How a Noblesville woman made 30K Indy BFFs with "The Bachelorette"

Axios

5 days ago

New to the Circle City and seeking community in an era when making contact was a global health concern, Noblesville's FrancesMary Loughead had an idea: Turn total strangers into best friends forever.
The big picture: Forging meaningful connections as an adult in a new city — or an old one — can feel impossible when most Americans don't even know their neighbors.
Catch up quick: A newlywed and fresh college graduate at the time, Loughead planted the seeds of BFF Indy in 2021 after her husband's job relocated them from Chicago to Indianapolis.
Looking for remote work in an unfamiliar city with no friends or family, she struggled to make meaningful connections beyond her marriage.
"It was about a year or so that it really took me to be like, I need some solid girlfriends," she told Axios. "I love my husband a lot. But I need my girlfriends, and he needs his guy friends."
Zoom in: Loughead said she tried some of the friendship-finding apps that were popular at the time, but ultimately found them to be a poor fit.
"It just didn't seem super intentional … you are, for lack of a better term, judging somebody on only a couple sentences and a couple pictures," she said.
Yes, but: While looking online, she noticed a potential unifier among other friendship seekers: a passion for reality TV.
"My background is events, so I decided, why not try and invite people over and see what happens?" she said.
So her weekly watch party for ABC's " The Bachelorette" was born. Soon, the women who attended began planning other hangouts.
State of play: That casual meetup has since blossomed into a thriving online and in-person community of more than 30,000 women with events ranging from winery tours and pickleball meetups to Monon walks and dance classes.
This week alone has nearly a dozen events on the docket, including crafting at Little India, catching an Indians game and a picnic Bible study at 100 Acres Park.
How it works: Loughead, now 26, says the keys to BFF Indy's growth are variety and accessibility.
Not everyone wants to meet for a night at the bar. And many Hoosiers can't afford to regularly gather for pricey dinners.
Pro tip: Loughead's go-to advice for making friends as an adult is to think like Nike.
"Just do it. I know a lot of people are worried about being judged or being put down for something they either believe in, or just being a little different or enjoying something different," she said. "I would just say, be strong in who you are and you'll find the right people."
Another tip: Don't let it get you down if someone you reach out to doesn't immediately reach back.