5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Miami Housewives' Larsa Pippen knows a few things about dating. Let her help you
Larsa Pippen is well aware that her love life is under a microscope.
It's been this way for years, since her high profile divorce from NBA legend Scottie Pippen Jr. in 2021.
In the years since, the 'Real Housewives of Miami' star has been linked to a number of eligible (and not so eligible) men who happen to also be linked to the sport of basketball.
There was former Minnesota Timberwolves player Malik Beasley, who was married with a small child at the time of their fling. Earlier this month while on 'The Jason Lee Show' Pippen called the 2021 affair 'a mistake,' and blamed it on 'COVID brain.'
Pippen's next big headline-making relationship was with another younger suitor, Marcus Jordan. The UCF alum is the son of Michael Jordan, who played on the Chicago Bulls with her ex husband, and hoops fans just couldn't get wrap their heads around that one.
Since that on-off situationship ended, Pippen hasn't exactly flipped the script. The reality vet is currently stepping out with pro basketball player Jeff Coby, who is younger (31), but not married.
Is Coby a keeper? That's unclear, but Pippen certainly seems content, almost giddy. So much so that she wants to help other women find their soulmates now that's she off the market.
Pippen is launching a free dating app called The platform is committed to safety, privacy and security through facial recognition and AI technology, she told the Miami Herald in a recent interview. Meaning users won't get scammed or catfished, as all photos are verified, and no one's identity or credit card information is sold.
' is dedicated to eliminating wasted time and minimizing risks by thoroughly verifying each member and curating high quality, pre-screened matches,' reads a press release.
FYI: We downloaded it, and, no, you can't just post some random photo of yourself, or someone else for that matter. If you shell out $69 for the so called concierge package, they'll throw in added security measures such as a background check and send you invites to fancy events.
Pippen helped come up with the idea a few months ago with local partners, real estate investor Greg Mirmelli and software entrepreneur Umut Tekin, when she was unattached.
'I was single, and all my friends were single, and we were like, we can't just keep going to all these dating sites, and exchanging our numbers with random guys.'
With you speak to the individual in the actual app, available on Google Play or the App Store. If all goes well, you can move off of it into real life, Pippen says.
Ironically, while putting the app project together, Pippen happened upon her new man without any digital assistance — at the gym.
The fact that Pippen is with yet another basketball player isn't lost on her at all. The Chicago native knows the sport well, and not only really likes it but follows it religiously. Oldest son Scottie Jr., 24, is a point guard with the Memphis Grizzlies and their other two sons, recent LMU grad Preston, 22, and UC Berkeley student Justin, 19, also dabble.
'I know some people wish I was with someone with a different profession but it's so much fun,' she says. 'My kids are athletes. It's just a part of my life and I've been around it so long.'
The only downside to having an athletes as boyfriends? They keep you on your toes.
'Oh my God, Jeff trains me so hard,' Pippen says. 'I feel like he's getting me ready for the WNBA.'
Housewives and tequila
Working on her body and her app aren't the only things that are consuming Pippen's time lately. She's a new homeowner, having just bought a house in the Miami area, while still keeping her flashy downtown penthouse. Hanging in the 'burbs has been an adjustment, to say the least. Just a few weeks ago, Pippen encountered a snake inside the place.
'I was freaking out so bad that I called 911!' the mother of four recalls. 'I didn't know what to do but I learned the hard way. The police gave me the number [for a trapper]. It was insane.'
Reptiles aside, Pippen prefers a more chill existence away from the bright lights and noise.
'We used to have a lot of waterfront property in [Fort Lauderdale] and I missed my backyard,' she explains. 'I wanted to lay out, have a pool party.'
We can think of a few fellow Housewives that may get the invite, and a few who may not. Pippen's dynamic with the ladies is ever-evolving.
'I used to think that if you knew someone for a long time, they were going to be your best friend forever,' she says. 'Now I realize you can have just social friends who aren't really your close friends.'
Pippen is definitely way excited about the latest cast member, Shoma Group's Stephanie Shojaee, who took Dr. Nicole Martin's place.
'I love her so much,' Pippen says of the real estate developer. 'It was so nice to have her around because it's been the same mix for so long. With a new person, you can experience things all over again.'
If there's anyone Pippen's not happy to be around, she won't say and Bravo is notorious for keeping the drama/gossip tightly under wraps. We'll have to wait to see ourselves; the first episode of Season 7 premieres June 11.
'I feel like our franchise is so much fun,' Pippen allows. 'We enjoy shooting our show and some of us actually hang out off screen. So when you butt heads with someone you're always with it's easier to come back from it, because we're such good friends at the end of the day.'
Another project Pippen is working on is an organic tequila called Olujo.
Look for the booze's official launch on (where else?) Instagram. That's where Pippen boasts more than 5 million followers, putting her in the top 10 of most popular Real Housewives on social media.
Apparently, Pippen loves the Internet as much as it loves her.
'Before, when I was married and my kids were young, I didn't show that much of my life,' she says, adding with a laugh, 'Now I share literally everything... I think I'm overworked!'
