Several years ago, FrancesMary Loughead experienced a lot of change all at once. She graduated college, got her driver’s license and exchanged wedding vows with her husband, all within a three-week span. Two months later, the newlyweds relocated to Indianapolis. Though she loved the city, Loughead felt a definitive void.
“My husband traveled a lot, and I worked remotely, so I found myself spending long, quiet weekends alone in our apartment wondering how I could make friends,” says Loughead. “I knew that no one was going to knock on my door and ask, ‘Wanna be friends?’ I had to do something.”
She tried friendship apps and scoured local event listings in hopes of finding connection, but nothing worked.
“Coming from Chicago, I was used to endless things to do. Here, it took more effort to find community,” says Loughead, who found there wasn’t an outlet specifically for women to make friends in the Indianapolis area. So she created one — a free one, no less.
What began as a simple Bachelor/Bachelorette watch party — born from a Facebook group called Bachelor Fans of Indianapolis — quietly planted the seed for something much bigger. In January 2024, she officially launched BFF Indy, a women’s community and events group designed to help women connect, build friendships and explore the city together.
Two years later, BFF Indy has exploded, with more than 60,000 women across its platforms. The Facebook group alone boasts 20,000 members. Instagram adds another 33,000. The email list is 10,000 strong. And the growth shows no signs of slowing.
One of the most surprising things for Loughead — who is 27 — is the sheer diversity of the women who show up. BFF Indy members range from 18 to 80 years old and beyond.
“There are so many women who feel like they’re the only ones struggling to make friends,” she says. “I want them to know they’re not alone. Everyone wants a new friend. And it’s never too late to make new friends.”
At their weekly walks, women from different backgrounds, experiences and beliefs stride side by side, talking openly and eagerly along the way. The walks, which run from April through October, have become the heartbeat of BFF Indy, spanning nine locations — including Bloomington, Lafayette, Avon and Noblesville — and drawing more than 1,000 women each week. One of the most popular walks takes place in Carmel, meeting on the Monon Trail in Midtown across from Sun King Brewery.
“We started in Carmel because that’s where I lived at the time,” she says. “Then word spread, and we expanded.”
Every Monday at 6:30 p.m., women gather, walk north for 30 minutes, turn around and head back. No pressure. No prerequisites. No awkward icebreakers. Just showing up and making friends while logging miles.
“It’s hard to step outside your comfort zone,” Loughead says. “But when you do, the impact is incredible.”
Beyond the walks, BFF Indy hosts fitness classes, a monthly book club, a Bible study and an annual birthday party in January that celebrates BFF Indy and the connections that have been forged. This event has quickly become a fan favorite. The first year it was held at Laurel Hall, a popular wedding venue. Last year, the celebration moved downtown to Tinker House Events.
“It’s a bunch of women coming together to celebrate friendship,” she says. “It’s so fun to see the community show up for one another.”
Running a community of tens of thousands of women can be challenging, especially when it comes to maintaining a welcoming, inclusive environment.
“We are truly an organization for everybody,” she says. “People ask if we’re political or religious. We’re not. We’re a community. Period.”
With women from so many backgrounds, Loughead works hard to keep the space respectful and balanced so that everyone, regardless of their background, beliefs, age or stage of life, feels welcomed and valued.
Leading BFF Indy has also strengthened Loughead’s empathy.
“I’ve learned what women in our community are experiencing — whether it’s loneliness, housing struggles or food insecurity,” she says. “It’s made me more aware of how we can use our connections to help.”
The group has also launched merchandise — quarter-zips with the BFF Indy logo and weekly walk hats — all produced through local vendors to support small businesses.
Leading a massive women’s community has been both surprising and deeply rewarding.
“I was shocked to learn how many women were also struggling to make friends,” she says.
But the stories she hears — often shared in the Facebook group — remind her why she started BFF Indy in the first place. Women post photos from coffee dates with new friends. They share updates about friendships formed at walks. They write messages like, “Thanks to BFF Indy, we hit it off and now we’re best friends.”
“Seeing the progression of these friendships is so rewarding,” Loughead says. “A lot of my work is online, so sometimes it’s easy to wonder if it’s making an impact. But then I see these stories, and it means everything.”
When she’s not planning events or managing the ever-growing community, Loughead recharges by traveling with her husband and spending time at the racetrack since her husband races in an amateur league.
“He also works for a race team in Indianapolis,” Loughead says. “Racing is how we unwind.”
Loughead’s initial goal — to make a friend — has been met and exponentially exceeded, as her closest friendships have come from the group. Plus, the group reminds women daily of something they often forget: You don’t have to do life alone.
“I was that girl — still am that girl — who needed community,” she says. “Going forward, I hope for more opportunities to connect so that more women can find their people.”
For more information, visit BFF Indy or find them on Instagram at @bff.indy.
