Ashley Erling

James Jones

Name: Ashley Erling
Age: 30
Hometown: Bristol, CT
Currently lives in: Barrington
Occupation: Executive Producer, The Rhode Show

Tell us about yourself.
I’m originally from Bristol, CT, went to school at Roger Williams University and never left little Rhody after that! I interned at Channel 12 while in college and began working there after graduation; first producing newscasts until The Rhode Show began, and I’ve been working on it ever since. I love my job. I also created a fashion blog called Wears it from, where I hunt down fashion I see on TV and find looks for less. I’ve also been getting involved in more organizations locally. I recently joined the planning committee for The Providence Preservation Society, and am a mentor for Year Up Providence, which has been an incredible experience!

Describe yourself to someone who’s never met you.
Outgoing! I always have a lot to say and love talking to new people. Interests and hobbies: shopping (don’t laugh that’s a hobby), watching reality TV, and going to brunch. Working a morning TV schedule can be grueling for Friday night fun, so I’ve started what I like to call pre-happy hour. I’m the girl that gets the party started, but by actual “nightfall” you will probably find me on my couch in sweatpants with a glass of wine, catching up on TiVo.

What’s something that people would be surprised to know about you?
I think a lot of people are surprised by my layers. I’m a bubbly girly-girl on the surface, but there’s actually a lot more depth to my personality. I think once people get to know me, they’re surprised to find that.

How should an interested someone approach you?
Work for it! Put in a little effort. Court me. I feel like dating is such a lost art. Put some thought into a date to show that it’s important to you. Also, grammar still counts - even in text messages. Please do not say “your” when you mean “you’re” (enter winky-face emoji here).

What’s your dating philosophy?
My dating philosophy can be summed up in one word: cocktails.

What are you looking for in a potential mate?
Tall, dark and handsome, of course! Kidding… kind of. Someone who I can talk to about anything. Someone who finds the humor in life - even when things aren’t going your way. Someone who is willing to try new things, but could be also be happy hanging out with a pizza on Saturday night. Dealbreaker? Bad hygiene, ick.

Dating in Providence isn’t easy – everyone knows everyone else, and everyone has dated everyone else. What’s your take on dating in a small state?
Bars and clubs are kind of a necessary evil in the Providence scene. Some nights are really fun, while others are, well, let’s just say the most exciting that happened one night was when some guy told me I had good posture. Good posture, really? That’s the best you could do? But, you have to laugh and think that if finding “Mr. Right” were so easy you probably wouldn’t appreciate it as much when you found him.

Want to say hi to Ashley? Drop a line to cupid@providenceonline.com, or meet her in person at our Mix and Mingle Party. Wednesday, February 12 from 6-9pm at The Whiskey Republic.