Rae Williams could be the most courageous Playboy Club creator you’ve ever come across. If she already looks familiar, Rae — who works full-time in law enforcement — has experience in reality television.
Playboy: Tell me about your upbringing.
Rae Williams: I was born in East Oakland. I’m an only child and went to a Catholic school with nuns and priests. It was a very interesting experience. My dad is a race car driver, so we ended up moving to Texas when F1 got really big. That’s when I switched over to public school. I grew up in two very different circles. I moved back and forth between Oakland and Texas a lot, but I think it made me very well-rounded.
Playboy: What was your school experience like?
Rae Williams: I had a really good school experience. I ended up going to college at an HBCU in Austin. I was a nerd in school. I was attending school on an academic scholarship, so I didn’t really party or get out much, but I did enjoy the academic side of things. I didn’t really start going out or having too much fun until after I graduated college.
Playboy: What was the first thing that you dreamed of achieving?
Rae Williams: I would say being on television. From the age of 8 to 10 or so, I used to watch shows like The Challenge or others. I would also see video vixens in music videos and thought, “I want to be on TV in some way, shape or form.” I actually ended up going on a dating show on Netflix called The Ultimatum.
Playboy: Care to share what your dating show experience was like?
Rae Williams: It was a tough experience for me because the whole concept of the show is you get together eight couples where one person in the couple is more ready to move towards marriage and the other person is not sure.
There’s an ultimatum that’s issued by the end of filming. You’re supposed to end up engaged or split. The twist is that all the other couples swap, so you date someone else’s boyfriend and then your boyfriend dates someone else’s girlfriend and you live with them. It was uncomfortable for me because I’m a very monogamous person.
I actually got along with the man that I ended up moving in with extremely well. We never had sex or anything like that, but we got along the best out of the whole cast. That led to the production really focusing on us. It was a lot of pressure, but also, it was a lot of fun. It taught me about relationship dynamics, BTS of reality TV and more.
Playboy: What would be your ideal travel destination?
Rae Williams: One place on my list is Parma, Italy. My grandma came over from Italy and immigrated through Ellis Island in New York. She’s always told stories about how beautiful it was there. I’ve not had the chance to go yet, but that’s where the Italian side of my family’s from.
Playboy: Do you have a comfort book, movie, show or game that you go back to when you just need a little bit of TLC?
Rae Williams: My comfort show is The Office. When I’m stressed out or need to shut my brain off and chill, especially after work, I will go through and start watching The Office.
Playboy: At this point in your life, what do you feel very passionately about?
Rae Williams: Well the election just passed, but I feel very passionate about politics. That’s what I’ve really been into, especially the last year. I’ve put an emphasis on educating myself and then making sure that a lot of my followers have gotten registered to vote—that’s been important to me.
I try to be as unbiased as possible. What I like to do is look at the two different policies, but take the names off and send to my friends. That way, I can ask them, “Do you agree with policy A or B?” instead of red or blue. From there, we all talk about which ones we prefer while taking candidates out of it.
The past eight years have been so crazy, so really, I’m just trying to stay up-to-date with politics locally and nationally. I also get somewhat of a glimpse into law on a local level. I’m a 911 operator, so seeing the different cases that the district attorney goes for. I’ve gotten to know some of the officers and really been more interested in true criminal justice, politics and the law.
Playboy: Wow. What’s it like to be a 911 operator?
Rae Williams: It is the most rewarding job I’ve ever had. Throughout college, I bartended to make my way through. I’ve had jobs in the private sector with marketing and communications, things like that. Still, switching over to public service, even though I make a little bit less, it’s been the most rewarding job that I’ve ever had. I truly feel like I’m valued there.
Playboy: Switching gears, what would make you ghost someone that you were potentially interested in dating?
Rae Williams: As noted, I was a bartender during college. So, if I’m out on a date with a man and they’re being rude or dismissive to the wait staff, I would definitely consider ghosting them for that. I can honestly say I’ve never ghosted anybody, but that might do it.
Playboy: What’s one setback that women uniquely face and how do you fight against that in your life?
Rae Williams: A setback that women are currently facing is trying to figure out dating in the modern world because it’s so different from how it was with our moms and grandmas. It’s not easy trying to figure out how to balance being the perfect mom, having a career and finding a man that aligns with you. I noticed a lot of women are having a hard time finding a guy that aligns with them socially.
Then, there’s the financial dynamic in a relationship. I remember the other day I was talking to a man and he was like, “Women used to stay at home and would just have a husband take care of them.” I was like, “I think women want to be taken care of in a different way nowadays. Women are looking for men that are emotionally intelligent.” I can pay some bills around the house, but I want a guy who’s nice to me. I think it’s hard finding our place in the dating world, especially with social media.
For a final note, one of the most prevalent issues that women face is domestic violence. I support women quite often over both the emergency line and the non-emergency line. I’m always there to offer gentle support and resources.
Playboy: Do you have any healthy obsessions?
Rae Williams: Lately, I’ve been obsessed with true crime podcasts. There’s this one podcast that’s my obsession right now. I’ve been binging it. It’s called Murder with My Husband.
Playboy: What are your turn ons and turn offs?
Rae Williams: My number one turn on is a good sense of humor. I also like someone who is family oriented and interested in getting to know my friends and family. From there, I like when people can dance—that’s definitely a turn on. It’s nice if you’re at a bar and you can grab a drink and dance with them and have a good time. Another turn on is people that know how to have fun. I don’t like people that are too uptight, harsh or can’t go with the flow.
For turn offs, it would be someone who is combative, rude or defensive unprovoked. Another turnoff for me would be bad hygiene or somebody who doesn’t take care of their health. I’m not a health nut by any means. Still, I don’t want to be with someone who is not exercising, not keeping up with their appearance or just drinking all the time. I want somebody who cares about their health at least a little bit.
Playboy: Describe your version of a perfect day.
Rae Williams: I think my perfect day would be filled with good food while I’m hanging out on the beach with all the people that I like. Tequila is involved. It would be all my girlfriends hanging out, really good food, good drinks, and we’re near a beach. I love the beach.
Playboy: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given recently?
Rae Williams: The best piece of advice I have been given lately is to not take criticism from someone that I would not want to trade places with. That mostly pertains to the internet trolls. Sometimes, I think people are so desensitized when they get behind a keyboard.
Playboy: Last question—what do you think your superpower is?
Rae Williams: I’m going to copy Kim Kardashian, here. My superpower is remaining calm in work and life.
Rae is on The Playboy Club. Talk to her now.
