When it came time to date, Sadaf struggled to make real connections, despite going on plenty of dates. As she approached 30, the men in her life were narcissists, controlling, or simply not looking to settle down. She felt like she'd wasted years on relationships that weren't right for her.
At 31, after yet another failed relationship, Sadaf stumbled across a video of Bela on the Steve Harvey Show while looking for something to lift her spirits on YouTube. She immediately began researching Bela and Smart Dating Academy and reached out to start date coaching with Bela and Ilene.
Sadaf realized she needed to change her entire approach to dating. She flew to Chicago to meet Bela in person for her photoshoot, and the SDA team helped her build her profile, understand how much time to spend on the apps, and screen for red flags — all while coaching her not to lose hope.
In December 2021, Sadaf messaged a man she thought could be a great match. She and her coach, Ilene, reviewed his profile carefully together — he checked every box on the list she'd made years earlier. James turned out to be exactly what she was looking for: family-oriented, adventurous, and genuinely curious about getting to know her on their first date.
