Leah
Kateb
Lindsay
Hubbard
EDITORIAL
Chief Content Officer: Cristina Velocci
Deputy Editor: Lindsey Lanquist
Senior Commerce Director: Gina Vaynshteyn
Graphic Designer: Stephanie Cui
Entertainment Director: Jason Pham
Entertainment Writer: Lea Veloso
Social Media Manager: Kaili JiMei Miller
Senior Lifestyle & Astrology Editor: Roya Backlund
Lifestyle Writer: Jennifer Adams
Beauty & Style Editor: Robyn Merrett
Trending Beauty Writer: Kleigh Balugo
Trending Style Writer: Aamina Inayat Khan
E-Commerce Editor: Maya Gandara
Associate E-Commerce Editor: Katie Decker-Jacoby
MEDIA
Senior Video Editor: Allie O’Connell
Videographer/Editor/Producer: Sarah Wallace
The Bachelor Outfits Hurt My Eyes—Here’s What I Wish Contestants Wore Instead
Read More
MAIN LANDER IMAGE
After eight seasons of partying in the Hamptons, the Summer House star is trading in rosé bottles for baby bottles.
Chelsea Lazkani
Six months after leaving Fiji, the Love Island USA alum is finally readjusted and ready to tell all: “It was the opposite of what I thought.”
Read More
How to Watch 2025’s Biggest International Reality Shows, Like Temptation Island Spain & The Traitors UK
Read More
Joan
Vassos
the golden bachelorette
The social media aspect of it. Us being together is super easy. We took a leap of faith when we did this because we didn’t know each other super well. But then we had a bunch of happy couple visits, where you go and hide in a house in L.A. and get to know each other while nobody bothers you. Then we had the finale of the show, and you’re out in public.
All of a sudden, people are doubting your relationship. At this point, we know we’re solid. We spent all these great months together. But people aren't believing we’re real. So we have to figure out what is the right amount of being on social media to show we are real. Because we owe it to the show.
I want people to know that the process works and they should keep doing this. So I post Chock and I together on vacation, out to dinner, doing whatever, and then people say, “You’re in it for the fame.” It’s a very hard line you have to straddle with figuring out what is the right amount to share versus not and being private.
Courtesy of ABC
Jenn
Tran
THe bachelorette
Courtesy of Sarah Cebulski
You’re not only vulnerable with the partner (or partners) you’re dating, but also with the entire world. Vulnerability and true emotional intimacy are incredibly difficult to achieve on a one-on-one level because they require you to expose your insecurities, deep-rooted traumas, worst fears—everything that shapes who you are. It’s challenging enough to do this with a partner, because you fear judgment. Yet in this situation, you’re also allowing the world to judge you.
Think about it: All of your deepest, darkest thoughts—things even your closest friends or family might not know—are laid bare. Your life partner would know them … and so would the rest of the world if you’re dating on reality TV.
Sweet Tea Lunceford
MARRIED TO MEDICINE
Courtesy of Bravo
You will get judged. It’s very difficult to navigate that with your partner and respond to that, especially when you’re new in your relationship. You’re battling a lot there. That is the hardest part—being in the public eye and the comments. It’s a lot.
←
←
←
Zaina
Sesay
The ultimatum
Courtesy of Netflix
How much is out of your control—what’s captured, edited, and how it’s interpreted. Watching it back can reveal things you didn’t see in the moment, which can be shocking and painful. It’s a challenging experience, but it helps you grow and learn to trust yourself more.
←
Melissa Gorga
the real housewives of new jersey
Courtesy of Bravo
Dealing with the rumors, lies, and false accusations about what’s going on. Joe and I had a paparazzi following us once to ShopRite because they heard we were getting a divorce. Not happening! The rumors and the game of telephone is always worst part about being on reality TV.
But other than that, it’s expected, and I feel like only the strong survive. Joe and I have been married for 20 years and we’ve been on reality TV for 14 of those years, so I think we’re doing pretty good.
←
Olivia
Flowers
Southern charm
Courtesy of Bravo
Wondering if someone’s intentions were genuine or just for the storyline. Building something meaningful felt nearly impossible without a solid foundation, especially with outside opinions constantly swirling. Balancing my emotions while tuning out everyone else’s was tricky and created subtle challenges along the way.
