional connection. On the new, ten-episode reality series, hosted by Nick and Vanessa Lachey, 30 hopeful singles spend time in pods where a potential companion sits on the opposite side of the wall; without seeing each other, the duo must dig deep to see if they could be compatible in the long run. The premise of the social experiment is to discover if love is based on more than just a physical preference—indeed, many of those who spend time in pods find that an attraction is more than just a matter of age, race, or color. After select couples get engaged, they head to a retreat in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, where they receive face-to-face time at last. Soon after, the duos move back to an apartment complex in Atlanta, where they meet each other’s families and explore living conditions. In the last episode, the series follows the final couples on their wedding day, as they solidify future decisions at the altar. Below, female contestants Danielle Drouin, Briana Holmes, Ebony Alexis, and Alyson Costa explain what the unique experience was like for them and whether or not they truly believe love is blind.

Why did you submit to be on Love Is Blind?

Danielle Drouin: I actually didn't submit--they found me through Instagram. Strangely enough, my sister did another show of theirs called Second Chances. Whoever was casting found me through my sister, and that definitely helped convince me to say yes to this crazy experiment! 

Briana Holmes: I went on Love Is Blind so that I could find someone who wanted to get to know me for who I truly am and how I make them feel rather than what I look like on the outside. I haven’t always been the most confident person, so not having to worry about how someone else thought I looked made me feel more comfortable and confident. There are so many dating apps out there, but they’re all focused on how you look. 

Ebony Alexis: When I was contacted by producers for Love Is Blind, honestly, I thought it was a joke. Once they reached out again, and I heard about the premise of the show, I thought, “Wow, this seems like a great opportunity to find love.” At the time I was contacted, I was single and had enough of dating guys that were not serious and just dead ends. I'm very "old-school" when it comes to dating and courtship, and I really wasn't meeting anyone of substance in the real world. I figured I had nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Alyson Costa: A casting director actually reached out to me, and I was fascinated by the entire concept of the show. I feel like in today’s dating world, so much emphasis is put on superficial characteristics. We often dismiss people and don’t give them a chance before taking the time to truly get to know who they are as people. I’ve probably swiped left on plenty of great guys because, in two seconds, I made a decision based on what they look like or how tall they are. 

What was it like for you blind dating someone inside a pod?

Drouin: Weirdly, it felt so natural. I was definitely skeptical in the beginning, but after my first date, I knew that they had created something special. You feel like you can be your complete, authentic self. It was a safe space, and we had absolutely no distractions. We were one-hundred percent invested in getting to know each other to our roots.

Holmes: Dating someone inside of a pod was the best thing to ever happen to me. I was finally able to let a couple of my walls down and be myself because I wasn’t focused on what I was wearing, what my hair looked like, or if my makeup was okay. All I had to focus on was the person on the other side of the wall, and that allowed me to learn how to listen better and communicate more effectively. 

Alexis: Dating someone inside the pod was a surreal experience. You go into this super comfy and relaxed setting, and all of a sudden, you just hear a voice. It’s like being on the phone but magnified, and the other person’s voice fills the room. You’re talking to someone with the same intentions you ultimately have, so you learn in a couple of days all of the things that you generally don't speak about on dates that would take you months to learn about someone. We were all looking for a husband or wife, so we were really digging deep and asking the tough questions. In turn, that caused us to build really strong bonds.

Costa: At first, it was very nerve-racking and weird. But after a while, I forgot about the cameras, and I was just focusing on being able to get to know somebody on a deeper level. It actually started to feel normal to go into a pod for a date, and it made me feel a lot more comfortable in allowing myself to be vulnerable. I started to become familiar with the voice on the other side, and since all of our phones were taken away, I had no distractions, so I became fully invested in the conversations I was having.

Did you feel like you achieved an emotional connection with someone without seeing him?

Drouin: I can confidently say that I fell in love behind a screen to a person I never met before, based on only an emotional connection.

Holmes: I definitely achieved an emotional connection with someone while dating them in a pod. It was intense, scary, and unbelievable. There’s nothing quite like falling in love without seeing someone. I never thought that I would be in a situation like that, but the connections you build in the pods are so special, so unique, and so uncontrollably amazing. You cry, you laugh, you share, and you get to grow in ways that you never thought possible.

Alexis: Yes, I was definitely able to build a connection without seeing the person. If you would've told me this was possible prior to entering this experiment, I wouldn’t have believed you!

Costa: Yes! I actually achieved an emotional connection with a few guys.

What was the hardest part of the experience for you? 

Drouin: Not being able to talk to my family and close friends. I always seek guidance from them in times of change or if I just need advice. It was hard not having someone close to me to be able to talk through what I was feeling.

Holmes: The rejection. Ultimately, my top three choices of men rejected me. I almost got engaged--or so I thought. I told a man that I had fallen in love with him only to hear that he had fallen in love with someone else and was going to propose to her. It made me feel like there was something wrong with me, but I had to remind myself that I’m perfectly imperfect and that the guy for me just wasn’t there.

Alexis: Opening up to the unknown. I learned so much about myself as a person during this experiment. Trusting someone you’ve never laid eyes on and making the decision to trust your gut is the ultimate task!

Costa: Not being able to process everything as it was happening with my closest friends. Although not having access to the outside world made the experience more effective, it also made it harder for me to process all of my emotions, which I would normally do by calling a girlfriend or family member.

What was it like when the person on the other side of the pod was revealed?

Drouin: My heart was pounding out of my chest, and I couldn't feel my hands. The second we held each other, and I heard his voice while we were actually touching, it was such an emotional experience--I was so happy! We wanted to just run away together at that point and say, “Peace out.”

Holmes: When I was able to see the people on the other side of the pods that I had fallen in like and in love with, I was surprised. None of the guys are what I would typically go for. I wasn’t necessarily disappointed, but I struggled to put voices to faces. 

Alexis: I thought he was handsome! I was very shocked because I had no idea what to expect.

Where do you and your partner from the experience stand now?

Drouin: Unfortunately, due to the overwhelming success of engagements on the show, they were not able to follow all of the couples onto the rest of their journeys. They kind of just gave us our phones back and said, “Alright, enjoy your life.” We took our own vacation before heading back to the real world and explaining everything to our family and friends. That way, we could try and get to know each other on a physical level. Not long after, he and I went our separate ways, but we still remain close friends and share a bond that can never be broken!

Holmes: My partner and I don’t speak. At one point, we did, and we did daily. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss him, but ultimately, people grow and change at their own rate and have to go through whatever they have to go through. Sometimes, that means doing it alone.

Alexis: We’re no longer dating, but we’re cordial.

Is love blind?

Drouin: I've always felt love was blind before I even said yes to this social experiment. Now, I can confidently say that I believe love is truly blind.

Holmes: I believe that love can be blind. We just happen to get in the way. Life gets in the way. There’s something magical about believing in love, believing in fairy tales, and believing in happily ever after, because they can really happen. I believe that love will come my way at the right time and with the right person, but for now, I’m just gonna let go and let G-d handle it. 

Alexis: Absolutely. Love is about the way a person makes you feel, the way they care about you and take your needs into consideration--it has nothing to do with physical aspects. This experiment taught me that, and I will forever be grateful.

Costa: I don’t really know if there‘s an answer to that question. I do believe, however, that love should be based on what comes from the inside, and we should pay more attention to that first. It really is what‘s on the inside that counts, as corny as that may sound!

Follow the Contestants On Instagram:

Danielle Drouin: @iam_daniellerose

Briana Holmes: @msbrianaholmes

Ebony Alexis: @itsebonyalexis

Alyson Costa: @alycosta__