Connect How did your love story begin?

We met in 2007 at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, also known as FAMU. I was a freshman cheerleader. EJ was a senior basketball player. EJ would try to get my attention but I curved him for years, until 2021. I was in Savannah. He was in Indy. Our first date was NYE in NY Times Square. We’ve been together ever since that day. He’s the best decision I’ve ever made. My biggest blessing. After God, my husband is my everything. I never wanna know what life is like without him again.

What is your favorite memory you've shared as a couple?

We have sooo many memories to choose from! We’ve had a wonderful life together! But the best memory would be our first date, which later became, “Day One of Ashley and EJ, the couple.” We were so locked in with one another, deeply engaged in each other’s mere being. We both felt love. Something we both hadn’t had in years. We felt like each other’s person…and now we are.

What would you do with $20,000?

Me and EJ live in Greenville, SC. My news anchor career is what got us here. My now husband left behind the longtime life of home ownership because he believed that much in our life together. In the words of Luther, “A house is not a home.” So if we’re so fortunate enough to win the money, we would use it to go toward a new home of our own.