Nicole Franzel and Victor Arroyo’s Big Brother love story is full of surprises.
While some contestants on CBS’ reality show form a connection in the house, a select few find everlasting love once cameras stop rolling.
“I thought she was really cute, but I didn’t see us being together,” Victor, 34, exclusively shared with Us Weekly while looking back on season 18 of Big Brother. “Even after we got off the show, I would reach out to her and check in. And it was just, like, super friends.”
Everything changed, however, when the duo found themselves at a Big Brother premiere party together. After leaving the celebration early, the pair met up at another establishment and went from friends to something more with a kiss.
‘Big Brother’ Showmances Through the Years: Where Are They Now?
Nine years after first appearing on Big Brother, the couple — who got married in March 2021 — are now parents to 3-year-old Arrow and continue to live their best lives away from Hollywood in Michigan.
“I grew up here,” Nicole, 33, explained to Us about her home state. “We’re still in the same town where I always lived. I’m super close to my family. I love the seasons. I love the country life. I love rural life. We did buy a house with 10 acres, and we literally have a rescue farm in our backyard, and we just rescued a dog.”
Nicole joked that friends and neighbors knew her long before she was on reality TV and “no one is ever freaking out about me being on the show in my small town.”
When The Amazing Race pair step away from the farm and parenthood duties, Nicole and Victor likely won’t make the 90-minute drive for fine dining. Instead, Walmart is 20 minutes away with a Chinese restaurant buffet close by.
As for how the pair have grown their relationship over the years, both agree that open communication is key.
“Express your feelings,” Victor advised other couples. “Say, ‘Thank you for doing that thing. I really appreciate that you did that for me’ and also the ‘I didn’t like what you did there and I want to talk about it.’ That’s important.”
Nicole admits she and her husband are “super opposite” but they make it a priority “to take on each other’s perspectives.”
“Not every single day is so amazing,” she said. “But every day, I think our relationship gets better and stronger, and I truly think that he and I will always work out, because we both want to be together.”
After building a peaceful life in Michigan, it would be understandable if Victor and Nicole didn’t want to do reality TV again.
But when chatting with Us, the couple revealed two shows they would love to be a part of in the future.
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“Survivor!” Victor shared. “My strategy would still be the same [as Big Brother]. Just try to win as many competitions as I can, but I’d like it for the experience, to try to see if I can do that, live out there and compete and stay mentally strong.”
Nicole added, “Mine would be Traitors because I like games where there’s not much physical activity. And then I think Dancing With the Stars. That’s very physical, so I guess that could be a problem, but it would be so fun.”
Big Brother airs on CBS Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET.
