Exclusive: An Inside Look at the 'Love Is Blind' Season 1 Cast's Post-'After the Altar' Transformations

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Netflix’s After the Altar special left fans with burning questions about Giannina Gibelli, Damian Powers, Mark Cuevas and more Love Is Blind season 1 cast members.

Fans were finally introduced to the cast of Love Is Blind in February 2020, more than a year after the reality series was filmed in 2018. Among the participants were Giannina, Damian, Mark, Jessica Batten, Lauren Speed, Cameron Hamilton, Amber Pike, Matthew Barnett, Kelly Chase, Kenny Barnes, Diamond Jack, and Carlton Morton. While the show initially featured 30 men and women, only six couples were able to form a connection outside of the "pods," where they got engaged without ever seeing each other in person, relying solely on conversation. Unfortunately, Diamond and Carlton's relationship fell apart during their trip to Playa del Carmen, Mexico, becoming the first couple to break up. The remaining pairs continued to work on their relationships until their wedding days, but only two couples, Lauren/Cameron and Amber/Barnett, ultimately exchanged vows.

During the initial reunion special in March 2020, viewers discovered that Giannina and Damian reconciled their relationship after he chose to leave her on their wedding day. However, when it came to filming the second reunion special in August 2020, their situation became strained as Damian was seen with Francesca Farago from "Too Hot to Handle." At the time, he denied any romantic involvement between them.

In a statement, Damian explained that he had been in Los Angeles with his attorney, Alex Ion, exploring new projects and business opportunities over the past week. He clarified that Francesca and himself shared the same attorney and that she had merely grabbed onto him to shield herself from the paparazzi as they all entered the car.

Giannina stood by Damian at the time, as they were about to celebrate their two-year dating anniversary in November 2020 at the party for Lauren and Cameron and Amber and Barnett captured for the After the Altar special. However, things took an unexpected turn when Damian decided to bring Francesca along to the bash.

Giannina, who made it clear that she and Damian had ended their relationship for good, expressed her intense frustration and disappointment with the situation. She expressed her surprise at being treated poorly, considering she was brought along as a friend. She questioned why she was the one made to feel like an outsider. In August 2021, Giannina shared her feelings with Entertainment Tonight after the release of the three-episode special.

Although Francesca has not responded to the drama that unfolded after the altar, Giannina revealed that she had reached out to her in the past few weeks when speaking to Insider.

"I reached out to her through DM and simply said, 'Hey, I hope everything is going well for you.' I also wished her good luck," she shared. "For me, sending her a direct message was a way of acknowledging that I have moved on to such an extent that it no longer affects me."

Credit: Courtesy of Netflix (4)

‘Love Is Blind’ Season 1: Where Are They Now? Get Updates on the Cast Post-’After the Altar’ Special

Netflix’s After the Altar special left fans with burning questions about Giannina Gibelli, Damian Powers, Mark Cuevas and more Love Is Blind season 1 cast members.

After more than a year since filming the reality series in 2018, Love Is Blind finally premiered in February 2020, introducing fans to Giannina, Damian, Mark, Jessica Batten, Lauren Speed, Cameron Hamilton, Amber Pike, Matthew Barnett, Kelly Chase, Kenny Barnes, Diamond Jack, and Carlton Morton. Although the show initially featured 30 men and women, only six couples managed to form a connection outside of the "pods," where they got engaged solely through conversations without physical interaction.

Unfortunately, Diamond and Carlton's relationship was the first to crumble, unable to withstand the pressures of their trip to Playa del Carmen, Mexico. The remaining couples persevered in nurturing their connections up until their respective wedding days. However, in the end, only two couples, Lauren and Cameron, and Amber and Barnett, exchanged vows.

During the initial reunion special in March 2020, viewers discovered that Giannina and Damian reconciled after he had initially left her on their wedding day. However, tensions arose during the filming of the second reunion special in August 2020 when Damian was seen with Francesca Farago from Too Hot to Handle. At the time, Damian denied any romantic involvement between them.

In a statement, Damian explained, "During the past week, I have been in L.A. with my attorney, Alex Ion, exploring new projects and business opportunities. It's worth mentioning that Francesca and I happen to share the same attorney." He clarified that Francesca had merely grabbed onto him to shield herself from the paparazzi as their entire group entered the car.

Giannina stood by Damian at the time, getting ready to celebrate their two-year dating anniversary in November 2020 at the party for Lauren and Cameron and Amber and Barnett captured for the After the Altar special. However, things took an unexpected turn when Damian arrived at the event accompanied by Francesca.

Giannina expressed her frustration and disappointment, remarking on how infuriating the situation was for her. Additionally, she had not anticipated being treated in such a manner. She questioned the reasoning behind being treated like a stranger when she was brought along as a friend. In August 2021, Giannina confirmed her permanent split with Damian to Entertainment Tonight, following the release of the three-episode special.

Despite Francesca's silence on the matter, Giannina disclosed to Insider that she had made contact with her in the past few weeks.

"I reached out to her through direct message, expressing my well wishes and hoping that everything is going well," she shared. "For me, sending her a DM was a clear indication that I have genuinely moved on to a point where it no longer affects me."

Credit: Courtesy of Netflix; Courtesy of Lauren Speed/Instagram

Lauren Speed and Cameron Hamilton

The twosome are still going strong and celebrated three years of marriage in November 2021.

“We are currently in the process of embarking on our family planning journey. Although I am not currently expecting, I would like to clarify that we do have a beloved pet who holds a special place in our hearts. Allow me to introduce you to Spark, our adorable fur baby,” shared Lauren with Us in April 2021. “At this moment, Spark is our cherished child, and our devotion and attention are also dedicated to our careers.”

