Love Against All Odds: Unbreakable Couples Defying the Reality TV Curse

Can true love actually exist on reality TV? Despite the common trend of marriages ending in divorce, there are still a few reality TV couples who manage to beat the odds.

In some cases, it all boils down to meeting the right person at the right time. This was certainly true for Nicole Franzel and Victor Arroyo from Big Brother. The two reality stars crossed paths during the filming of the show's 18th season in 2016. However, the timing wasn't perfect as Nicole was involved in a showmance with Corey Brooks, which ended shortly after the season concluded. It wasn't until June 2017 that Nicole and Victor met again at an event and began dating. Their love story took another twist when they both returned to the Big Brother house in 2018 and Victor proposed. Fast forward to 2021, and Nicole excitedly announced that they are expecting their first child together.

The Big Brother house has been a significant location for couples who have met and formed lasting relationships. In the case of Rachel Reilly and Brendon Villegas from season 12, their connection led them to get married and start a family with two children. Similarly, Jessica Graf and Cody Nickson, who encountered each other on season 19, found love and eventually tied the knot. They too now have two children.

It's worth mentioning that Paulie Calafiore, a former Big Brother participant, discovered love through another reality TV show. Despite the passage of time since his appearance on the show, he met Cara Maria Sorbello on season 32 of The Challenge in 2018. Although their relationship had its ups and downs initially, they managed to overcome obstacles and are currently residing together in Montana.

"Boston Rob" Mariano first crossed paths with Amber Brkich in 2003 during their participation in Survivor: All-Stars. It didn't take long for their connection to turn romantic, leading to their marriage in 2005. Besides their joint appearances on various reality shows, the couple takes pride in being loving parents to their four children.

While many couples venture into the realm of reality TV as a duo, only some manage to maintain that partnership throughout. Javen Butler and Shari Ligons, who entered season 1 of Temptation Island together, successfully used the experience to strengthen their relationship and even culminated in an engagement. Additionally, they continue to collaborate on a shared podcast.

Scroll through to see which pairs have survived the reality TV curse (so far):

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Couples Who Survived the Reality TV Curse (So Far) 

Content: True love does exist on reality TV, despite the common expectation of marriages ending in divorce. Against the odds, there are still some reality TV couples who defy the trend.

The story of Big Brother's Nicole Franzel and Victor Arroyo serves as an example of finding the right person at the perfect moment. Their paths crossed during the filming of season 18 of Big Brother in 2016. Initially, the timing was off as Nicole was involved with Corey Brooks, but their relationship ended shortly after the season concluded. It was at an event later on that Nicole and Victor met and began dating in June 2017. Their love story continued to unfold when they were both invited back to the Big Brother house in 2018, where Victor proposed. Fast forward to 2021, Nicole shared the joyful news that they are expecting their first child.

The Big Brother house also played matchmaker for Rachel Reilly and Brendon Villegas, a couple from season 12 who later got married and now have two children. Another couple, Jessica Graf and Cody Nickson, found love on season 19 of the CBS show and are now married with two children.

Paulie Calafiore, a former Big Brother contestant, also found love on reality TV years after the show ended. He met Cara Maria Sorbello in 2018 on season 32 of The Challenge. Although their relationship had its ups and downs initially, they are now happily together and residing in Montana.

"Boston Rob" Mariano and Amber Brkich crossed paths in 2003 during Survivor: All-Stars, sparking a blossoming romance that led to their marriage in 2005. Beyond participating in various reality shows as a united front, they proudly navigate parenthood with their four children.

While many couples venture into the realm of reality TV together and manage to maintain their bond, Javen Butler and Shari Ligons took on the challenge during season 1 of Temptation Island. Their journey not only strengthened their relationship but also culminated in an engagement and the subsequent creation of a joint podcast.

