London “DEELISHIS” Charles has been reality TV royalty for the past 18 years—and she’s not done spilling tea.
The model and Flavor of Love vet was one of three celebrity women chosen to take part in Peacock’s Queens Court, a reality dating series hosted by actress Holly Robinson-Peete and football vet Rodney Peete. Over the course of ten episodes, Charles, along with fellow Queens LisaRaye McCoy and K. Michelle, is courted by 22 successful men hoping to win her heart.
The series is packed with extravagant dates, vulnerable conversations and, of course, drama. According to Charles, one the most shocking revelations was that some of the men were potentially more interested in each other than her. “I’m 46, so I’m not used to…bisexuality is a thing,” she admitted to DECIDER. “And I don’t want to be rude, but I want to be honest and transparent about what people saw was the obvious in some instances.”
Charles hasn’t yet seen the show, and she’s nervous about what her exes are going to think if they watch. “I don’t want the anxiety of them responding or having an opinion,” she said. “I don’t want to hurt them either.”
Wine glass in hand, Charles unpacked her experience on Queens Court in an exclusive interview with DECIDER.
DECIDER: Why did you decide to go on the show? What was missing from your love life?
LONDON “DEELISHIS” CHARLES: I’m a fan of Season 1. I love Will Packer and all his work to begin with. He [is doing] a show based on women in real relationships. Public relationships are sometimes taken as we’re just entertainers. I love when he did this show because it showed these women being vulnerable, being real, and having situations in love that most of us women go through. So when I was asked to be a part, of course, there was initial anxiety because it’s like, “My God, you’re showing this side to the world. You’ve got so many people judging you already. Now they’re going to judge your screw ups in love.” But I needed it. I was still so stuck in my previous relationship that I was divorced from. My heart was still kind of stuck there. I didn’t know how to move in dating, and I knew that this would force me into that. I trust the process with Holly and Rodney. So I said, “Okay, London. It’s time, and this is a great opportunity.”
I can imagine it was so scary going into it, despite the fact that you are used to being in the public eye. Was it a whole different level of fear showing your relationships and dating life on TV?
Since Flavor of Love, I’ve always carried my brand as this very strong, sexy, sophisticated woman. Really, I’m a lover girl, and I’m really vulnerable in relationships. I wouldn’t say I was shy, but I’m submissive to love. So it was something for me to have to be myself instead of the one that I get to put on. This is something different. Plus, I always thought that Flav’s position was the best position to have. It is [hard] to say no or break someone’s heart. These were real situations, and these are real people. That part was difficult.
What did you learn from Flavor Of Love that you took into Queens Court?
Even though Flav had to choose someone, I’m so glad he chose me. I love how in each episode when he did eliminations, it wasn’t personal to the individual. It was more so personal to what it was that he needed or didn’t need. I respected that. I wanted to make sure that was a part of my process. Like I said, I think the hardest thing for me was the possibility of hurting someone in this process. I didn’t want it to be so selfish. I know it’s the Queens Court, we get to choose, we’re the Queens, and this is our territory. But we were dealing with real people, their real lives and their real hearts. So I took that from Flavor of Love. I love how he was still so connected to being decent.
What’s your typical type? Did going on the show take you outside of your comfort zone?
Well, I’m a sapiosexual, so as long as you’ve got some decency and some smarts and you have a good conversation, then you’ve got my attention. They chose the men. It’s different when you go out with your girlfriends and your girl is like, “What about that guy?” And you’re like, “No, what about this guy?” These [22] men were chosen already for us. That was a big difference. I wanted to be open-minded. I wanted this process to really be an experience to see if it brought love or brought more of a better focus on how I choose love. And it did.
What were some of the red flags you saw in the men?
I’m 46, so I’m not used to…bisexuality is a thing. And I don’t want to be rude, but I want to be honest and transparent about what people saw was the obvious in some instances. I don’t know if I look like a man, but I was attracted to men that I know probably like men, too. I found out that’s a part of dating right now. So I’m like, “What am I supposed to do with this?” But that’s a reality in dating now. So that was difficult, and red flags kept showing up there. They’re like, “No, I’m into women, too.”
Without revealing too much, you did connect with a special someone at the end of the show. What was it about that man that initially drew you in, and what kept you coming back to them?
Having a real connection to the things that were not obvious. To be able to recall conversations that mattered to me so deeply, even if I didn’t make a big deal, meant that you were really connecting to me. That made me feel special. Or the moments that we shared together. The conversations that made those moments special, not just a part of this process. They were intimate. So to be able to connect to that and see that [he] connected, too. I was a sucker for that.
You opened up on the show about being a victim of domestic abuse. What did it mean to you to have that platform to share?
Well, that was important because I have two daughters, one who’s 14 and one who’s 25. It’s important that they know that. Those things are important for us to speak about. Those things are important for us to address. Those things are unacceptable, and those are things that we go through, no matter how smart, how beautiful, how accomplished you are. As women, we have more in common than we know. We assume that we don’t. It was important to let people know that this happened to me, too, and this is something that you can overcome. This is something you can say no to, something that is unacceptable. I felt that it was time for me to speak up and be strong in that.
It’s really respectable to see such vulnerability coming from someone with followers, someone with celebrity status. It means a lot to a lot of people out there. Now, to end on a fun note. What was your favorite date you went on?
It had to be the getaway. I had a good time. On that date in particular, I felt so comfortable with the gentleman. If I was ever myself, I was myself then. It felt good to receive that. I hadn’t had that type of connection since my ex-husband. I didn’t think that that would ever even happen to me again. That created so many possibilities for love for me.
Are you nervous your exes are going to watch the show?
I’m absolutely nervous. I don’t want the anxiety of them responding or having an opinion. I don’t want to hurt them either. I haven’t seen the show, but I tried my best to make sure that I held my accountability for any loss in love. So hopefully they understand. They know what happened.
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic abuse, help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 800-799-7233, or text START to 88788.