Watch tonight: ‘Swiping America’ dating-app reality TV show makes stops in Miami, Weston

Dating apps are the costar of “Swiping America,” a reality TV series streaming on Max (formerly HBO Max) where four single millennials and Gen Z’ers sample the dating scene in a new city every episode.

The romantic documentary, or rom-doc, debuts Thursday, June 15, with two episodes, the second set in Miami. That’s where the sexually and racially diverse group go on blind dates curated for them by the producers, the same team behind HBO’s drag queen travelogue series, “We’re Here”.

The cast includes:

• Lesbian entrepreneur Ashleigh “Ash” Warren
• Realtor Kesun Lee
• Gay data scientist Krishnanand “Kris” Kelkar
• Hairstylist Reagan Baker

The following four episodes debut on June 22, leading up to the final two episodes on June 29. “Swiping America” culminates in Hawaii, where the fab four handpick their best match from the season and decide whether the dates will blossom into a relationship.

While taping in late February and all through March, the show made stops at:

• The Palace at Weston (assisted living facility)
• Bar La Real in downtown Miami (shuttered nightclub)
• South Beach Lifeguard Tower 100 in Miami Beach
• La Natural (restaurant in the Little River neighborhood)
• South Pointe Park in Miami Beach (with a pier jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean)

The cast recently answered our questions regarding their experiences in SoFlo.

KESUN LEE, 36

Q: Is there anything you know now after the experience of taping an unscripted series that you wish you’d known then?
A: Creating this show has been a roller coaster. There are so many moving parts that contribute to a project like this, and this being its pioneer season of this genre and show, was a huge learning experience, not just for us, but for everyone involved. We were learning and building together as we went, so there is so much that hindsight has offered us at this point.

Q: Do you have any favorite hangouts in South Florida?
A: The beach! The ocean is my happy place and Miami/South Beach happens to be one of my favorite places.

Q: What memory of Miami makes you smile, even now?
A: Miami was our second city, so our friendships evolving from this point on puts a big smile on my face. This was a turning point in our trust and love for each other. We socialized together and saw new sides of each other here.

Q: If you could tell everyone one thing you feel they really, really need to know about dating apps, what would it be?
A: Hearing someone’s voice and the way they speak is SO important! Get them on the phone!

Q: How do you think that Miami stacks up to the other cities you visited —  Asheville, New Orleans, Austin, Santa Fe, Boulder, Seattle and Honolulu?
A: Miami is always a good idea! I never turn down a chance to visit Miami, and stopping here during this trip was as fantastic as I knew it would be.

Q: Does the show capture your real unfiltered persona?
A: The show captures a small piece of who each of us are. It’s just a small window into a humongous house.

Q: Without giving any spoilers, how would you sum up your romantic life right now?
A: “A Sunday Kind of Love,” Etta James.

KRISHNANAND “KRIS” KELKAR, 30

Q: Is there anything you know now after the experience of taping an unscripted series that you wish you’d known then?
A: I wish I knew how to be comfortable on camera! A large part of my journey is growing to be comfortable with myself and being open and vulnerable on a scale I still can’t quite imagine! By the end of my journey, I was having a blast, but it took me some time to get there.

Q: What memory of Miami makes you smile, even now?
A: I loved the time we spent together by the pool in the house! Miami felt like a dream and the first place we all felt like a family living together.

Q: What memory of Miami makes you blush, even now?
A: Nothing to be ashamed about in Miami!!

Q: How do you think Miami stacks up to the other cities you visited —  Asheville, New Orleans, Austin, Santa Fe, Boulder, Seattle and Honolulu?
A: There’s no comparison to Miami!

Q: Does the show capture your real unfiltered persona?
A: I think the show captures parts of me really well! In the end, it’s in service of a larger story around the entire journey, so it’s never going to be the full picture. If you want to get to know me, let’s hang!

Q: Without giving any spoilers, how would you sum up your romantic life right now?
A: Call me (and find out)!

ASHLEIGH “ASH” WARREN, 31

Q: Is there anything you know now after the experience of taping an unscripted series that you wish you’d known then?
A: Of course! This is the first show of its kind, so there was so much you mentally and emotionally could not prepare for. Everyone was learning — the network, producers, director, and we as the leads of the show. Defining what a presentable rom-doc is certainly evolved from when we were cast to what you’ll see today. It was an ever-changing journey, all of which would have felt nice to know from the beginning.

Q: Do you have any favorite hangouts in South Florida?
A: Leave me at the beach, but refill my booze and snacks, please.

Q: What memory of Miami makes you smile, even now?
A: Working out with Krishnanand in the backyard of our Miami house.

Q: What memory of Miami makes you blush, even now?
A: Watching Kesun have so much fun with Larry. It made me so happy to see my new friend happy.

Q: If you could tell everyone one thing you feel they really, really need to know about dating apps, what would it be?
A: What you see on apps is just a tiny version of what people want you to know about themselves. It’s not necessarily their best or worst selves. Take that into consideration any time you swipe. If you’re kinda feeling them, swipe right. Don’t nitpick. You never know where it could lead. It is almost impossible to check off every box just from a peek at a profile.

Q: How do you think that Miami stacks up to the other cities you visited — Asheville, New Orleans, Austin, Santa Fe, Boulder, Seattle, and Honolulu?

A: Miami is the most comparable to home, I felt. I found people and reasons to enjoy each city, but Miami certainly was a fresh breath of familiar air.

Q: Does the show capture your real unfiltered persona?
A: The show captures my real, unfiltered persona, yes. But not my complete persona by any means. It reveals such a small portion of the vast persona that makes me, me. We are all so much more dynamic as humans than the little peek into our lives you get to see. Follow us on Instagram, I’d love for you to get to know what makes us, us.

Q: Without giving any spoilers, how would you sum up your romantic life right now?
A: I’m a Pisces — life is always romantic.

REAGAN BAKER, 38

Q: Is there anything you know now after the experience of taping an unscripted series that you wish you’d known then?
A: I wish I knew all the activities we’d be doing so I could have packed more efficiently. I lugged five giant suitcases all over America!

Q: Do you have any favorite hangouts in South Florida?
A: I love the Vizcaya Gardens in Miami.

Q: What memory of Miami makes you smile, even now?
A: The opening scene where we’re having conversations with these lovely couples who had been married 70 years.

Q: What memory of Miami makes you blush, even now?
A: Probably that there are abs everywhere you look!

Q: If you could tell everyone one thing you feel they really, really need to know about dating apps, what would it be?
A: I think it’s important to always remember what you’re looking for long term, and not waste time with maybes. If you’re a monogamous person, look for a relationship, etc.

Q: How do you think that Miami stacks up to the other cities you visited — Asheville, New Orleans, Austin, Santa Fe, Boulder, Seattle and Honolulu?
A: Miami is so diverse in terms of people’s backgrounds and sexuality. It’s very liberating and fun to be somewhere like that. Everyone seems so light and happy all the time.

Q: Does the show capture your real unfiltered persona?
A: There are moments I can tell that I’m uncomfortable on some of the dates, and my personality changes a little when I’m feeling shy or awkward. I cope with shyness by joking or laughing more, but this is the first time I’m seeing myself do it on TV, haha!

Q: Without giving any spoilers, how would you sum up your romantic life right now?
A: My romantic life is all I’ve ever dreamed of.

Q: Have you ever spent any time in Palm Beach or Broward counties?
A: I was a nanny when I was 20 and spent two weeks in the Jupiter area … There was a shark sighting so they closed the beach. It was so exciting!