Scroll through to see which pairs have survived the reality TV curse (so far):

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Jessica Graf and Cody Nickson

The showmance between the Big Brother couple first blossomed in season 29 and they carried on their relationship even after the show concluded. Their journey in the world of reality TV continued as they competed and emerged victorious on season 30 of The Amazing Race. In the year 2018, Graf and Nickson officially tied the knot, and their love story grew to include a beautiful family. They are now proud parents of three adorable daughters: Maverick, Carter, and Atlas.

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Sierra Dawn Thomas and Joe Anglim

The Survivor contestants crossed paths in season 30 of the reality show and developed an affectionate bond. They made a commitment to each other in April 2019 and exchanged vows a year later. Their family expanded with the arrival of their daughter, Della, in 2021, followed by the birth of their son, Vander Joseph, in 2022.

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Chris ‘Swaggy C’ Williams and Bayleigh Dayton

Dalton and Williams were deeply in love with each other when they took part in Big Brother in 2018. In a whirlwind romance, the day trader proposed to Dalton during the finale of the reality show's 20th season, even though they had only known each other for less than a month. It was later revealed that the former Miss Missouri USA became pregnant while filming the CBS competition series. However, she sadly suffered a miscarriage while staying in the jury house. In 2019, the couple exchanged vows in a secret ceremony, and in 2022, they were blessed with their long-awaited rainbow baby.

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Ashley Iaconetti and Jared Haibon

The Bachelor in Paradise duo experienced various stages before finally finding their happily ever after. Initially, they forged a strong bond as friends, gradually transitioning into a blossoming romance. Returning to the picturesque shores of Paradise in 2018, Haibon was prepared to profess his love by proposing. The couple then exchanged heartfelt vows in 2019 and joyfully welcomed their adorable son, Dawson, in 2022.

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Javen Butler and Shari Ligons

The pair were high school sweethearts who entered season 1 of Temptation Island after nine years together. At the end of the show, they got engaged.

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Cara Maria Sorbello and Paulie Calafiore

After crossing paths on The Challenge: Final Reckoning, the MTV celebrity and the Big Brother contestant embarked on a romantic relationship. Despite encountering several hurdles, such as a confrontation with his ex, Danielle Maltby, the couple persevered and currently reside together in Montana.

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Nicole Franzel and Victor Arroyo

After falling in love outside the Big Brother house, the former roommates began dating and got engaged in 2018. The pair announced they're expecting their first child in 2021.

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Jessie James Decker and Eric Decker

Fans of Eric and Jessie witnessed their journey to the altar on E!'s Eric & Jessie: Game On in 2013. The couple's love story continued in the show's second season the following year. However, they decided to take a break from filming after their daughter, Vivianne, was born during the season 2 finale. In 2015, the talented country singer and the NFL star celebrated the arrival of their son, Eric Jr. Their reality TV comeback occurred in 2017 with the premiere of season 3. While their future in the realm of reality television remains uncertain, their relationship remains strong. Adding to their joy, Jessie gave birth to their third child, Forrest, in March 2018.

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Boston Rob and Amber Mariano

Amber Mariano (formerly known as Brkich) crossed paths with "Boston Rob" Mariano during their time on Survivor: All-Stars in 2003. Soon after, they took their relationship to the next level and became engaged the following year. In 2005, they sealed their love with a memorable wedding ceremony, which was broadcasted by CBS in a special program. Remarkably, this dynamic duo has also participated in two seasons of The Amazing Race together. And the excitement continues as they gear up to compete alongside other winners in Survivor's momentous 40th season, titled Winners at War, set to air in 2020.

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Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt

Montag and Pratt began their romantic relationship in 2007, while appearing on MTV's The Hills, causing Montag's former best friend, Lauren Conrad, to feel upset. The couple, famously known as "Speidi," exchanged vows in 2009 and celebrated the arrival of their son, Gunner, in October 2017.

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Lisa Vanderpump and Ken Todd

Vanderpump and Todd have been showcasing their relationship on Bravo since the debut of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills in 2010. In a rare turn of events for Bravo's reality stars, the couple managed to successfully renew their vows during season 3 and even commemorated their 35th wedding anniversary in 2017. Alongside all this, fans are provided with glimpses into their married life and their bond with their children, Pandora, 31, and Max, 27, through the RHOBH spinoff Vanderpump Rules.

