Ep 6 | D'Vaughn and Kris: The Sapphic Romance That Changed My Life

Welcome back to another episode of Flip the Page! In today's episode, we'll be discussing "D'Vaughn and Kris Plan A Wedding" by Chencia H. Higgins. 

'Instant I Do'. The hit reality show where strangers are paired together and must convince their families they're getting married in six weeks, in hopes to win $100,000. D'Vaughn Miller knows her relationship with Kris Zavala is fake. But each week, she finds herself falling deeper and deeper. Suddenly, the prize money isn't the only thing at stake.

Chapters

• 0:00 Intro
• 0:55 Content Warning
• 0:57 Overview (spoiler free)
• 4:07 Plot (spoilers)
• 15:50 Flip or Skip

Transcript

0:01

[Intro Music] Dating reality shows. A guilty pleasure enjoyed by many. I'll be the first to say, I stay seated for some mess. However unethical, manipulative or heavily produced and scripted, I often try to ignore that mess to be. Y'all have heard of Love Is Blind. The Ultimatum. Are You The One for my MTV girls. And who could ever forget a classic? The Bachelor? Though I'd argue eons blander than its spinoff, Bachelor in Paradise. But I digress. Well, today I bring to you Instant I Do. The reality show in our book for today. D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding. By Chencia H. Higgins. Content Warning for homophobia. Not to be overdramatic, but this book changed the trajectory of my life. I can't fully explain how or why, but I need y'all to understand I am not the same person I was before reading this book. The story centers around D’Vaughn Miller, a 30 year old ninth grade guidance counselor, and Kris Zavala, a 28 year old high school gym teacher and social media influencer. D’Vaughn and Kris have been cast on the hit reality show Instant I Do, where strangers are paired together and compete for six weeks to convince their families and friends that they are getting married for real. The past seasons of Instant I Do were strictly straight couples. However, this season features a cast of queer women, men and non-binary people. The last couple standing in the competition have an opportunity to take home a 100K each. If someone even catches a whiff of this marital union being a sham, however, you're out and leaving here with nothing. If you do happen to make it to the end. There is one more catch. Let's say you happen to catch feelings for your partner during the process and say “I do” at the wedding ceremony. You forfeit the money. I'ma just tell y'all straight from jump. You put me on that show. I'm leaving here with sumn. And that sumn Is that 100K. I'm sure if we're feeling each other, we can work something out and have some cute ass little dates with 200K in our pockets. But trust... I'm leaving with the money. But this isn't about me, so I'm gonna leave it alone. Now, D’Vaughn and Kris have both signed up with two very different intentions. D’Vaughn well... she decides that a big fake wedding is just what she needs to finally come out to her mother. Kris, on the other hand, is here for one thing and one thing only. Love. She saw corny. As weeks in the competition go by and the two are faced with new challenges and new feelings. It becomes clear there's a lot more at stake than what they'd assumed when they first auditioned. Two of my favorite themes intersecting. Fake dating trope (when it makes sense because some of y'all are too grown in these situations), and a reality dating show. D’Vaughn’s entering the competition not looking for anything romantic. She just wants to officially come out. She's a very logical person, and when faced with the inevitable feelings that bubble up between the two, it's both real and frustrating to see her struggling to rationalize both the intensity and authenticity of feelings being felt by both of them. Kris now, is on the other end of the spectrum. She's definitely not an overthinker or a planner and just dives into things headfirst with no safety net, no Arianka. So when she encounters these feelings, you see her have a completely opposite reaction to D’Vaughn. Their dynamic was so enjoyable to read. Wow. You also meet both of their families and friends and let me tell you, loved (most) of their family members. It just added such a great vibe and comedy to the whole book. I know a book is funny when I'm laughing out loud. Spoilers. You've been warned. A central conflict in the story is the struggle between what is real and what is fiction. Which is unsurprising given the seed of romance between Kris and D’Vaughn is buried and sprouts within the confines of Instant I Do, a reality dating show. From the first chapters, we see the difference between how D’Vaughn and Kris are gearing up to navigate the show. the contestants initially all meet at a party hosted by production, where the cast will mingle, and production will pair people up based on how they interact. At the party, D’Vaughn makes it clear when it comes to winning the show or seeking out any romance. She has no dog in that fight. She muses.“My aim wasn't to convince my loved ones I was into a stranger. Not exactly. I was here to do something that I've been unable to do. It mattered not if my match didn't make sense.” D’Vaughn's primary goal entering the competition is to come out officially to her family. Given that winning the competition or pursuing anyone romantically are things she hasn't really considered, I'd argue she wasn't fully prepared for what she was getting herself into. This unpreparedness played a part in D’Vaughn’s struggle, reconciling what was fake and what was real. When she entered a relationship with Kris on the show. D’Vaughn struggles with the blurring lines of the show and reality. Unsurprising, given this is where reality TV shows do. Luring in viewers, with the dramatically packaged production posturing to be an imitation of the lives of regular people or people viewers aspire to be. However loathe, we are