What's the Reality?

Episode: Love Is Blind’s Keya & Tyler: The Truth Behind Their Wild Love Triangle

Host: Amber Desiree (“AD”)
Guests: Kia & Tyler (Love Is Blind, Season 10)
Date: Feb. 18, 2026

Overview

In this candid, revealing episode of "What's the Reality?", host Amber Desiree sits down with Love Is Blind Season 10 stars Kia and Tyler. They dive deep into the real-life experiences behind the most notorious love triangle of the season, unpack the complexities of dating on reality TV as Black women, and discuss vulnerability, self-worth, and sisterhood—while clarifying hidden context and dispelling myths perpetuated through the show's edit.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Life After Love Is Blind ([00:55])

• Kia has relocated to New York (“a New York baddie”), thriving but adjusting to the cold.
• Tyler is back in Atlanta, reunited with family and embracing her new chapter: “I’m thriving.” ([02:02])

2. Authentic Introductions: Who Are Kia & Tyler? ([02:41])

• Kia: Journeying into vulnerability, historically guarded but pushed to open up during the experiment.
  • “Kickstarting that within the Love is Blind journey has changed my life.” ([03:20])
• Tyler: Career-focused, had deprioritized dating, but entered the show to push herself outside her comfort zone.
  • “If they don’t throw me in a box and close the door, I’m probably never gonna date.” ([03:34])

3. Seeing Themselves on TV ([04:32])

• Both admit watching the season was cringey yet enlightening.
• Tyler: “There were certain parts where…that’s not how I remember it. That’s not what happened. There’s some context I have to clear up.” ([04:55])
• Kia: Never watched previous seasons before joining. Chose not to get in her head about the process.

4. Casting Stories: How Did They Get On the Show? ([06:34])

• Kia: DM’d via Instagram by a casting agent; leapt at the chance despite not knowing much about the show.
• Tyler: Best friend encouraged her; accidentally lost her application but was later contacted by a producer from another show.

5. Realities of Dating in Ohio (& Beyond) ([08:33])

• Both describe dating as “tough,” “exhausting,” and full of emotionally unavailable men.
• Kia: “The dating pool has piss in it.” ([08:44])
• Tyler: Recalls repeated “trauma dumping” and emotional labor on dates; “opted out” of dating pre-show.

6. Representation of Black Women in the Pods ([11:03])

• Tyler notes a recurring lack of interest directed at Black women both in “real life” and within the pods:
  • “It felt like a copy and paste of the typical experience of being a Black woman dating.” ([11:03])

The Love Triangle: Deep Dive

7. The Kevin/Kia/Tyler Saga ([13:24])

• Tyler explains that editing omitted much of the early, positive foundation of her and Kevin’s relationship.
• Discusses repeated conversations about location/life logistics—Kevin’s insecurity (“I just don’t feel like I’m enough for you to make that decision”) and emotional exhaustion from “psychologist hat.” ([16:35])
• Clear distinction: Tyler reiterates her intent to support other women, not compete.

How Tyler Found Out About the Triangle ([20:30])

• Accidentally realized she was dating the same man as Kia due to a production slipup about food orders. ([24:01])
• Both guests clarify: There were never open, competitive conversations about Kevin.

8. Sisterhood Over Competition ([27:56])

• Tyler made a point to tell Kevin that Kia was “phenomenal,” demonstrating Black woman solidarity over rivalry.
• “That’s just genuinely how I felt. And I adored Kia, and a lot of the women there… I didn’t want to disrupt anyone else’s experience.” ([26:11])

The Emotional Rollercoaster: Dating, Drama, and Decisions

9. On Overthinking and Pressure ([29:46])

• Tyler discusses her return (“Pickmeisha Marie”) after leaving: triggered by internalized pressure and Kevin’s taunt about always leaving relationships.
• Ultimately, trusted her gut—after Kevin admitted he wasn’t ready to be married, she left for good.
  • “If any man ever tell you to run, lace up them shoelaces and sprint!” ([40:15])

10. Choosing Themselves—Over Men and Over Drama ([43:49])

• Kia: “If it is not a hell yes on your wedding day, it is a hell no… in the pods or real world.” ([46:02])
• Both express that the show was a journey about setting boundaries, learning not to “settle by any means,” and the transformative power of self-respect.