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Melissa and Joe Gorga

Melissa became a cast member of the Real Housewives of New Jersey in season 3, alongside Joe's sister Teresa Giudice. They got married in August 2004 and are blessed with three children: Antonia (12), Gino (10), and Joey (7). Despite the conflicts between Teresa and Melissa and Melissa's fluctuating career decisions, their marriage has stayed strong.

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Catelynn Lowell and Tyler Baltierra

Lowell and Baliterra made their first appearance on television in 2009 on an episode of MTV's docuseries 16 and Pregnant. Since then, they have been capturing their journey on Teen Mom, which has been renamed Teen Mom OG after a short break, for seven seasons and counting. Lowell and Baliterra exchanged vows in 2015, following the arrival of their daughter Novalee. They are the only couple from both Teen Mom OG and Teen Mom 2 who have managed to maintain their relationship since their time on 16 and Pregnant.

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Catherine Giudici and Sean Lowe

Lowe and Giudici, who met on season 17 of The Bachelor, are frequently called upon by the franchise to provide guidance to contestants. Their wedding, which aired live on ABC in January 2014, has further solidified their status as fan favorites. Since then, the couple has made appearances on various TV shows, such as Marriage Boot Camp and Billion Dollar Buyer. In July 2016, they joyfully welcomed their first child, Samuel. Currently, Giudici is expecting their third child, a wonderful addition to their growing family.

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Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi and Jionni LaValle 

Love can truly be found at the Jersey Shore! Polizzi encountered LaValle while filming season 3 of Jersey Shore at a club, and the rest is now history. Their journey then led to the joyful arrival of their son Lorenzo in August 2012 and their daughter Giovanna in September 2014. Uniting officially in November 2014, they continued growing their family when they welcomed Angelo in May 2019.

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Rachel Reilly and Brendon Villegas

After their serendipitous encounter on season 12 of Big Brother in 2010, Reilly and Villegas instantly fell head over heels for one another. Their captivating connection led them back to the renowned CBS season for another round on season 13, which Reilly eventually triumphed. Basking in the joy of their victory, the duo, affectionately known as "Brenchel," sealed their love in matrimony in September 2012, and their family grew with the arrival of their precious daughter, Adora, in April 2016. Furthermore, their adventurous spirits led them to compete together on two exhilarating seasons of The Amazing Race.

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Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin

If you're searching for further proof of love's existence in Beverly Hills, then look no further than Rinna and Hamlin. Rinna, a former soap opera star, joined the RHOBH cast in 2014, and her actor-husband frequently makes guest appearances each season. This dynamic pair, who share the joys of parenthood with their beautiful 19-year-old model, Delilah, and their 16-year-old aspiring model, Amelia, also had a reality show titled "Harry Loves Lisa" on TV Land.

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Trista and Ryan Sutter

Trista and Ryan achieved a milestone by becoming the inaugural couple to meet on the Bachelor franchise and successfully tie the knot! Even after fourteen years of wedded bliss and the blessing of two children, this original couple from the Bachelorette continues to serve as a source of inspiration for the show's newest contestants in their pursuit of love on the popular ABC series.

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Heather and Terry Dubrow

Four seasons on the Real Housewives of Orange County — in addition to four seasons and counting of Terry's hit Botched — were insufficient to disrupt Heather and Terry Dubrow's twenty-year relationship. Even though the couple engaged in occasional conflicts on camera, their commitment to each other and their four children — 14-year-old twins Nicholas and Maximillia, 11-year-old Katarina, and 7-year-old Collette — remains unwavering.

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Chip and Joanna Gaines

The couple, who got married in 2003, started their show Fixer Upper in 2013. Chip and Joanna have four children - Drake (12), Ella (11), Duke (9), and Emmie Kay (7) - with a fifth child on the way. While they decided to end their successful home improvement series after five seasons to prioritize their expanding family, their relationship continues to stand strong.