A contestant on the first season of the MultiChoice dating reality TV show, Heartbeat, Chidera Eggerue, popularly known as Slumflower, has described her time on the programme as the “experience of a lifetime.”
Speaking about her participation, Eggerue said she was grateful to the organisers for creating the platform, noting that her decision to join the show was more of a social experiment than a desperate search for love.
She told Sunday Scoop, “For me, it’s less about the desperation of finding love and more about putting myself in an environment where people least expect me to be, like a dating show. In real time, I’m taking part in the social experiment I chose to embark upon and seeing if I can test out my theories in real life.”
Reflecting on her time in the house, Eggerue said the show exceeded her expectations, especially because she had initially assumed she would not connect with anyone.
“The summary of my experience on Heartbeat is that it has been the experience of a lifetime. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go on a reality show, especially a dating show, because it’s unpredictable and you never know what is coming next.
“I went into the experience expecting that I wouldn’t connect with any guy and that I would probably remain single while just providing entertainment. But it turned out that I met someone and we connected really well, to the point where we were one of the most stable couples in the Love Pad.”
Eggerue said she remains grateful to the show and its organisers, including MultiChoice, for creating a platform that changed her perspective.
She also addressed claims by some viewers that the show was scripted, insisting that the reactions and emotions displayed by contestants were genuine.
On the perception that participants on dating shows are desperate for love, Eggerue said her own experience was quite the opposite.
“I understand why people think it’s desperate to go on a dating show to find love. But, for me, I went there because I’m not desperate. I’m open to giving things a chance and having fun in the process. I thought it would actually be hilarious if someone like me went on a dating show.”
She added that her connection with fellow contestant, Kena, reinforced her belief that communication and genuine connection are key to building relationships.
“The fact that I went in thinking I wouldn’t connect with anyone, but ended up having one of the most stable connections in the house, shows that when you value yourself and refuse to entertain inconsistencies, you’re more likely to meet someone on the same wavelength,” she said.
Eggerue noted that despite their different backgrounds, she has maintained cordial relationships with other housemates after the show.
She added that her bond with Kena remains positive, even when they are not in the same country.
“I’m grateful that Kena and I have personalities that allow us to remain on good terms. We started with a friendship in the Love Pad, and that foundation will always be a reference point for why we connected in the first place,” she concluded.