Happiness is something you choose.
(The Courage to Be Disliked)

Many young adults use dating apps like a game. Some call it "Hot or Not", others fill their profiles with meaningless prompts and a shirtless photo, chasing validation instead of connection. For those looking for deeper, more genuine connections, that’s why I built Essence. Modern dating apps already provide thoughtful features like prompts and voice notes, yet they're often overshadowed by profile photos. People swipe as if a portrait can tell them everything they need to know. It doesn't. Matching primarily on appearance creates two problems: 1. You keep searching for someone slightly better. Conversations end before they begin, ghosting becomes second nature, and everyone is left wondering why they weren't enough. 2. Your matches become dopamine hits without any real foundation. Generic prompts lead to generic conversations that all begin and end the same way. "So Essence is Tinder without photos?" Not at all. Instead, Essence delays selfies until after you've matched and discovered that you genuinely enjoy talking to each other. Matching is based on thoughtful prompt responses and photos of anything except yourself, offering a small peek into how you see the world. Without portraits competing for attention, your personality has room to come first. When photos are finally revealed, they're no longer the reason you matched. They're simply another part of getting to know someone.