The Unbreakable Bond: The Journey of Nesha Harris and Jaz Wallace on 1000-lb Roomies

In the midst of the pandemic, two women found each other through the digital realm, only to discover that their friendship would soon transcend the screen. Nesha Harris, a makeup artist and home baker, and Jaz Wallace, both Scorpios, first connected on Instagram and quickly found themselves chatting every day. Their birthdays are only one day apart, and they shared a deep connection that led them to embark on a journey that would change their lives forever.

Harris had been making a personal page separate from her businesses when she met Wallace through a social media friend. The two quickly became inseparable, chatting daily even while Wallace was at work. They discovered they had a lot in common, including their love for TLC shows like 90 Day Fiancé and My 600-lb Life.

After a year of online friendship, the duo met in real life when Harris’s mother went out of town. Wallace recalls, “She was like, ‘I’m coming to get you. We’re gonna hang out at my mom’s.’” During the visit, Wallace enjoyed the best sleep she’d ever had because she felt unburdened by stress. Soon after, they started spending more time together in person, including a weekend in an Airbnb with all their friends.

As their friendship deepened, they decided to take things to the next level and move in together. Coincidentally, it was around this time that Harris heard from TLC about starring in a reality show. At first, Harris wondered if it was a scam, but Wallace encouraged her to pursue it with the question: What’s the worst that can happen? The team loved them both, and when they shared that they were moving in together, the show was a done deal.

Both women are major fans of TLC and wanted to showcase their community as well as their own journeys. They wanted to highlight the beauty of strong Black women and businesses in their lives. For them, it was important to show that just because they are larger doesn’t mean they can’t be happy or take care of themselves.

The producers of 1000-lb Roomies fully supported their requests, and the two have since come to think of the show’s team as family. As Harris puts it, “I definitely have a new respect for anybody that ever showed their face on camera because when you’re at home watching, you have no clue about all the work.”

The show’s premiere offers viewers a preview of what’s to come as Wallace struggles with mobility issues during a family trip to the pool. When Harris coaxes her friend into a trip to the beach, Wallace fears how people might look at and treat her and decides to stay in the car. And when a friend shows Wallace a life expectancy calculator suggesting she might only have a few years to live if she doesn’t change her lifestyle, she becomes terrified of what the loss would do to her daughter Nana. It’s then that she decides to look into weight loss surgery – a journey Harris supports but doesn’t want for herself at least at the start of the series.

Wallace likens the entire TV journey to ripping off a Band-Aid. “You basically have to heal on camera,” she says. The good news is that both she and Harris are strong by nature. When they finish a scene and notice crew members crying, they often push production to keep going.

In talking with these best friends, it’s easy to see the strength and comfort they’ve found in one another. For both women, this journey has been one of self-discovery and growth, as they continue to support each other through every challenge that comes their way.