7 “Big Brother” Couples Who Are Still Going Strong

Among several reality TV shows, Big Brother has remained a fan favorite. The show is known for bringing together a group of houseguests to live in isolation while competing for a grand cash prize.

While not everyone takes home the grand prize, the contestants are sure to leave a lasting impact and capture viewers’ hearts with their unique personalities and charm. Beyond winning over fans, some contestants even find love within the house, leading to memorable romances throughout the show’s history.

While not every Big Brother romance has stood the test of time, a few couples have defied the odds, building lasting relationships that continue to thrive long after the cameras stopped rolling.

Derek Xiao & Claire Rehfuss – Season 23

Meeting on Big Brother Season 23, Derek Xiao and Clair Rehfuss surprised fans after they revealed their relationships just weeks after the season came to an end with Xavier Prather taking home the grand prize.

Xiao and Rehfuss revealed their relationship in an interview with US Weekly, sharing that they grew especially closer during their time in the jury house following their evictions. Rehfuss shared with Us Weekly,

I think that we both really felt the chemistry once we got to jury house and could really connect with each other — We would stay up late talking every single night and we just really developed a bond.

Reflecting on how they bonded in the jury house, Xiao said,

I remember the first or second night that she was there, we stayed up all night — That happened every single night for the first, like, five days. That’s when I started really thinking like, ‘Wait a second, why didn’t this happen in the house? There’s such a strong connection and chemistry between us.’ I think that was the beginning of us thinking about what this could be.

While he admitted feeling drawn to Rehfuss early on, he chose not to “explore that beyond just a friendship.” But once off-camera, things naturally fell into place, and they realized their deeper feelings for each other.

Since announcing their relationship in 2021, the couple has stayed strong. They would later go on to compete on The Amazing Race together and ultimately won the show’s million-dollar grand prize. Both have significant social media presence and Xiao also has a YouTube channel where he shares updates about their life after starring in multiple reality TV shows.

Swaggy C & Bayleigh Dayton – Season 20

Swaggy C met Bayleigh Dayton on Big Brother Season 20 where they quickly developed a connection. However, their time together was cut short when Swaggy C was evicted on Day 23.

Despite his early exit, Swaggy C took a big leap of faith during the season finale, proposing to Dayton with a ring in hand after spending much of his summer with her family.

“I want you and only you,” he told her. “I don’t really know what my future holds, but I do know I want you in it.” Shortly after their engagement, the couple revealed that they had experienced a miscarriage. They secretly married in February 2019, sharing the news nearly a year later through a YouTube video.

In 2022, the couple welcomed their first child together, a daughter named Alora, and in January 2024, they celebrated the birth of their son, Christopher Jordan Williams II in Dubai, where they had relocated.

“Our little family is officially complete !” said Dayton in an Instagram post. Swaggy C and Bayleigh have also started a YouTube channel, where they keep fans updated on their lives and share their journey as a family.

Jessica Graf & Cody Nickson – Season 19

Jessica Graf and Cody Nickson had an instant connection when the two met on Big Brother Season 19. While not everyone’s favorite inside the famous house, the couple did become a fan favorite, with Nickson even winning the title for America’s Favorite Houseguest.

Their reality TV journey continued on The Amazing Race Season 30, where they competed together and won the season. Shortly after their victory, Nickson proposed to Graf, and the two tied the knot in October 2018. Since then, they have built a life together and share four daughters; Maverick, Carter, Atlas Ruby, and Gemma. Nickson also has an older daughter, Paisley, from a previous relationship.

The couple is known to be a fitness enthusiast, with Nickson even launching his own weight-loss program, and has released a book titled The Last Fitness Strategy. Graf, meanwhile, runs a fashion brand called It’s NOMB and recently revealed her new coffee catering business, That’s Amore, on Instagram.

Victor Arroyo & Nicole Franzel – Season 18

After appearing in Big Brother Season 16, Nicole Franzel returned to the show in Season 18, where she ultimately claimed victory. However, her connection with her future husband Victor Arroyo did not develop until the two came out of the show.

Franzel and Arroyo prominently remained good friends on the reality TV show while Nicole Franzel appeared to have a showmance with another contestant, Corey Brooks. Their friendship continued outside the house before it eventually blossomed into a romantic relationship.

The couple returned to an episode of Big Brother Season 20 and during this special appearance Arroyo popped the question and they got married in 2021. They have since raised a family, welcoming their son, Arrow, in July 2021.

