For Nadia Jagessar, love didn’t arrive on schedule. Viewers followed the former reality star’s quest for love on Seasons 1 and 2 of Netflix’s Indian Matchmaker. While Nadia didn’t find her person on the show, she found him in real life. A modern-day love story, it didn’t come neatly packaged with a timeline, a checklist or the quiet approval of family elders. Instead, it arrived quietly, unexpectedly and perfectly — via Hinge — a reminder that happiness often shows up when you stop looking for it.
Like many Indo Caribbean women, Nadia understands the weight of societal expectations.
“Our parents or parents before them got married out of necessity, she reflects. This generation is so blessed that we don’t necessarily have to do that. Our timelines are different because women are career-focused, and we can do all the things without needing a husband to co-sign or give approval.”
But understanding that intellectually doesn’t make it any easier. Nadia’s journey to love came with moments of doubt, frustration and the temptation to give up entirely.
“I was on my last leg, she admits. I was mentally preparing to be the fun single aunt who spoils all my friends’ kids and cousins’ kids. I didn’t think what I wanted was possible.”
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“It was precisely when she felt like surrendering that love found her. In May 2024, Nadia matched with her now-fiancé online, though their first date didn’t happen until July. By October, after a weekend getaway to Colorado, she realized she had met someone extraordinary.”
“Everything felt natural, she recalls, laughing softly. He had dinner ready when I landed. He even got me a Coke because he knew I loved it. That forethought, the ease — it was refreshing.What made their connection particularly meaningful for Nadia was their shared Indo-Caribbean heritage. We could talk about soca, Carnival, our love for music and culture without having to explain ourselves, she says. There’s a sense of understanding there, a familiarity that makes things feel effortless.”
But this story isn’t just about finding the right partner; it’s about finding a partner who respects equality. Nadia had long been searching for someone who shared responsibilities, defied traditional gender roles and supported her ambitions.
“He does his own laundry, cooks, takes out the dog — he shares everything equally. That’s what I was looking for, and I hadn’t met someone like that before.
Before love arrived, Nadia to ok a deliberate step back from social media. I realized I wasn’t using it for fun anymore, she says. It became FOMO-driven. I’d see engagement announcements, trips, parties and I’d start comparing myself. It wasn’t healthy.”
“She notes the double-edged nature of social media: It’s a creative outlet, yes, but it can also distort reality.
People only post their highlight reels, she says.Their bad days exist, too, even if you don’t see them.”
Nadia’s break wasn’t just about avoiding comparison; it was about reclaiming mental space to nurture her new relationship and focus on self-care. It’s a lesson that resonates beyond romance: Sometimes stepping back, logging off and prioritizing your emotional health is revolutionary — especially when navigating cultural and generational pressures.
Those pressures are real. Indo-Caribbean women often face expectations to marry by a certain age, have children and follow a “traditional” life script. Nadia is candid about this tension.
“Sometimes you just have to piss your parents off, she says. If something feels right for you, do it. Times are different now. You can start a business, a blog or pursue a passion and your happiness matters.”
For Nadia, that included closing her wedding planning business to focus on what she truly wanted: a personal and intimate wedding experience, free from the overwhelming demands of family and tradition.
“We were thinking maybe 150 people — just close friends and family,she says.It doesn’t have to be a big, fat, brown wedding. It’s about us.”
Alongside her engagement, Nadia is launching Bacchanal Studio, a lifestyle brand celebrating her Indo-Caribbean roots. Starting with fragrances — a field she has worked in for more than a decade — she envisions a platform for creativity, events and collaborations.
It’s a bold step that mirrors her personal ethos: Live on your own terms, embrace your passions and define success by your own standards.
So what advice does Nadia have for women still navigating the dating scene or struggling under cultural pressures?
“Focus on yourself, she says. Be your best self. Live your life. Enjoy your passions. Put yourself in scenarios to meet people — it doesn’t have to be a dating app. Join a soccer league, a supper club, a meetup. Open yourself to connections, but don’t lose yourself in the process. When you’re full and satisfied with your own life, the right person finds you.”
Her words echo with an authenticity that’s rare in a world that often equates milestones with worth.
“Live your life on your own timeline,she says.Everyone’s journey is different. Things will happen for you when they’re meant to happen. Enjoy each moment, whether you’re single, dating, engaged or married. That’s where happiness begins.”
For Indo-Caribbean women navigating love, careers and cultural expectations, Nadia’s story is a reminder that joy, respect and partnership are not bound by tradition or timeline. They are built in spaces where authenticity meets courage — where you honor yourself first, invest in becoming the best version of you and trust that life will meet you there.