←
Lindsay
Hubbard
summer house
George Chinsee for StyleCaster
There’s a big spotlight whenever you’re in a relationship on reality TV. There’s a lot of pressure to share what’s going on in your life. That’s our job. You’re sharing the good, the bad, the ugly, and it opens you up to opinions, ideas, and judgments from everyone around you—not only from your castmates but also the world.
For nine seasons, you’ve seen me in relationships, engaged, planning a wedding, single Lindsay, pregnant Lindsay—this and that. I’ve always found I’ve operated better as an individual outside of a relationship shown on TV. Even this season, although I’m in a relationship, you’re still getting me as an individual, and I just thrive.
←
Leah
Kateb
love island usa
OK McClausland for StyleCaster
Honestly, I don’t know. I think if you give attention to certain things, it can bother you. But when it comes to me and my relationship, I don’t think anyone knows it better than I do. I don’t see how outside opinions would bother me, because it’s not like you’re there.
←
Taylor Krause & Garrett Josemans
love is blind
Courtesy of Netflix
Taylor: There’s so much to say. Garrett and I were very independent people before. And then, pretty much overnight, you get married and you’re prioritizing this other person. I think we did it really well, but it didn’t go without its growing pains. We’re definitely not the perfect couple. I don’t think the perfect couple exists. I think you have to learn and grow with your partner, and so that was the biggest challenge in getting married the way we did. The challenge was not so much on camera—we’re very good at being ourselves—but the actual logistics of blending two lives overnight.
Garrett: We both love our families an incredible amount. This experiment didn’t give us the traditional opportunities of timing, connection, slow building, and for our families to connect in a way that would feel natural. This was really challenging, so we’ve been looking forward to having an opporunity for our families to connect over the past year, and it’s still been a slow build. Our families live on opposite coasts, and it’s challenging to get them together, to feel involved, and for us to give them equal time.
←
Brittany
Cartwright
the valley
Courtesy of Bravo
Oh, lord. Being judged for things 24/7. That’s definitely the hardest part, because you’re just living your life and then you have to show it to millions of people six months later. Nobody’s perfect. You go through a bunch of ups and downs. Showing your flaws and things you’ve been through in your relationship can be super hard, because people don’t really understand everything you’ve been through.
←
Hannah
Berner
Summer house
Courtesy of Bravo
Everything. It’s not for the weak. I also think you have to decide: Do you like him, or do you like the camera and lights? I do think Des and I being out of that world has definitely been healthy for us.
←
Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu
Love island uk
Courtesy of iTV
Honestly, it’s all about keeping it real and staying confident and authentic when you are being watched during every little moment. You’ve got the usual relationship ups and downs, but on reality TV, every smile, every tear, every argument is on full display. Balancing a genuine connection with the constant drama and public scrutiny can be the ultimate challenge!
←
Kail
Lowry
teen mom
Courtesy of Getty
Opening ourselves up to public opinion. The general public would say it comes with the territory, but I don’t think any of us thought it would be like this—if we thought of that at all. It’s a double-edged sword. I left TV, and it’s still just as hard as my 13 years [when I was] on TV. But I truly wouldn’t have made a different decision.
←
Olivia Flowers
Southern Charm
Lindsay Hubbard
Summer house
Leah
Kateb
Love island USA
Taylor & Garrett
Love is Blind
Brittany
Cartwright
The Valley
Hannah Berner
Summer house
Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu
Love island UK
Kail Lowry
teen mom
Melissa
Gorga
The Real Housewives of New Jersey
Zaina
Sesay
the ultimatum
Sweet Tea Lunceford
Married to medicine
Joan
Vassos
the golden bachelorette
Jenn
Tran
THE BACHELORETTE
Read More
We asked.
They answered.
“What’s the hardest part of being in love on TV?”
LOVE
Life After the Villa
THE BACHELOR
Paige
DeSorbo
Molly-Mae
Hague
Ariana
Madix
Shop Their Looks
Luxurious Glam
Elevated Natural Glam
Bronzy Glam
Effortless Glow
Leah Kateb Gets “Purse-onal”
Single's Inferno
90 Day Fiancé
Who’s still together on your favorite TV shows?
LOVE ISLAND
UK
Love is blind
LOve island
usa
2/2
1/2
←
←
←
←
