How to Win the Heart of a Bachelor

Reality star Shawn Bullard on what men really want.

What Men Really Want - Desperately seeking bae? Perhaps nobody understands the struggle more than Shawn Bullard, star of WE TV’s Match Made in Heaven and America’s first Black reality show bachelor. On the show, 24 sexy singles compete for the affections of Bullard, 33, a real estate entrepreneur and CEO. In an exclusive interview with B*Real, Bullard breaks down what men really want in a relationship. Click ahead! By Britt Middleton  (Photo: We TV)

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What Men Really Want - Desperately seeking bae? Perhaps nobody understands the struggle more than Shawn Bullard, star of WE TV’s Match Made in Heaven and America’s first Black reality show bachelor. On the show, 24 sexy singles compete for the affections of Bullard, 33, a real estate entrepreneur and CEO. In an exclusive interview with B*Real, Bullard breaks down what men really want in a relationship. Click ahead! By Britt Middleton  (Photo: We TV)

Breaking Barriers - On breaking barriers as TV's first Black bachelor, the former NFL player says he's ready to change perceptions. “It’s exciting to just show America that there are educated Black men, there are driven Black men that still know how to talk to a woman, treat a woman, and court a woman." (Photo: We TV) 

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Breaking Barriers - On breaking barriers as TV's first Black bachelor, the former NFL player says he's ready to change perceptions. “It’s exciting to just show America that there are educated Black men, there are driven Black men that still know how to talk to a woman, treat a woman, and court a woman." (Photo: We TV) 

Confidence Is Everything - “I love a woman that is confident in herself. I love a woman that is motivated. I love a woman that has assertiveness, a little bossy and that doesn’t like to judge: she likes to figure out everything and then make her decisions.” (Photo: We TV)

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Confidence Is Everything - “I love a woman that is confident in herself. I love a woman that is motivated. I love a woman that has assertiveness, a little bossy and that doesn’t like to judge: she likes to figure out everything and then make her decisions.” (Photo: We TV)

Real Beauty Rules - Ladies, it's not an urban myth: as much as we love getting gussied up, most men aren’t here for it, Bullard says. “I love when a woman, whether she’s having a good hair day or a bad hair day, rocks her natural hair. Just throw a hat on and show your face. I don’t like when a woman feels like she has to be made up. One of the most beautiful things about a woman is when she just gets up, throws a little lip gloss on, and goes. I’ll take that any day of the week.”(Photo: We TV)

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Real Beauty Rules - Ladies, it's not an urban myth: as much as we love getting gussied up, most men aren’t here for it, Bullard says. “I love when a woman, whether she’s having a good hair day or a bad hair day, rocks her natural hair. Just throw a hat on and show your face. I don’t like when a woman feels like she has to be made up. One of the most beautiful things about a woman is when she just gets up, throws a little lip gloss on, and goes. I’ll take that any day of the week.”(Photo: We TV)

Make the First Date Count - "For women, just be into a guy. Don’t try so hard not to show him that you like him. It’s cool to be vulnerable, but still have your defense mechanisms up. It might sound hard to do both, but it’s cool to be that way. Women sometimes make a guy work too hard for a chance and that’s a turnoff for a guy who already deserves the chance to take you out. Just come, put some effort into it and be personable.”(Photo: Shawn Bullard via Instagram)

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Make the First Date Count - "For women, just be into a guy. Don’t try so hard not to show him that you like him. It’s cool to be vulnerable, but still have your defense mechanisms up. It might sound hard to do both, but it’s cool to be that way. Women sometimes make a guy work too hard for a chance and that’s a turnoff for a guy who already deserves the chance to take you out. Just come, put some effort into it and be personable.”(Photo: Shawn Bullard via Instagram)

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Let Him Pay - “Going out with a guy, he should pay for the first date, period. If a woman wants to offer, that’s great, but I feel like a man should always assert his place and pay for the first date.” So what’s a date with Bullard like? He describes his dates on the show as “truly epic.” “I am going to show you camel rides, I am going to show you speed boats, we’re going to go in the sand dunes with buggies. I am going to show you that I am a black belt in Taekwondo, and I am going to show you take-down moves and give you a kiss in the process.” #Swoon (Photo: We TV)

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Let Him Pay - “Going out with a guy, he should pay for the first date, period. If a woman wants to offer, that’s great, but I feel like a man should always assert his place and pay for the first date.” So what’s a date with Bullard like? He describes his dates on the show as “truly epic.” “I am going to show you camel rides, I am going to show you speed boats, we’re going to go in the sand dunes with buggies. I am going to show you that I am a black belt in Taekwondo, and I am going to show you take-down moves and give you a kiss in the process.” #Swoon (Photo: We TV)

