Shay Mitchell, one of the stars of the hit ABC Family show Pretty Little Liars, has a tremendous presence on social media platforms — from millions of Followers on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and more, to her own YouTube channel and lifestyle blog.
In a project that combines that experience and interest in online social connections with a love of a certain candy, Mitchell has teamed up with SweeTARTS Candy to present a new online live dating experience, the SweeTARTS Roped "Get Roped In" Dating Show. Just ahead of the most romantic day of the year, Valentine's Day, Mitchell will host the show from the Downtown Independent Theater in Los Angeles Tuesday, February 10.
The 27-year-old actress, who plays Emily Fields in Pretty Little Liars — which is also known as PLL and is currently heading towards the end of its fifth season — took some time to chat with TheCelebrityCafe.com about the dating show and PLL, and to offer advice on finding love and making connections.
TheCelebrityCafe: So tell me about this dating game you're hosting — how does it work, how did you get involved?
Shay Mitchell: Basically the YouTube fans are choosing people and contestants to go out with through YouTube Stars, they have the opportunity to go out on a group date. So I partnered up with SweeTARTS to host the SweeTARTS Ropes Dating Game and so it's basically you can hashtag #GetRopedIn, you can follow more on our twitter handle @SweeTARTSCandy. And it's gonna be really fun. So we're hosting tomorrow and it will air later this month.
TCC: Was it your idea or did it come from SweeTARTS?
SM: I've always been a fan of SweeTARTS candy but now that I found out that they came out with the new SweeTARTS Rope candy, which is kind of like a licorice style, it's now my new guilty pleasure so it was the perfect collaboration.
TCC: And you're hosting the show from a theater but it's an online event?
SM: Yeah, exactly, it's gonna be online.
TCC: What advice do you have for people who might be frustrated with all the pitfalls of online dating, like catfishes, creeps or just non-results?
SM: Honestly, I think you have to just get out there and keep trying. I think that there's someone out there for everyone and, even myself, I'm having fun right now, but I don't think you can give up. Whether it's online or in person, I think it's just putting yourself out there.
TCC: Should millennials move away from online dating or should online dating just be improved in and of itself?
SM: I think maybe it can improve itself. I think that there's nothing better than making that personal connection in person, but I don't think that there's anything wrong with meeting people online. I have a lot of friends who have made really great connections online, where they would never have been able to meet each other, so I'm kind of a fan of both. I just think it's how you use it.
TCC: In this social media-obsessed world some people think it hurts our ability to communicate in person. As a social media aficionado yourself, what do you think about that and how do people use it for the better?
SM: I think if you use it too much then there is that chance of that happening. I always make a conscious effort that whenever I'm with friends or family or anyone, I put my phone down when I'm speaking to them, just because I don't think there's anything worse than going out to dinner or lunch and you're both on your cell phones, so I do think that that's a problem. But again, I use it to connect to my fans, so I think it's kind of how you use it.
TCC: What would Emily think about online dating or using apps?
SM: I don't know. I think maybe, Emily, she definitely loves dating. I think that she would be a fan of it. I think that she would be kind of pondering it and using it tentatively here and there but, she's met a lot of girls in person and doesn't seem to have any trouble, so I think she's doing okay.
TCC: Speaking of Emily, how do you feel about her possibly moving on from Paige?
SM: It's tough because I love Lindsey Shaw so much as an actress, and that's always a problem, is that you work with such amazing actresses and then when it's like their character story lines kind of change, then you don't get to see them for a while. So, of course, I'm upset because I love working with Lindsey but we'll have to see, we'll see what happens with Emily.
TCC: What was the fan feedback like after that kiss with Talia (Miranda Rae Mayo)?
SM: The fan feedback is — every single week I try to do "Play with Shay," and so a lot of the fans, we have a diehard group that's called the Emison (shipping Emily and Allison), and then the Emayas (shipping Emily and Maya) obviously, when it was with Maya. But there also is a really strong fan base for me and the new character as well. So it's gonna be Talia and Emily are now kind of the new thing in Rosewood. It's new and it's a fresh relationship, so the fans are kind of liking that one as well, so I've heard and read.
TCC: What's in store for Emily the rest of this season?
SM: It is SO crazy. Honestly, I keep telling everybody, the season finale for season five is insane. So yes, it's probably, maybe one of my favorite episodes.
TCC: What's in store for you personally, any upcoming projects?
SM: There's a bunch of different things for 2015. Yeah, it's gonna be crazy. I can't believe how fast the months are moving. I mean we do go back to work at the end of March but right now I'm having fun traveling and everything, and hosting this dating show tomorrow, which I'm really excited about. Hopefully we have a really great connection tomorrow, so I'm crossing my fingers for that.
TCC: What advice do you have for your single female fan base about coping with being single on Valentine's Day?
SM: I say go out and hang out with your girlfriends. That's what I'm doing, you know, there's no reason why you can't go and grab a bunch of your girlfriends, have dinner at your house or go out. Honestly, Valentine's Day is just another day to me. Even if I was in a relationship, I like getting flowers on a Monday or a Tuesday, not specifically just on Valentine's Day, so I think make it a day where you hang out with your friends and have a good time, that's what it's about.
TCC: How did people get involved with the dating show?
SM: It was an online sign up where the YouTube fans got to chose who went out with their favorite YouTube stars. So basically there's gonna be people that go out and then they get the opportunity to go out on a group date for tomorrow. It's gonna be fun.
For information about the dating show, follow @SweeTARTSCandy and use #GetRopedIn
You can follow Shay on Twitter at @shaymitch and you can check out her lifestyle blog Amore & Vita here.