Credit: Courtesy of Netflix; Courtesy of Lauren Speed-Hamilton/Instagram

Amber Pike and Matt Barnett

Amber and Barnett, who celebrated their third wedding anniversary in November 2021, still have unresolved tension with their co-star Jessica. During the original series, Jessica controversially suggested that Amber was not the right match for Barnett. In an attempt to move on, Jessica brought a gift to their anniversary party, but Barnett declined the gift at Amber's request.

"I was aware that they are not my biggest supporters. However, I felt compelled to approach them and let them know that I am genuinely happy for them. I have worked through all my emotions and moved on from the situation a long time ago," Jessica shared with ET. She also mentioned that both Amber and Barnett have blocked her on social media. "So, I handed them the gift, but I didn't anticipate their reaction. It was probably the most awkward moment of my entire life. I stood there, holding out the bag, and Barnett simply refused to take it. It was quite embarrassing."

Credit: Courtesy of Netflix; Courtesy of Giannina Gibelli/Instagram

Giannina Gibelli

Giannina publicly acknowledged her single status in August 2021, during an interview with ET. She revealed that she and Damian had officially ended their relationship earlier that year, emphasizing that the breakup had been a challenging and lengthy process. Giannina expressed her unfamiliarity with prolonging the inevitable and likened the dissolution of trust between them.

As of January 2022, it has been confirmed by Us that Giannina is currently in a relationship with Blake Horstmann from Bachelor Nation.

Credit: Courtesy of Netflix; Courtesy of Damian Powers/Instagram

Damian Powers

Following his separation from Giannina, Damian is currently believed to be unattached. Francesca, on the other hand, publicly acknowledged that she and Damian are no longer together during an appearance on the Domenick Nati Show in June 2021. She described their relationship as a slow process of getting to know each other but emphasized that it had come to an end.

Credit: Courtesy of Netflix; Courtesy of Jessica Batten/Instagram

Jessica Batten

Despite their rocky split, Jessica told ET that she wanted to see Mark at the reunion special — and was bummed he didn’t show.

"He effortlessly lights up every party he attends, effortlessly connecting with every individual," she expressed. "I truly desired to share the complete narrative, and I sincerely hoped that he would have made an appearance with the bravery to do the same."

In July 2020, Jessica unveiled her partner, Dr. Benjamin McGrath, to her adoring fans.

"He reached out to me through Instagram, which was a platform I found challenging to navigate at the time. So, I asked a close female friend of mine to handle it for me. She took charge, swiping left and right on various guys who slid into my DMs. Eventually, we decided to meet up one evening, and the following day we went on a bike ride. From that point on, everything fell into place. This all happened in March of the previous year, so it's been roughly a year and a half since then. And I must say, it has been an incredibly wonderful experience."

After being together for over a year, the couple, who reside in California, got engaged in September 2021. They tied the knot in August 2022.

Batten and McGrath’s first child together, son Dax, arrived in June 2023.

Credit: Netflix; Courtesy of Mark Cuevas/Instagram

Mark Cuevas

Mark and Aubrey's relationship took a significant turn after Mark's drama with LC. Just hours after Jessica made her relationship with a doctor public, Mark confirmed his romance with Aubrey. The news was followed by the announcement of Aubrey's pregnancy in October, and Mark proposed to her in November 2020. In April, Aubrey gave birth to their son, Ace. Mark decided to skip the After the Altar taping, prioritizing his family. Taking to Instagram, Mark clarified that their absence from the reunion was due to various reasons and emphasized their commitment to being the best parents for their son. He also expressed that he has moved on from the situations on the show and thanked everyone.

Mark and Aubrey welcomed their second son, Axton, in February 2022 and tied the knot seven months later. 

Credit: Courtesy of Lauren Chamblin/Instagram

Lauren Chamblin (LC)

LC, although not engaged on Love Is Blind, was romantically connected to Mark after the show. In June 2020, she revealed that she ended their relationship due to his involvement with another person.

Responding to the situation, Mark stated, "I had a pleasant time with LC for a few weeks, but it's important to note that we were never in an exclusive relationship, as LC herself confirmed. I genuinely wish her all the happiness and success in the world."

LC had hoped to have a conversation with Mark during the reunion special to address the allegations made by Jessica about his infidelity prior to their possible marriage. Mark, however, denied these claims in a statement last year. Disappointingly, Mark did not attend the reunion, leaving LC seemingly still single.

Credit: Courtesy of Netlix; Courtesy of Kelly Chase/Instagram

Kelly Chase

The health coach made an appearance at the After the Altar anniversary party, gracefully steering clear of any drama. She has chosen to remain tight-lipped about her love life following the unsuccessful relationship with Kenny during the show.

Credit: Courtesy of Kenny Barnes/Instagram

Kenny arrived at the anniversary party with his fiancée, Alexandra Garrison. The couple, who had gotten engaged in August 2020, shared a sneak peek of their upcoming wedding on Instagram nearly two years later.

Credit: Courtesy of Netflix; Courtesy of Diamond Jack/Instagram

Diamond Jack

While fans watched Diamond meet her best friend’s boyfriend’s friend, Rumeal, during the three-part special, he left the party early and she appears to be single. 

Credit: Courtesy of Netflix; Courtesy of Carlton Morton/Instagram

Carlton Morton

Carlton, who does not appear to be in a relationship, made it clear he still isn’t on good terms with ex Diamond after taping After the Altar.

"I refuse to further address this matter as it is once again an unjust situation. None of you were privy to the hurtful remarks Diamond made towards me. Yet, you persist in constructing this false storyline. It is exhausting to constantly defend oneself against someone's biphobia and homophobia. This has gone on for far too long!" expressed the individual in a July 2021 Instagram post, alluding to the breakup between Carlton and Diamond due to Carlton's undisclosed bisexuality.