Media, Misrepresentation, and The Power of Edit

11. Missing Context & Clearing the Record ([16:35], [81:10])

• Both Tyler and Kia discuss how reality TV editing changed their stories, often omitting context and manufacturing drama.
• Both emphasize: their journey did not involve real rivalry, but the edit sometimes suggested otherwise.

12. Impact of Representation ([66:12], [78:22])

• Conversations about awareness as Black women on reality TV: needing to be “perfect,” never “angry,” “desperate” or “mediocre.” ([65:51])
• “Black women aren’t a monolith. Our journeys look different. And as I look back…I have to release that shame and remember that it’s okay to be messy, as long as I get to my destination.” (Tyler, [78:22])

Notable Quotes

• Kia:
  • “I’m so tired of hearing Black women being strong…I’m soft and I’m tired.” ([54:45])
  • “You can be you, and that’s okay…do whatever you want to do, say whatever you want to, as long as it’s rooted in love.” ([98:14])
• Tyler:
  • “My rule for engagement day is: if it’s not a hell yes, it’s a hell no.” ([45:19])
  • “If any man ever tell you to run, lace up them shoelaces and sprint!” ([40:15])
  • “Staying did teach me a life lesson, but I think I could have learned that lesson a different way.” ([79:10])
• On Sisterhood:
  • “It is more important to me to prioritize my sisterhood relationships than to prioritize a man.” (Kia, [58:06])
  • “There is beauty in the mess.” (Kia, [101:10])

Key Timestamps

• Life update & introductions: [00:55]–[04:19]
• Recruitment/casting stories: [06:30]–[08:26]
• Ohio dating realities: [08:33]–[11:28]
• Pods experience & race: [11:03]–[12:48]
• Tyler’s viral “She died single” quote: [11:44]
• Early Kevin/Tyler connection: [13:24]
• How the triangle exposure happened: [20:30]–[25:05]
• Tyler’s exit & reentry (“Pickmeisha Marie”): [29:46]–[33:32]
• Kia’s boundaries & ending things: [71:05], [73:27]
• Squad meetup snub (“I wasn’t invited!”): [51:04]
• Viral “you both deserve more” moment: [48:32]
• Sisterhood before romance: [58:06]–[60:36]
• Race, editing, and pressure as Black women: [65:44], [78:22]
• Impact of the show, vulnerability, and grief: [92:55]–[96:48]
• What’s next—dating, work, advocacy: [101:35]–[103:22]

Closing Reflections

• Both left the show single, rejuvenated, and resolute not to settle.
• The experience deepened their sense of vulnerability, self-respect, and sisterhood.
• While grateful for the platform and connections, both Kia and Tyler make clear: the decision to leave was never about losing, but about winning—by choosing themselves.

Memorable Moments

• “The dating pool has piss in it.” (Kia, [08:44])
• Kia gifting her late father’s watch to Kevin—not as homage, but to urge him to “start clocking in.” ([69:44])
• Kia and Tyler clarifying post-show: “We never discussed you on our dates. You weren’t a part of our journey.” ([50:21])
• Candid handling of criticism and the Internet’s “therapy” comments: “I go twice a month. My therapist and I are locked in.” (Tyler, [89:23])

Takeaway for Listeners

For reality TV fans and especially for Black women, this episode unpacks what’s real behind the edited drama: the emotional labor, the pressure of representation, and the strength it takes to choose yourself when the world (and editing) pushes you to compete.

Kia and Tyler model honesty, compassion, and the courage to be vulnerable—reminding viewers and listeners that their stories aren’t just “content,” but living proof that you can walk away empowered and whole, no matter how “messy” your journey.

Note: All timestamps refer to the core content, skipping over ads and episode intro/outro for clarity. All direct quotes are attributed as per transcript.