The Real Life Members of Switch - Fictionally Saved, Realistically Not

JV Girls (Left to Right: Jackie, Saige, Valen, Rebecca, Vanessa, Lily)

Without spoiling later lore from future The Archives of BFF or TABs installments, every member of Switch is either based on an individual or a cluster of individuals (mesh into one) who I knew in real life. Whether I was best friends, a classmate, or a Curious George who stumbled on a random Netflix movie on my Wii, every member of Switch is inspired by someone who is alive or was alive. (Only one person, who I didn’t know personally but had an inspirational influence on a particular member, passed away at an early age. Rest in peace.) 

It does pose a problem. I have a conflicting dilemma about the TABs series. TABs is about the testimonies of the members of Switch coming to Christ. Though their real life counterparts aren’t on that same journey, or at least a large portion of them (that I am aware of) have not shown a public declaration of their faith in Christ, followed by a convicting, life altering lifestyle.

For example, two male Switch members counterparts (who I won’t name) are transgender in real life.  You could guess who but you would be 95% wrong. It's not who you think it is. Now I didn’t even know they were transgender in real life until I got a seven-eight year life update. In addition, one of the two members received gender affirming surgery to highlight a more female body rather than a male body. That alone already conflicts with their fictional versions who, like all of the Switch members, have completely different upbringings, ideologies, and life stories. TABs doesn’t serve as a memoir or biography of the real individual obviously. 

Another member, who I knew personally, is allegedly an active user of weed and before falling out of contact would post photos looking visually strung out over time. Others were in between Christ and the world. Some would seem more interested in other religions like Scientology or Buddhism. For some it is a new age ideology. Meanwhile, others deny Christ because they didn’t want to be criticized for having faith in something that doesn’t support mainstream agendas. Oh and one of the non members of Switch is unfortunately down a depressive, demonic-promoting route. How they got to that point is beyond me but I know it got so bad I had to unfollow. 

So naturally it can feel weird to write about a character whose real life inspiration would turn to worldly desires. Sometimes I do feel challenged to intercede for these people and when I can I do. I mean, how can a fictional character be saved but the real one not be? And if they are saved, how can I still be supportive in their journey? Prayer is the answer to both scenarios.

Now God is good because one of the female members of Switch, who is known for a notorious back story, recently became a devoted Christian in the last two-three years post-covid. In addition, another member who played a very inspirational role in a particular member in Rap Line got saved last year in 2024. He would do a whole 180, similar to Daddy Yankee’s story. 

Again I fell out of contact with a lot of members of Switch so my life updates info is very slim. I mean we are talking about 35 OG members, not including the potential folks from the third generation. I blame dated social media platforms that became severely irrelevant and the DS chat room being non-existent in 2025. 

I have to note that TABs originally was not a coming-to-christ saga. It was just a saga. But God turned the story around into something beautiful so I hope God does the same for every counterpart member’s life. It would go hard if the live-action series just ended with a real life side by side fictional and real life member, both redeemed, cheerful, and joyful of the fullness of Christ. Though it would be only God who can get the gang back together for one last song because I lived around the world and majority of the members of Switch also lived around the world. But with the faith of a mustard seed, I believe that we will meet again. Either in flesh or in spirit. 

Check out the related post and learn more about the author of TABs commentery of the series.