Don’t Get Complacent - Even if you’ve been together for years, don’t let the fire between you two cool off. “Do the things that catch your man’s eye,” Bullard says. “If you’re a woman that’s used to covering up, throw some leggings on and walk around the house. Walk around the house in lingerie, role play a little bit. Be sexy, but act like you don’t even notice him. Walk around while he’s watching the game, get up and say, ‘Babe, I cooked you something.’ But when you’re cooking, you’re wearing a T-shirt and some panties. The little things turn a man on the most.”(Photo: Shawn Bullard via Instagram)

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Don’t Get Complacent - Even if you’ve been together for years, don’t let the fire between you two cool off. “Do the things that catch your man’s eye,” Bullard says. “If you’re a woman that’s used to covering up, throw some leggings on and walk around the house. Walk around the house in lingerie, role play a little bit. Be sexy, but act like you don’t even notice him. Walk around while he’s watching the game, get up and say, ‘Babe, I cooked you something.’ But when you’re cooking, you’re wearing a T-shirt and some panties. The little things turn a man on the most.”(Photo: Shawn Bullard via Instagram)

Keeping the Faith - Having Pastor Ken (pictured above) on board to guide his search for a mate, Bullard says spirituality definitely plays a role in a healthy relationship. “Growing up in the church, I was very religious. Now that I am older, I am definitely way more spiritual. I am a person that is into the moon, the stars and astrology. I believe that being spiritual allows you to find yourself. And when you go into a relationship, you have to know yourself in order to get to know someone else.” (Photo: We TV)

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Keeping the Faith - Having Pastor Ken (pictured above) on board to guide his search for a mate, Bullard says spirituality definitely plays a role in a healthy relationship. “Growing up in the church, I was very religious. Now that I am older, I am definitely way more spiritual. I am a person that is into the moon, the stars and astrology. I believe that being spiritual allows you to find yourself. And when you go into a relationship, you have to know yourself in order to get to know someone else.” (Photo: We TV)

Meeting the Parentals - “My mom’s approval is definitely big. Everyone wants their mate to be accepted by their parents, you know? Is it a deal breaker if they don’t get along? No, it’s not a deal breaker because at the end of the day, you have to live with that person and you have to love that person,” he says. How soon is too soon to make the intro? “You’ve got to give it some time, because sometimes people put that front on for such a good time frame. It depends on the person. You just have to feel it [out].” (Photo: We TV)

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Meeting the Parentals - “My mom’s approval is definitely big. Everyone wants their mate to be accepted by their parents, you know? Is it a deal breaker if they don’t get along? No, it’s not a deal breaker because at the end of the day, you have to live with that person and you have to love that person,” he says. How soon is too soon to make the intro? “You’ve got to give it some time, because sometimes people put that front on for such a good time frame. It depends on the person. You just have to feel it [out].” (Photo: We TV)

Showing Him You Care - We know, it can be harder than it seems, but showing a man you really care is as simple as listening. “Listen to him and acknowledge his achievements. Whether he’s fixed a doorknob that’s been raggedy or he got his promotion for his job. As men, we’re still like immature boys. Immature boys always want that reassurance from their mother or their friends. A woman should be like a mother figure or a friend to him. So when he’s happy about something, be happy for him.”(Photo: Shawn Bullard via Instagram)

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Showing Him You Care - We know, it can be harder than it seems, but showing a man you really care is as simple as listening. “Listen to him and acknowledge his achievements. Whether he’s fixed a doorknob that’s been raggedy or he got his promotion for his job. As men, we’re still like immature boys. Immature boys always want that reassurance from their mother or their friends. A woman should be like a mother figure or a friend to him. So when he’s happy about something, be happy for him.”(Photo: Shawn Bullard via Instagram)

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Stay on the Lookout - "The good thing, and I think women in corporate America forget about this, is that you’re already around corporate gentlemen, you know? Even if you’re looking for a street guy, take the time to go out to that type of location and just be looking. I see a lot of women who don’t look. They always say, ‘I can’t find nobody,’ but they just had a 6-foot-3 handsome man walk past and didn’t even notice him.”(Photo: Shawn Bullard via Instagram)

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Stay on the Lookout - "The good thing, and I think women in corporate America forget about this, is that you’re already around corporate gentlemen, you know? Even if you’re looking for a street guy, take the time to go out to that type of location and just be looking. I see a lot of women who don’t look. They always say, ‘I can’t find nobody,’ but they just had a 6-foot-3 handsome man walk past and didn’t even notice him.”(Photo: Shawn Bullard via Instagram)

Final Thoughts From a Bachelor - What are the three keys to a lasting, happy relationship? In a nutshell: “One, you’ve gotta be best friends. Two, both of you guys have to improve from the first day that you met, whether it be physically, career-wise or anything else. You can’t be stagnant. And three, role playing!” [Laughs].(Photo: Laura Cavanaugh/FilmMagic)

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Final Thoughts From a Bachelor - What are the three keys to a lasting, happy relationship? In a nutshell: “One, you’ve gotta be best friends. Two, both of you guys have to improve from the first day that you met, whether it be physically, career-wise or anything else. You can’t be stagnant. And three, role playing!” [Laughs].(Photo: Laura Cavanaugh/FilmMagic)