- - “Big Brother”'s Rachel Reilly and Brendon Villegas Hope to Show Grandkids 'Grandma and Grandpa Met on Reality TV' (Exclusive)

Brendan LeFebruary 10, 2026 at 7:00 AM

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Rachel Reilly and Brendon Villegas in 'Big Brother 12'; in 2020

CBS; Amanda Edwards/Getty

Rachel Reilly and Brendon Villegas share how they hope to tell their reality TV love story to their future grandkids.

The couple met 16 years ago on Big Brother 12 and are now married with two children.

For PEOPLE's 2026 Love Week, the reality TV stars reflect on their 41-day showmance, which has turned into a lifetime of commitment and happiness.

Reality TV relationships are notorious for not lasting, with a lot of showmances often ending in contentious breakups that play out on social media for all to see.However, some reality TV stars have successfully found their soulmates on dating shows, competition shows, even unscripted series and created relationships that have gone the distance. For PEOPLE's 2026 Love Week, we chatted with the couples who have managed to make it work, defying the pitfalls that sometimes come with launching your love story on national television.

Below, Rachel Reilly and Brendon Villegas talk about first impressions, pros and cons of meeting on reality TV and what keeps them going.

Rachel Reilly and Brendon Villegas' 41 days together on Big Brother 12 turned into 14 years.

In 2010, the then-cocktail waitress and high school swim coach entered a secluded house of 13 contestants vying for $500,000. Isolated from the rest of the world, the houseguests only had each other. While Reilly, now 41, clashed with many of her fellow housemates (most famously with foe-turned-friend Ragan Fox), she found solace in Villegas, now 45.

The two hit it off inside the Big Brother house, and after their 75 days of isolation, they took their showmance to the real world. Reilly and Villegas are still reality TV regulars, both returning for Big Brother 13 the following year (which Rachel won) and placing third as a duo on The Amazing Race seasons 20 and 24. They've also appeared on Celebrity Fear Factor, and Reilly, a modern reality TV icon, competed on The Traitors season 1, Big Brother 27 and Worst Cooks in America.

"Our whole life has been on TV," says Reilly, who shares daughter Adora, 10, and son Adler, 5, with Villegas.

Brendon Villegas and Rachel Reilly on 'The Amazing Race'

Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty

Do you remember your first reaction to seeing each other?

RACHEL: I thought Brendon was really handsome and good-looking, but I wasn't impressed or interested until I found out he was getting a Ph.D. at UCLA.

BRENDON: The first time I saw Rachel, I thought of course she was hot, but [I] didn’t think we would carry a conversation because I judged her purely on looks, and was I wrong. Rachel was from Vegas, and having been there, I know it’s Never Never Land for adults, so I did not expect to meet someone who would be ready for a serious relationship.

What is the best and worst part about meeting on reality TV?

RACHEL: Best part: Fan edits! They rock my world. We love to watch them on anniversaries and if we ever fight. Worst part: I actually don't know any worst parts about how we met. It's kinda iconic and a great way to meet someone — our whole life has been on TV.

BRENDON: Every moment, with the exception of our first kiss under a blanket, was captured on television, which makes it easy to relive those moments. Sometimes it feels like we have shared so many intimate moments with the fans that you want some of those personal moments to keep for just for yourself. At some point, being able to show your grandkids how grandma and grandpa met on reality TV would be a very cool experience.

Adler Villegas, Brendon Villegas, Adora Villegas and Rachel Reilly

Chuck St. John

Why do you think your relationship has beaten the reality TV odds?

RACHEL: Brendon and I bonded over so many things in the Big Brother house, and we really got to know each other. When you live in the BB bubble, you have so much time to get to know someone. You really learn everything about them.

BRENDON: Big Brother gave us 41 days for a first date, so I really got to know every aspect of Rachel when we were together 24/7. We were under such intense pressure that every day felt like we were fighting for our lives. It gives you a trust that can survive the test of time. When you get married, you must truly believe that the other person has your back through the thick of life, and when they have already proved that to you, what do you have to worry about?

One sentence of advice for someone trying to find love on reality TV?

RACHEL: From being a success story since 2010 and also working in casting on dating shows, I think the best advice is to always be honest with your partner and yourself. If you only like someone because of the environment you're in, it sadly won't last. You have to imagine yourself with them outside of the dream dates or the extreme situations. A lot of people think it's a good idea to wait until after the show, but I'm very pro-showmance.

BRENDON: Don’t look for love on reality TV, but if you find yourself in that position, let it come to you. Don't chase it.

Rachel Reilly wins 'Big Brother 13'

An onscreen moment from your TV history you still love to watch (or hope to never watch again)?

RACHEL: Our wedding was iconic! I also love to watch our first kiss and meeting in the hammock. I'll never forget that. I remember that was the moment I realized that we were going to be together forever.

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BRENDON: The easy answer is our wedding, but a great moment that can still make me tear up is when Rachel won Big Brother 13. I can still remember running up on stage and sweeping her up into my arms, overwhelmed with emotion. We were probably both crying. Rachel Reilly became a quintessential reality TV Cinderella story that day, and the world got to see what I saw.

Rachel Reilly, Adora Villegas, Adler Villegas and Brendon Villegas

Chuck St. John

How do you talk about 'how we met' to your kids?

RACHEL: I like to show them parts of our big brother season, our wedding and the other shows we've been on. However, they don't seem very impressed — I think eventually they will be asking more questions and we'll actually get to show them our real-life, real-time meeting ,which is pretty cool.

BRENDON: We have told the kids how we met, but who knows what any of it means to them now. I think there will be a day when someone points out to our kids how it was cool that we met on reality tv and they might finally agree because someone else points it out.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”