All the queer pop girlies might have debuted boyfriends this pride month, but fear not: Sapphic love stories are alive and thriving in season 2 of Netflix’s The Ultimatum: Queer Love! This wild, filmed experiment is truly the cream of the crop when it comes to chaotic dating shows. Whoever dreamed up the concept — one partner in a couple issuing an ultimatum of “marry me, or we’re done forever” — I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart. And to take m*n out of the equation for a WLW version? Chef’s fucking kiss. The second season hit Netflix on June 25, and it features some particularly stressful couple situations.

In an exclusive interview with Betches, season 2 stars, and trial wives Marita and Britney opened up about their anxiety-inducing (but also rewarding) journeys on the show. Marita revealed how they coped with the intense emotional toll of filming. “Every day, we were going to the gym,” she recalled. “We did a little bit of boxing too, so that was fun. And also, taking the time to sit down and journal and really just talk to each other about what we’re going through… I think it’s just talking it out, knowing that it all comes from love, and just being in that discomfort together.”

Read on to see what The Ultimatum: Queer Love stars Britney and Marita shared about going on reality TV, watching their exes flirt, and dating icks.

The Ultimatum: Queer Love Stars Marita And Britney On Dating Icks, Exes

BETCHES: Did you ever imagine yourself on reality TV? How did you decide to go on this show?

Image Credit: Netflix

Marita: It’s a good question because, for this show, I knew there would be an outcome that would be really good for me in terms of my relationship and where I wanted to go in life. Just the fact that it’s a reality TV show, I think it brought all of us together, and there was a powerful impact and a story that came from that. I guess I was excited about it because I wanted to meet these beautiful queer people and be a part of something different that determined the pivotal next step in my life. Yeah, it was an experience that I decided to take head-on, and I’m glad I did because of where I’m at.

Britney: For me, no, I’ve never seen myself on reality TV ever. That never crossed my mind. This is actually very bizarre for me. Huge character growth. I’m actually quite an introvert who’s becoming extroverted as I gained this self-confidence and self-reassurance and just being unapologetic. But I think that’s also what pushed me to just be like, you know what? Let me just do it on the big screen. I was always extremely shy — if I was going to read in class, I would want to projectile vomit, and my stomach would be in knots. The only way you grow is to be uncomfortable. So here I am.

What was it like watching your exes flirt with other people right in front of you?

Marita: I think watching Ashley flirt with other people in real life was weird because it was very similar to the way that she would flirt with me in the beginning. And I guess just to me, it was like I didn’t really understand the motive behind it or what she was trying to get out of it, but I mean, we all had to date other people and figure out what was best for us. So, at the end of the day, I understand it, but it was hard for sure.

Britney: Yeah, I would agree. I felt the same way. I mean, I was doing some flirting too, but I think just watching my partner flirt… I think it wasn’t actually as weird watching it back. I think it was weirder at the moment, but when I watched it back, I mentally prepared myself for it. And I don’t know, I thought it was actually kind of funny, to be honest. I didn’t take it seriously at all, and I knew we were single, and I’d already mentally prepared for that. At the moment, yes, I was in my feelings, but now I’m good.

You guys were on different sides, giving and receiving the ultimatum. Which do you think is more stressful?

Image Credit: Netflix

Marita: I feel like it would be more stressful to give it because you are risking losing your person. You are ready; you want to marry them at the end of the day, but then if they go find someone else, then that’s stressful. You would lose them. And I think it’s shown in that one scene where you and AJ were leaving each other that morning, and you were like, I hope this isn’t a mistake.

Britney: I would say so for sure because even though it’s a consensual thing for us to come to this experience, I am the one who is ready, and I’m sure of that. And I think that it’s like gambling. You’re risking all that you have to hopefully get more, but you can also lose it all. So, it’s absolutely risky. The reward is great, but you can lose it all. But of course, what gave me the reassurance to still pull through with this big gambling game was just the fact that if I lost it, then it was probably for a good reason. That was inevitably going to happen at some point or another.

What are your guys’ biggest dating icks?

Britney: Okay. I guess what comes to mind without thinking too hard about it would be… Maybe it’s someone who is too corny.

Marita: Honestly, somebody that you feel like you’re interviewing and they can’t carry a conversation. There’s no banter there, and it’s like you literally are asking questions, and they’re one-word answers. That I can’t do. And also, maybe someone that is just too much right in the beginning, and it’s like, whoa, we’re just getting to know each other. Or if they wear sandals.

Season 2 of The Ultimatum: Queer Love is now streaming on Netflix.