by Kris Harrell
Trojan Living Editor
A Troy Alum recently starred in a Hulu reality drama that combined her real-life stories with elements of Hollywood magic to bring a unique twist to the genre.
“Love in Fairhope,” a Hulu original, is self-described as a unique blend of a reality show and romance that follows five Fairhope, Alabama, women on their journeys through life and romance.
One of those five women, Abby Mannich – a Troy alumna from 2013 – has entered back into the dating world after moving back home from New York. However, being “single and ready to mingle” as the trailer states is difficult for people living in a small town.
“It is very slim pickings around here I feel like,” Mannich said. “I’m in my 30’s now, and it’s hard to meet people in general in this day and age with the way dating is, but especially in a small town.”
One of the main features of “Love in Fairhope” is it’s Hollywood aspect, which it is not shy to point out: claiming to combine fantasy and reality. For Mannich, the show took aspects of her real life and enhanced them.
“I think that goes a lot with most reality television, you can’t wait for things to happen,” Mannich said. “I feel like most of the time, our lives are pretty boring, so you kind of have to make things happen.
“That’s kind of where the Hollywood aspect comes into play.”
With this Hollywood aspect, Mannich’s part of reconnecting with old flames and meeting new ones is dramatized, as she hopes to find the one for her.
Tyler Springer, a producer for “Love in Fairhope,” was on site for the filming of the 10-episode season and vouches for this blend of genres.
“I almost describe it like a chocolate vanilla swirl ice cream cone, where it’s like you love chocolate and you love vanilla,” Springer said. “Well, why don’t we just combine them? Somebody discovered it, and [are] now like, ‘oh my gosh, why have we not done this sooner?’”
While the show may be mainly about the cast’s romantic journey, Mannich’s part in the show explores some of her familiar relationships as well.
“Throughout the show you will see my relationship with my mom, how our dynamic over the years has really kind of dictated the relationships that I found myself in and how I’ve gone about my romantic relationships,” Mannich said. “You’ll see the dynamic between her and I and how that influences me, for better or for worse.”
While her romantic endeavors may be fantasized, Mannich states the conversations with her mom on “Love in Fairhope” are “very real and raw.”
“Those conversations were very hard for me to have and to share that relationship with the world, but I knew that there’s so many other people out there that might not have great relationships with their parents, and I think being able to relate to somebody on that it is huge,” Mannich said.
The first season of “Love in Fairhope” culminates into one big night, at the Magnolia Ball, which according to the show has been a part of Fairhope, Alabama, for 51 years.
This is one of the biggest fantasies within the show: a purely fictional ball that had southern viewers familiar with the area a bit confused.
However, the Magnolia Ball will soon enter reality, with the First 52nd Annual Magnolia Ball in Fairhope, Alabama set to take place Jan 5, 2024. The ball will be in support of Prodisee Pantry, a food pantry that serves the Baldwin County area.
