Virginia McIntosh Venuto and Shauna Hakim Miller had both recently ended long-term relationships when they met on Tinder in September 2022. Mx. Venuto, who calls herself Gin, was new to online dating, while Ms. Miller described herself as a “seasoned pro.”

Their mutual attraction was instant. “I thought Shauna was cute and had confidence,” Mx. Venuto said. “I was very intrigued.”

“Gin seemed like a catch from her bio because she went to Mount Holyoke, a school I admired,” Ms. Miller said. “Plus, I loved the oversized glasses in her profile picture.”