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Joy Taylor and MJ Acosta-Ruiz bring 'different flavor' to Fuse TV Series 'Like A Girl'

Brian Jones Profile Picby:Brian Jones•08/21/24•

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Joy Taylor MJ Acosta-Ruiz
Fuse Media

Joy Taylor and MJ Acosta-Ruiz are two of the most respected personalities in the sports media industry and have been friends for many years. Now, the two have joined forces to host the second season of the Fuse TV series Like A Girl. On3 recently spoke to Taylor and Acosta-Ruiz about what they are bringing to show that focuses on women in sports.

“I think MJ and I are taking a very us direction. We’re a part of the show in that our friendship, and being women that work in sports and cover sports is certainly an element,” Taylor told On3. “And then also we’re executive producers. So we’re very involved in the backend of the show also. We love that we’ve been able to be a part of the franchise and carry on what they built in season one, which they did an excellent job on. I think just MJ and I bringing a different flavor, and in our friendship, and input on the show.”

Each episode of Like A Girl focuses on different sports and the women who are making an impact in them. Taylor and Acosta-Ruiz, speak to these women while putting in some work on the field, court and mat. Acosta-Ruiz said working with Taylor and bringing more attention to women in sports were reasons why she wanted to be involved with the show.

MJ Acosta-Ruiz says being on ‘Like A Girl’ with Joy Taylor ‘Felt Right’

“I think for both of us being not just sportscasters, but organically and genuinely fans of women’s sports already, it felt right, because we already talk about these stories,” the NFL Network and ESPN personality said. “We already tell these stories, whether it’s in our individual platforms or through our other jobs. So to have something that is dedicated only to us, to the women in these fields, to these athletes, it was a no-brainer.”

In the season premiere (which is on Fuse TV now) Taylor and Acosta-Ruiz get on the football field with Diana Flores who is the quarterback of the Mexican Flag Football Team. Thoughout the season, the duo will talk do different women in different sports while showing of their athletic skills each week. Taylor and Acosta-Ruiz revealed which sport they partiicapted in that was the most challenging.

“Gymnastics, for sure,” Taylor said. “I’m not doing anything competitive anymore. I tore my ACL playing soccer in a women’s league years ago and have not been running around since. I’m a Pilates girly. I like a nice walk.”

“The MMA for sure for me with Combate, because these are high-level elite fighters, and so they had to reel themselves in pretty drastically to get out of their mode that they train in all the time, to spar and teach us lightly,” Acosta-Ruiz added. “But I think, every so often we would see this little spark in their eye, especially if we were doing things right, they’re like, ‘Okay.’ I’m like, ‘All right, I’m your friend. Friendly, friendly, nice person. Don’t kill me.'”

‘Like A Girl’ is a reunion for Joy Taylor and MJ Acosta-Ruiz

Along with Flores, Taylor and Acosta-Ruiz interviewed Olympians Sydney Leroux and Emma Malabuyo, pro soccer stars Ali Riley and Kennedy Fuller and college basketball star Flau’jae Johnson among others. Taylor wants hopes that viewers “fall in love with the athletes” and “resonate with their stories.”

“There’s something relatable in everyone’s journey, but these are the best in the world at what they do, and they’re mothers and incredibly talented, and artists, and survivors,” the FS1 personality said. “And there’s so many different stories that we discuss throughout the series.”

Acosta-Ruiz is happy to work with Taylor again but admitted they have collaborated more than people see on a regular basis. “There is that high level of respect, which I think has been a tent pole of our friendship and our working relationship,” she said. “And it had been at least a decade since we had actually co-hosted and worked on something, but we’ve seen each other’s evolution and have been part of it for so long. So I felt like it was much easier to be able to collaborate with someone who I’m constantly talking about the business, not just in our individual jobs, but projects that we’re trying to launch as well.”