When the mega-smash hit 90 Day Fiance began to gain traction, TLC smartly branched out and created multiple spin-off shows, the most popular being Before The 90 Days, where Americans travel internationally to meet their foreign partners, before the K-1 visa process, hence the name.
Season four of Before The 90 Days premiered last Sunday, providing a whole new set of couples we haven’t grown to despise yet (except Geoffrey Paschel). Fan-favorite Darcey Silva will also be featured, which comes as no surprise since she’s appeared in every season of the franchise’s spin-off. Here are ten standout moments from Sunday’s premiere of Before The 90 Days.
Big Ed Nicknames Himself “Big Ed”
“Big Ed”, the 54-year-old photographer from San Diego, California shows his larger-than-life personality right off the bat. “I actually gave myself the nickname ‘Big Ed’ because I have a huge personality and it makes me feel tall,” Ed confidently tells the camera. “Also, it’s funny because I’m not tall. I’m actually 4'11”…not in heels…I’m kidding!" Though he kids about the heels, Ed suffers from Klippel-Feil syndrome, a rare congenital condition involving the abnormal infusion of your neckbones, which explains his outward appearance.
Regardless of his condition, Big Ed is wholly endearing and overall, a remarkable cast member. He’s dating Rosemarie, 23, who isn’t accepted by his 29-year-old daughter or by his immigrant mother, as plans to travel to The Philippines to meet his online girlfriend face-to-face. Big Ed has an adorable dog named Teddy, who sits in an airstream-style backpack on Ed’s shoulders as he rides his scooter around town.
Big Ed’s UPS Purchases Cost Him Over $5,000
At The UPS Store, Big Ed chats with salesmen Ryan, explaining how the shipping costs to send packages to Rosemarie’s small village end up costing more than the contents of the package! Ed also reveals not one of his packages has been successfully delivered to Rosemarie, but he’s still spent over $5,000!
Before The 90 Days fans have taken their desires to social media, asking where they can find Ryan, the pleasant The UPS Store employee who helps Bg Ed ship his packages. Kyle and Kim, hosts of the popular podcast 90 Day Cray Cray mentioned they received several emails regarding Ryan and his whereabouts!
Big Ed’s Beauty Routine
Big Ed seems to have some potential issues facing him as he travels to a foreign, humid climate: “I have a sensitive skin condition which means I have to have special sheets, thread count I’ll be totally honest they have to be over one thousand… I can’t use any type of high chemical detergents or cosmetics because I can break out in a rash.”
Big Ed tells viewers that he’s been using mayonnaise as a hair mask to ensure his luscious locks maintain a youthful look, and it seems to be working! Mayonnaise is no stranger to at-home hair masks, though using egg and oil separately is usually more appealing.
Lisa’s Insistent About Having Unprotected Sex
During a girl chat, Lisa’s friend Nikki asks her a question many 90 Day fans have pondered throughout the series: “what if you get there and the sex is whack?” Lisa arrogantly retorts: “I have a secret weapon. From day one, he’s been having nothing but safe sex when he’s been in a relationship. When I get there there will be no condom use.” Nikki says what everyone watching at home is screaming: “you’ve lost your mind!”
“Usben and I will have unprotected sex and it will be off the hook,” Laura continues: “He will teach me the Nigerian way and I will teach him the American way,” she tells the camera during an ITM. Lisa tells Nikki: “I don’t need a condom. I just had him tested for AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases… but he’s clean!” Ubsen could’ve easily faked his STD results, and Lisa’s adamancy regarding unprotected sex is both arrogant and alarming.
Rosemarie’s Sister Asked Big Ed For Money
Big Ed confessed his worries about Rosemarie’s family when he told his mother Rosemarie’s sister reached out to him in secrecy, asking Ed to give her money. The sister also asked him not to tell Rosemarie, which puts the photographer in a sticky situation if he lies to his newfound girlfriend.
Skeptical that she seems demanding, Ed hesitates and informs Rosemarie’s sister that he will discuss finances with her when he arrives in person.
Yolanda’s Skeptical Children
Yolanda has raised six seemingly-intelligent children with her deceased husband, Dwanye, who passed away from kidney disease. It’s often the case: the cast members’ children act as the voices of reason, winning the affection of the audience. No exception, Yolanda’s 22-year-old daughter Karra is understandably skeptical about her mother’s online relationship.
“I feel like my mom is being very naive right now, and that scares me. So I’m coming to England with her to have her back,” Karra says to the camera. “You don’t know this man— you’ve never met him!” Karra tries knocking some sense into her mom as they thrift shop, but Yolanda is headstrong and certain Williams is being truthful.
Avery’s Cannabis “Infusion”
Avery, 32, lives in Seattle, Washington and supports her two daughters by working as a dental assistant. Avery expresses her passion for health and wellness by posting her creative dishes through her alternative food blog, which often includes cannabis. “I am not a traditional girl. I like to infuse my recipes with cannabis… there are so many health benefits to marijuana,” Avery explains as she places a single pot leaf atop her salad creation.
While Avery may infuse her recipes behind-the-scenes, using a marijuana leaf in your food isn’t “infusion” (though her food does look scrumptious!) Avery’s ex-boyfriend-turned-dealer Jared tells the camera: “Avery and I dated for a couple of years… she drove me absolutely f–king crazy but she’s a beautiful woman to the core—I care about her a lot and I don’t want her to get hurt.”
Ash Gives Avery Several Red Flags
Avery’s dating Ash, 38, who’s originally from the African island Mauritius but resides in Melbourne, Australia, and works as a relationship coach—for single women only! Not only does he surround himself with available, desperate women as a profession, but Ash also gave Avery a reason to be skeptical when she no longer appeared anywhere on his Instagram profile, claiming he was hacked.
“I felt very insignificant to the amount of women he was giving his time and attention to, so I broke up with him,” Avery explains. “In fact… in the nine months we’ve been dating, I’ve broken up with Ash three times.” It seems Ash’s profession will be the driving force of their contempt as the season continues.
Williams Has Never Video Chatted With Yolanda
Yolanda underwent an impressive body transformation when she lost over 150 pounds after her husband’s death and looks incredible, but it’s her bright and shining personality that have viewers rooting for mother of six. Unfortunately, her online relationship with Williams seems less-than-promising. “Williams does communicate with me with his phone, but… he said the camera is broken so he can see me but I can’t see him. And he’s never sent me a video of hisself,” Yolanda admits.
Since the premiere, internet sleuths have done reverse-image searches on Williams’ photos, which prove he’s a catfish: the photos displayed on-screen during the premiere of Before The 90 Days were an Italian model named Michele Di Lucchio! Poor Yolanda!
Usben Wrote A Song For Lisa
Lisa, 52, is dating Usben, 31, AKA “SOJABOY”—an “entertainer, rapper, and celebrity” as she describes him. SOJABOY (previously) boasts over twenty-thousand followers on Instagram. “Nigerians are known for scamming, but Usben looked very trustworthy, so I thought ‘I’ll give him a chance,’” Lisa admits during an ITM, gushing about their connection.
“This past Valentine’s Day Usben proved why I’m the one when he wrote a song for me,” Lisa spills as the show cuts to SOJABOY’s music video, which does, in fact, mention her name.“That song is as real as it can get,” she passionately tells her friend at lunch. “It is the most romantic thing I have received in my 52 years years of life, from any man!”
