Ask if she'd date outside her usual type

When someone states a preference, she usually means it. But there's a difference between a hard rule and a pattern. If she said she 'typically dates' a certain type, that's softer than if she said she 'only dates' that type. Pay attention to the exact words. Also notice whether the preference came up naturally in conversation or whether it felt defensive, like she was preemptively shutting something down. Sometimes people mention their type to create distance when they're not interested in you yet. Sometimes they mention it because it's just come up before and they're used to saying it. The question you're really asking is whether she could be interested in you despite the mismatch, not whether her stated preference is real. Those are different things. She can have a pattern and still be open to breaking it if someone is worth breaking it for.

You need to do three things at once without making it weird. First, acknowledge the mismatch directly so you're not pretending you didn't notice. This removes the awkwardness of an unstated elephant in the room. Second, signal that you're not asking her to do you a favor or make an exception for you. You already know your value and you're fine if the answer is no. Third, actually create space for her to say no without guilt. If your tone suggests you'll be hurt or confused by a 'no', she'll either say yes out of pity or avoid answering altogether. The move is to be matter-of-fact about it. Not cold, but light. You're asking a real question, getting a real answer, and moving forward either way.

Wait until there's already interest flowing in both directions. This means a few exchanges where she's engaged, she's asking you questions, there's some banter or connection. Bringing it up when there's zero rapport yet makes you look insecure. Bring it up when you sense she might like you but the type mismatch is hanging there unspoken. Send it as a standalone message, not buried in a longer text. Give her at least three to five days to respond. If she doesn't answer within a week, that's your answer. She's either not interested enough to engage or she's avoiding the question because the answer is no. Don't follow up asking if she saw it. Don't send a second message. If she says no, accept it cleanly and move on. If she says yes or seems open, then you can actually start building something.