to admit it. Reality dating shows project this imitation of everyday people, showing viewers an entertaining and often idealized production of dating and partnership, which resonates with viewers due to its entertainment value and relatability. Instant I do ascertains its intentions to present this idealized version of love and romance to its viewers. When Kevin, the executive producer assigned to D’Vaughn and Kris, reveals the whole purpose of the show initially was to show that love can trump money. A couple could meet, fall in love, and give up life changing money for love. The premise of the show, however, undermines the authenticity of the show's intentions or what Kevin claims the show's initial intentions to have been. given the financial penalty incurred for love because that's what it is for being so serious, I do think you could point at the climax of the show where couples choose money or love as manipulative and strong arming. It can be argued that putting a price on love shows just how much someone really loves another person. But considering people cast on the show aren't well-off and could use the money to change their lives. I feel like saying that is disingenuous. Putting a monetary value on love reinforced my belief that the show is engaging with the contestants in bad faith. The end goal for the show is entertainment. Not love. Y’all don't need to posture to be something you're not. If they wanted to show me they truly cared about the contestant’s journeys or explorations of love, they would have come up with a different condition to win the show or made adjustments as the seasons went on. Not to mention, this season, the show chose to only cast queer contestants. Hinging the success of the experiment on marriage and framing the entirety of the show, including challenges and tasks, around marriage, a heteronormative institution, is a bit suspect to me. Steps could have been taken to experiment more with the format of the show in ways that weren't so traditional and gender conforming. When the experiment gets rolling and the camera mics come out, D’Vaughn becomes hyper aware that she's in a reality show and that she and Kris must put on a performance to convince their families they are engaged for real. The real problems arise when she clocks Kris is, respectfully, fine as [redacted] and D’Vaughn starts catching feelings for her. Kris, mind you, thinks D’Vaughn is equally fine as [redacted] and makes it clear to D’Vaughn that she's into her. Problem solved, right? Well, not exactly. Even with Kris explicitly stating she's feeling D’Vaughn and wants to pursue things with her outside the show, My sister D’Vaughn ain't biting. Looking over her shoulder like she's on an episode of Punk’d. D’Vaughn and Kris have a natural attraction to each other when they first meet at the introduction party thrown by the show. Their attraction only grows when they're coupled together by production and start going through the competition. One of the first things Kris and D’Vaughn do after pairing up is introduce each other to the other's family, While Kris' family, particularly her mother, are taken aback by the sudden engagement announcement at Kris' sister's baby shower, D’Vaughn blends seamlessly into Kris's family. So much so that when D’Vaughn's mother first sees her daughter interacting with Kris's mother, she assumes D’Vaughn has known them from time. D’Vaughn comes out to her mother at church, bringing Kris with her both to officially come out via the show and for emotional support. Upon realizing her daughter is lesbian, D’Vaughn's mom closes off, remaining silent and giving her daughter the cold shoulder during the church service. That is, until D’Vaughn, unable to handle the overwhelming grief of her mother's apparent unacceptance of who she is and potential end of their relationship starts to break down into sobs during a prayer. It's when she breaks down that her mom finally acknowledges her, letting her know she loves her, accepts her, and knew her daughter was gay. A whole other conversation I could get into that I believe the book tackles fairly well through Kris, a third party in this situation. During her coming out at church and subsequently announcing her engagement, Kris is with D’Vaughn; supporting her both emotionally and physically while verbally defending D’Vaughn and chastising D’Vaughn’s mother for her reaction. I need you all to understand, at this point in the story, Kris and D’Vaughn have known each other for a couple days. Yet they're thrust into these situations where they're baring vulnerable parts of themselves and integrating each other into the other's lives and families. Things a lot of couples wait months or years to do in the real world. Particularly with D’Vaughn coming out to her mother. This is a life changing moment for her that Kris supported her through. That's not something that can be minimized or easily forgotten. Now, unfortunately, all these moments happen within the confines of the show, even if there isn't necessarily a camera shoved in their faces or a mic crammed up somebody’s ass. They have to convince their families and friends they're together. So at all times, even when the cameras aren't rolling, they need to perform. Constantly. You see D’Vaughn reminding herself that “This was for the show” When interpreting Kris' affections and comfort throughout the process. When they do have moments just to themselves, D’Vaughn still struggles, accepting the realness of Kris' feelings. Mostly, because of how intricately their relationship is tied to the show. The show was still inherent in these moments, as they have filming equipment with them all the time. As seen when they have sex for the first time and forget their camera is on. You physically see the lines of the show and reality blur. Their relationship was birthed on and by the show, and typical relationship milestones happened, however expedited