Rachel Reilly, the fiery redhead who captured hearts on Big Brother, has built one of reality television’s most enduring love stories. The 40-year-old reality star and television personality has been happily married to fellow Big Brother contestant Brendon Villegas since 2012, proving that some showmances really do stand the test of time.
Their romance began in the most unlikely of places – inside the pressure-cooker environment of the Big Brother house during Season 12 in 2010. What started as a mutual attraction between two competitive reality stars has blossomed into a thriving marriage spanning over a decade, complete with two beautiful children and continued success in the entertainment industry. Rachel’s relationship status has remained consistently stable, making her one of the rare reality TV personalities whose on-screen romance translated into lasting real-world happiness.
The couple’s journey from housemates to husband and wife has been documented extensively, from their initial meeting to their televised wedding and growing family. Their story serves as inspiration for fans who often wonder whether reality TV relationships can survive beyond the cameras. Rachel and Brendon have not only survived but thrived, building a life together that includes successful careers, parenting two young children, and maintaining their status as beloved figures in the reality TV community. Their relationship represents the gold standard for Big Brother couples, demonstrating that genuine connections can indeed form even in the most artificial environments.
Rachel Reilly’s Current Relationship Status
Rachel Reilly and Brendon Villegas (Image via Getty)
Rachel Reilly is currently married to Brendon Villegas, her longtime partner whom she met during Big Brother Season 12 in 2010. The couple has been together for over 14 years, having dated for approximately one year before getting engaged on Valentine’s Day 2011. Their relationship has remained strong throughout their time in the public eye, with both partners frequently sharing glimpses of their family life on social media.
The reality TV power couple tied the knot on September 8, 2012, in a lavish ceremony that was planned by celebrity wedding planner David Tutera and aired as a special on WE Network. Their wedding took place at sunset in Los Angeles and was attended by approximately 120 friends and family members, followed by a honeymoon in Aruba.
Meeting Brendon Villegas: A Big Brother Love Story
Rachel and Brendon’s love story began in the Big Brother house during Season 12, where their initial interactions were marked by skepticism and unexpected attraction. Rachel initially dismissed Brendon, telling E! News, “Brendon told us he was a swim coach and I said, I’m never going to fall for this guy. He’s just some swim coach.”
Brendon shared similar reservations, recalling, “Admittedly, I still remember that first night. Rachel was giggly and schoolgirlish about me, but I was very skeptical. Even though I liked her and thought she was cool, I was still very scared to fall for someone inside this game.” Their relationship solidified when they were both nominated for eviction, with Brendon noting, “When we were put on the block, that’s what cemented it.”
Despite Rachel finishing in ninth place and Brendon in sixth during Season 12, their connection proved stronger than the game itself. They returned together for Big Brother Season 13, where Rachel emerged as the winner, taking home the $500,000 grand prize.
Marriage and Family Life
Rachel Reilly and Brendon Villegas (Image via Getty)
The couple’s relationship moved quickly after leaving the Big Brother house, with Brendon proposing on Valentine’s Day 2011, less than a year after they first met. Their September 2012 wedding was a major television event, showcasing their continued popularity with reality TV audiences.
Rachel and Brendon have built a beautiful family together, welcoming two children who have become central to their lives. Their daughter, Adora Borealis Villegas, was born on April 8, 2016, after Rachel announced her pregnancy in September 2015. The couple expanded their family with the birth of their son, Adler Mateo Villegas, on November 11, 2020, following a pregnancy announcement in May 2020.
The unique names of their children reflect the couple’s thoughtful approach to parenting. Rachel explained their naming process: “Brendon is Latin, so we wanted kind of a Spanish name, and then we wanted something that would be unique and fun. And so I was just like, ‘What about Adora? I don’t think that’s a really popular name.’ And of course, she’s so adorable and we adore her, so it just made sense.” For their son, she noted, “And then with Adler, we wanted his name to be similar to Adora’s name. We wanted the names to both start with A, and then I found the name Adler and it means eagle. And I thought it sounded like a cool name.”
Professional Collaborations and Continued Success
Beyond their personal relationship, Rachel and Brendon have maintained successful professional partnerships. They competed together on The Amazing Race twice, placing third in both Season 20 (2012) and Season 24 All-Stars (2014). Rachel also participated in Season 31 with her sister Elissa Slater, finishing in seventh place.
The couple has leveraged their reality TV fame into various entertainment ventures. Rachel has maintained a recurring role on CBS’s The Bold and the Beautiful since 2010 and has worked as a reality TV correspondent for Hollywood Today Live on FOX. In 2022, they launched their own show, “Better with the Brenchels,” where Rachel serves as both host and executive producer.
Relationship Longevity in Reality TV
Rachel Reilly (Image via Getty)
Rachel and Brendon’s relationship stands out in reality TV, where showmances rarely survive beyond filming. Their marriage has lasted over 12 years, making them one of the most successful Big Brother couples in the show’s history. They’ve maintained their relationship through various challenges, including multiple reality show competitions, career changes, and the pressures of raising two young children in the public eye.
Rachel has spoken about how motherhood has changed her competitive nature, telling Yahoo! Life, “I’m really competitive on television, obviously, but when it comes to mom life, I don’t find myself to be as competitive. I’m not competitive with other moms at all. And my husband and I just kind of work together as a team.”
Their relationship continues to thrive as they balance their entertainment careers with family life, proving that their Big Brother romance was built on a foundation strong enough to last well beyond their reality TV origins.
Paulie Calafiore, the competitive reality TV star known for his appearances on Big Brother and The Challenge, has audiences not just with his athletic prowess but also with his complex and highly publicized relationship with fellow Challenge competitor Cara Maria Sorbello. Their love story, which began in 2018, has been anything but conventional, featuring open relationship arrangements, temporary breakups, public reconciliations, and a recent period of healing that has fans wondering about their current status.
