This article was originally published by i-D UK.
Tia Simon Campbell, 25, & Nadine Davis, 21
How did you first meet?
T: As a last minute favor for a mutual friend, I was roped into ‘acting’ on the set of a pretty dire first year uni film project Nadine was directing, which has thankfully never seen the light of day! N: I stalked T online for a couple years and then we bumped into each other on a music video set and the rest is history.
What was your first impression of each other?
T: PENG TING. N: I just really wanted to know her.
What was the first date you went on?
T: A LOL cats exhibition. N: We went to a shitty Turkish restaurant in New Cross and desperately avoided eye contact.
What’s the most romantic thing you’ve done for each other?
T: She bought me 20 bottles of elderflower cordial for my birthday. N: I proposed in Berghain once.
How would you describe yourselves in three words?
T: Supportive, creative and unapologetic. N: Playful, Ambitious, Passionate.
How would you describe each other?
T: She’s sensitive, perceptive and incredibly wise. N: Peng ting.
What do you love most about each other?
T: Being so creatively in tune and having the privilege of creating safe spaces for the QTIPOC community through BBZ with my favorite person in the world. N: Her strength and kindness.
What is love?
T: Her tolerating my morning breath.
What are your hopes and dreams for the future?
T: To grow as individuals, as a couple and as a community. H: To bun Babylon.
Donnika Kathleen Anderson, 23 & Ed Phillips, 24
How did you first meet?
D: He was working in a pop up shop in London (but living in Berlin) and I knew the girl who he was working with so I went to lunch with her then ended up chilling in the shop with them the rest of the afternoon. E: I was living in Berlin, but came to London to work and we met in the shop I was working at.
What was your first impression of each other?
D: I thought he was super cool and intriguing but I didn’t think too much about it because I thought he’d never be into me. E: I was hypnotized — coolest and sweetest girl I ever saw. What was the first date you went on? A picnic in Donnika’s garden.
What was the first date you went on?
D: I made him a picnic in my garden.
What’s the most romantic thing you’ve done for each other?
D: He moved back to England for me and I moved to Devon for the summer for him. E: Moved back to the UK to be together.
How would you describe yourselves in three words?
D: Deeply in love. E: Deeply in love.
How would you describe each other?
D: Beautiful on the inside and out, caring, loyal so talented and extremely patient with me haha. E: My best friend.
What do you love most about each other?
D: How loved and safe he always makes me feel. I also love his tattoos and photography. E: It’s hard to explain that.
What is love?
D: I think there are lots of types of love so it would take too long to break it down.
What are your hopes and dreams for the future?
D: Working and creating together. Maybe owning a surf shop, having a library and a 24 carot gold engagement ring (#Jokingnotjoking). E: Continue creating together. Pursue my photography, work as hard as possible and not be broke.
Kacion Cole Luke Mayers, 21 & Elijah Osagie, 28
What was your first impression of each other?
K:He has such a inviting smile and the worst Air Forces ever. E: He was really cute and innocent. He was over analyzing an iPhone case in the shopping center and all I could do was watch and smile.
What was the first date you went on?
K: He met me after he finished work and we had a quick Nandos. E: We went to Nandos.
What’s the most romantic thing you’ve for each other?
K: He came out for me which was completely random but super cute. E: I had an interview and afterwards KC met me with a bottle of wine and two crystal glasses. E: I had an interview and afterwards KC met me with a bottle of wine and two crystal glasses.
How would you describe yourselves in three words?
K: Friendly, dramatic, iconic. E: Calm, sensitive, philosophical.
How would you describe each other?
K: Good hearted, thick headed, Nigerian Af. E: KC is annoying and wants everything his way, but very caring and goes out his way to show me he cares and loves me.
What do you love most about each other?
K: He always has my back. Super supportive and loyal which makes up for how annoying he is. E: I love his youthful soul, very energetic. He also has the cutest face ever.
What is love?
K: The most beautiful burden. E: It is what brings out the true nature of ourselves.
What are your hopes and dreams for the future?
K: Good question. E: A more united world where love and life is the goal, not confusion and death.
Mike wears shirt The Kooples Sunrise. Onnika wears jacket The Kooples Sunrise.
Mike Theory, 23 & Okimi Nine, 20
How did you first meet?
M: We first met properly at a Costa Coffee in Camden.
What was your first impression of each other?
M: I literally thought she was perfect from the moment I saw her. O: Funny shy dude, but he has the most amazing eyes.
What was the first date you went on?
M: We walked around Camden getting to know each other. O: Camden Town, we walked around talking endlessly about stuff I don’t remember now.
What’s the most romantic thing you’ve done for each other?
M: We went to the Helliot steakhouse at the Hippodrome Casino and it was kinda like being in a James Bond movie. O: Couples massage then dinner at a French restaurant.
How would you describe yourselves in three words?
M: Care Free Living. O: Super duper wonderful. O: Creative bean, always coming up with new things and trying them out.
How would you describe each other?
M: Positive, creative, caring.
What do you love most about each other?
M: Her smile. O: His eyes.
What is love?
M: Baby don’t hurt me… Don’t hurt me…. no more. O: What he said…
What are your hopes and dreams for the future?
M: To establish my clothing line, maybe open up a restaurant and live by the sea. Not sure if I’ll come back to making music. O: Open up a café together, maybe by the sea.
Credits
Photographer Olivia Rose
Styling Bojana Kozarevic
Hair Jose Quijano at The Wall Group using ColorProof Evolved Colore Care
Make-up Athena Paginton at Bryant Artists using 3ina
Photography assistance Alia Wilhelm
Styling assistance Louis Prier-Tisdall
Hair assistance Alessandro Jottini
Make-up assistance Billie McKenzie
Production assistant Sammy Karpf