because of situations manufactured by the show. So can I blame my sister D’Vaughn for having reservations and not wanting to get caught up and hurt during this process? Even when Kris admits to D’Vaughn that she loves her. D’Vaughn finds herself almost disappointed by the confession. Again, she struggles, delineating between the show and reality, especially given the speed with which these alleged feelings they hold for each other have developed. Not to mention, there's nothing concrete or rational behind Kris' love for D’Vaughn. There are no reasons why or thought out plans about what this thing is between them and what it would look like outside the show that Kris can present to D’Vaughn. Are they going to stay engaged? Call it off? D’Vaughn wonders if Kris is, once again, putting on for the cameras, and she's falling into some ploy Chris has devised to provide great entertainment for people watching. Truly, as a fellow realist and oftentimes pessimist. I got to stand behind my sister. Regardless of how frustrating it might be to watch D’Vaughn's slow journey accepting Kris’ feelings and her own. I don't think it's absurd she has reservations centered on the fact that they've been swept up in this fast paced romance because of the show. It's completely fair to have concerns about what happens in terms of their relationship when they're slapped back into reality, and the cameras finally do cut off. Kris, also being an influencer whose job it is to put on a show for her following definitely ain't helping her case. If anything, it just adds further evidence for D’Vaughn to file. Proving Kris is great as selling a fake relationship and pretending to be in love with her. I also do believe it's important to mention that D’Vaughn has been burned in all her previous relationships. She was closeted and open about being closeted in these relationships. Her partner at any given time would say they were fine with their relationship existing within certain boundaries, but ultimately they would end the relationship. I do think this pattern of things being good and then coming to a sudden halt because of the lifestyle D’Vaughn chose to live, also impacted her abilities to accept a relationship with Kris being viable outside of the show. No one she's dated has ever proved they were willing to stick things out with her, so why would it be any different in terms of Kris sticking things out with her after the show ends? Now, Kris, on the other hand. Oh... A romantic down to the bone. My sister started feeling things for D’Vaughn and just surrendered herself to them, feelings. Leaping off that proverbial building like her name was Miles Morales. Unlike D’Vaughn, Kris has no issue delineating reality and the show because for her, their relationship and their feelings transcend the show. I think it's important to note that Kris entered this experience looking for love. Kris' expectations for an ideal experience from this show was leaving it in a loving relationship. The show for Kris was almost an unorthodox progression of a relationship for her. Which explains why there was no struggle for her when it came to considering that her relationship with D’Vaughn could transition smoothly from the show to the real world. Eventually, D’Vaughn does accept Kris' feelings as being real, when Kevin, the executive producer managing them, show's D’Vaughn Kris' audition tape. In the audition tape, Kris revealed she came on the show searching for love and talks about her struggles, finding a genuine relationship given her status as an influencer. D’Vaughn sees Kris admitting on tape the struggles and reasons for auditioning Kris had divulged to her while they were going through the show together. Upon seeing the genuine emotional struggle and frustration in Kris' face and voice, she finally accepts that the love that they have for each other is real. Now... is the ending corny and Disney-adjacent? Maybe so, but you know what? I enjoy the [redacted] out of this book, so I'ma let it slide. Who gon check me, boo? With that Flip or Skip. Flip! Five out of five for me. I gotta give tnes where tens are due. I'm not even going to publicly admit how many times I've reread this book Like... y'all. This book is a bit of meh. It's a bit of meh. Just a grown, sexy tease with a fake dating trope. How could I not eat that up? I'm only human! If this book sounds interesting to you, then I definitely recommend you pick it up. The whole vibe of the book is very grown, very flirtatious, filled with some good old sexual tension between D’Vaughn and Kris. The chemistry was jumping off the page. Like jumped off off the page and slapped the [redacted] out of me. It was that good. Kris was a bit of a grower for me because she was a little corny in the beginning pages of the story, but that switched up pretty quickly and girl. Yeah. I love both her and D’Vaughn. Also, y'all, this book, it got some urban jus to it. Now stay with me. Stay with me. I mean this in the best way when I say it was giving high urban contemporary literature, obviously removing the toxic traits and tropes you run into a lot in urban lit, but it's just something about it. The sexiness intersecting with the absurdity that's still grounded in reality. The sexual tension that was leaking out them pages (pun intended). Shakespeare himself couldn't pen it. I don't know what else to tell you. The girls that get it, get it. Now, if y'all want the real cheat code, though, like y'all wanna sip on some real jus, head over to the Libby app or whatever the hell app y'all use and plug into that audio book. Girl. Rebecca Lee, the narrator for it. Oh, girl, I'm gonna give her her tens and I'm gonna give her her 20s. She ate then roles up so bad. I need y’all to tune in. If you've made it to the end of this episode of the Pod. Thanks so much for watching. Don't forget to like, comment, subscribe if you enjoyed the video. Until next time. Buh bye.