The 35-year-old New Jersey native has become one of reality television’s most talked-about personalities, partly due to his fierce competitive nature and partly because of his unconventional approach to love and relationships. His journey with Sorbello has been marked by transparency about their struggles, growth, and commitment to making their unique dynamic work despite public scrutiny and personal challenges.
As of 2025, Calafiore and Sorbello appear to be in a rebuilding phase of their relationship, taking things slow and focusing on personal growth while maintaining their deep connection. Their story offers insight into modern relationships, the challenges of dating in the public eye, and how two people can continuously choose each other despite unconventional circumstances. Understanding their current dating status requires examining the evolution of their relationship, their recent challenges, and what the future might hold for this reality TV power couple.
The Beginning: Meeting on The Challenge
Paulie Calafiore and Cara Maria Sorbello (Image via Getty)
Paulie Calafiore and Cara Maria Sorbello first crossed paths in 2018 while filming The Challenge: Final Reckoning. Their initial connection sparked during the intense competition environment, where both contestants were known for their competitive spirits and strategic gameplay. The attraction was immediate, and their relationship quickly developed beyond the confines of the reality show.
Before meeting Sorbello, Calafiore had been involved in other high-profile relationships within the reality TV sphere. He previously dated Zakiyah Everette from Big Brother in 2016-2017, and had a brief relationship with Bachelor Nation’s Danielle Maltby in early 2018. However, his connection with Sorbello proved to be different and more lasting than his previous romantic endeavors.
Their relationship continued to develop after filming concluded, with both contestants choosing to pursue their connection in the real world. This marked the beginning of what would become one of reality television’s most scrutinized and discussed relationships, characterized by its ups and downs, public nature, and unconventional arrangements.
The Open Relationship Era
One of the most distinctive aspects of Calafiore and Sorbello’s relationship has been their decision to maintain an open arrangement. In October 2021, the couple publicly discussed their unconventional relationship structure, with Sorbello explaining their dynamic in detail.
“We’re open, and people are confused about that. They’re like, ‘Well, they’ve got to be f–king everybody and cheating,’” Sorbello shared, clarifying that their arrangement worked for them despite public misunderstanding. She emphasized that they had reached “such a good place” mentally and emotionally, describing their connection as strong across multiple dimensions: “The sex is good. The love is good. The friendship is good. This is my person.”
The open relationship structure allowed both partners to maintain their individual identities while building something together. This arrangement reflected their commitment to honesty and communication, even when it meant facing public criticism or confusion from fans and family members who didn’t understand their choices.
Personal Growth and Coming Out
Paulie Calafiore and Cara Maria Sorbello (Image via Getty)
A significant development in their relationship occurred in August 2023 when Calafiore came out as bisexual during his appearance on The Challenge: USA. This personal revelation added another layer to their already complex relationship dynamic, but Sorbello proved to be one of his biggest supporters during this journey.
Calafiore described feeling “so much anxiety” leading up to his coming out, but found tremendous support from Sorbello, who is also a member of the LGBTQ+ community. The experience brought them closer together and demonstrated the strength of their bond beyond traditional relationship expectations.
“I would say I’m very fortunate. I feel like a lot of the conversations and questions that might be a little difficult in that situation for a lot of people just weren’t,” Calafiore reflected on how his coming out affected their relationship. This period of personal growth and authenticity seemed to strengthen their connection and mutual understanding.
Recent Challenges and Reconciliation
In June 2024, speculation about their relationship status reached a fever pitch when Sorbello unfollowed Calafiore on Instagram and removed several couples photos from her social media accounts. This social media activity sparked widespread rumors about a potential breakup, leading to intense fan speculation and media coverage.
Their representatives addressed the situation by confirming that the couple was “working through something privately” and were “taking a little space from each other while working things out.” This period of separation allowed both partners to focus on individual growth and reflection about their relationship’s future.
However, by August 2024, sources revealed that the couple was actively working on their relationship. They were spotted together in Paris, filming a new project related to the Olympics with other reality stars and Olympians. This public appearance marked their first time being seen together since the split rumors began circulating.
Current Dating Status: A New Beginning
Paulie Calafiore (Image via Getty)
As of 2025, Paulie Calafiore and Cara Maria Sorbello are officially back together, but their approach to their relationship has evolved significantly. Sources close to the couple describe their current dynamic as essentially “meeting and dating for the first time again,” with both partners taking things slow and maintaining privacy about their renewed connection.
“They’re taking things slow and being very private,” an insider revealed, noting that Sorbello is “seeing growth” in Calafiore that she’s “always wanted to see.” This suggests that their time apart allowed for personal development that has positively impacted their relationship.
Their representatives have described this current phase as “an era of healing,” with both partners choosing not to label their relationship status while they focus on rebuilding their connection. This approach reflects their maturity and commitment to doing the work necessary to create a healthier dynamic.
Future Prospects: Marriage and Family
Despite their recent challenges, both Calafiore and Sorbello have expressed strong desires for marriage and children. In a June 2023 interview, Calafiore stated, “We want kids and we want marriage,” while acknowledging their unconventional approach to relationships.
Sorbello has been equally vocal about her commitment to Calafiore, declaring, “I absolutely would love to marry [Paulie]. I’ve never said that before, but [Paulie is] the person that I see for the rest of my life.” These statements indicate that despite their ups and downs, both partners see a long-term future together.
Their families and friends expect them to potentially surprise everyone with a spontaneous wedding announcement, given their tendency toward unconventional choices. “I think they expect us to randomly last minute be like, ‘Hey guys, we just got married,’” Calafiore noted about external expectations.