Franzel and Arroyo have cultivated a significant social media presence and have appeared on shows like The Amazing Race. Following their reality TV journey, Arroyo became a Michigan State Police Trooper.

Meanwhile, Franzel returned to the famous house in Big Brother Season 22 and later participated in its holiday spin-off Big Brother Reindeer Games, where she emerged as the winner.

Daniele Donato & Dominic Briones – Season 13

Similar to Nicole Frazel, Daniele Donato also found love during her second stint on Big Brother. After her initial appearance in Season 8, where she finished as the runner-up to her father, Dick Donato, she returned for Season 13 and met Dominic Briones, a first-time contestant.

At the time, Daniele was in a relationship outside of the house, but she couldn’t deny her growing feelings for Briones. Although their romance didn’t officially blossom on the show, they pursued their connection after leaving the competition. Dominic eventually proposed, and the two married in 2013.

Now happily married, the couple shares two children, Tennessee and Lux. Donato later returned to the Big Brother house for the All-Stars season in 2020, while Dominic Briones has been focusing on creating content, sharing life updates, tech reviews, and tutorials on his YouTube channel.

Brendon Villegas & Rachel Reilly – Season 12 & 13

Brendon Villegas and Rachel Reilly became another iconic couple to emerge from the reality TV show. The couple initially met in Season 12 and started a showmance before being evicted midway through the game.

However, their romance lasted beyond the series, as the two later returned to Big Brother Season 13 to compete as a duo, and Reilly took home the grand prize. A year later, the couple tied the knot in a lavish wedding in September 2012 and have since welcomed two children, a daughter Adora and a son Adler.

Over the years Rachel Reilly has made frequent appearances on Big Brother, though only as a host for competitions, and did not return to play herself. She has also participated in and won shows like Celebrity Fear Factor and Snake in the Grass, as per IMDb.

Together, the couple competed in The Amazing Race in Seasons 20 and 24, finishing in third place both times. According to her Instagram bio, Rachel now works as a casting agent, while Brendon has continued his career in the medical field.

Jordan Lloyd & Jeff Schroeder – Seasons 11 & 13

Jordan Lloyd and Jeff Schroeder have been one of the most beloved couples to have appeared on Big Brother. The two initially met while competing on Season 11, where Jordan Lloyd won the competition, while Schroeder was named America’s Favorite Houseguest.

Soon after the show’s conclusion the two revealed that they were dating and went on to appear together in The Amazing Race Season 16. They later returned to the Big Brother house as a duo in Season 13, where Jeff Schroeder won America’s Favorite Houseguest for a second time, becoming the only Big Brother player to ever win the title in two different seasons.

The couple also starred in their own TV show, Jeff and Jordan Do America. Jeff Schroeder proposed to Llyod in 2014 and quietly tied the knot in March 2016. Later the same year, they welcomed their first son Lawson, and their second son, Layton, two years later in 2018.

The couple has also appeared in Season 5 of Marriage Boot Camp working through relationship challenges to strengthen their bond. Schroeder has since become a host on Daily Blast Live, as highlighted in his Instagram bio and Lloyd recently returned to the Big Brother house as one of the hosts for Big Brother: Reindeer Games.

The couple has also started a podcast titled Togethermess where they discuss a variety of topics, including parenting, marriage, reality TV, and pop culture. They also own a YouTube channel, Jeff and Jordan TV, where they share their insight into their daily lives and have recently been sharing episodes of their podcast.

The last two seasons of the show, Season 25 and Season 26, have also introduced fans to several showmances. Season 25 contestants America Lopez and Cory Wurtenberger grew close while starring in the reality TV show and have been together since its conclusion nearly a year ago.

Season 26, which recently concluded with Chelsie Baham taking home the grand prize, also saw a showmance between Rubina Bernabe and Tucker Des Lauriers, who won America’s Favorite Houseguest in Season 26. Bernade has shared that she would love for their relationship to continue outside of the show as well.

“We live on different coasts, but I think I’m willing to make it work if he’s willing to,” she told Entertainment Weekly in a recent interview. Tucker Des Lauriers has shared that he also wants their relationship to work and has been “optimistic” about it.

He also told Entertainment Weekly in a recent interview that he would “forever cherish our relationship, our respect and appreciation of one another” regardless of what the future holds. However, he confidently added, “We’re going to run it up.” Although the show has recently concluded, it will be interesting to see whether their romance endures like many others mentioned above.

Big Brother is available to watch on Paramount+.