- - “The Bachelor's ”Sean Lowe and Catherine Giudici Have One Piece of Advice for Anyone Looking for Love on Reality TV (Exclusive)

Stephanie SengweFebruary 10, 2026 at 6:45 AM

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Catherine Giudici and Sean Lowe

Dave Hagerman/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Catherine Giudici/Instagram

Sean Lowe and his wife Catherine Guidici Lowe, first met on season 17 of The Bachelor

Over a decade and three children later, the pair are still going strong, living happily ever after

The reality TV stars talk to PEOPLE about their early days and reveal what their kids think about their meet-cute

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, Sean Lowe and Catherine Giudici Lowe talk about first impressions, pros and cons of meeting on reality TV and what keeps them going.

With 12 years of marriage under their belts, Sean Lowe and his wife Catherine Giudici Lowe have cemented their status as one of the more successful love stories to come out of reality TV.

Back in 2013, America got to watch their love story unfold during season 17 of The Bachelor. Week after week, Catherine vied for Sean's heart until finally getting the final rose and a tear-jerking proposal in the finale.

Since then, the long-lasting couple have wed and welcomed three kids: Samuel Thomas, born in 2016, Isaiah Hendrix, born in 2018 and daughter Mia Mejia, who joined the family in 2019.

Catherine Giudici and Sean Lowe

Dave Hagerman/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

Do you remember your first reaction to seeing each other?

SEAN: Yes! I remember thinking how pretty I thought she was as she stepped out of the limo and then I was immediately drawn in by her big smile. I couldn’t put my finger on it at the time but I knew I wanted to spend more time with her. She had a magnetic energy to her.

CATHERINE: No, not at all. The lights, the anticipation, what a surreal reality I walked into — I only know what was aired. It is fun to keep rewatching the moment, though, very rare to be able to do that!

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

SEAN: The best part: We got to know each other while traveling the world. The worst part: There are 25 other women in our videos when we look back at how we met.

CATHERINE: That everything is documented! It’s so special to be able to relive our interactions. Some of the moments we forgot could become new favorites in our memory bank :) Worst? I couldn’t say!

Catherine Giudici and Sean Lowe

Todd Wawrychuk/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

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

SEAN: My wife. I married the most selfless, supportive, loving woman in the world. She doesn’t care for material things — just her family and ensuring we’re all loved and cared for.

CATHERINE: We have committed to each other every day and have just the most fun as a couple and as a family. Every couple is different and each relationship offers challenges — and don’t get us wrong, it’s not always been easy — but we just keep choosing each other and what we know to be true. Our faith also keeps us focused on what matters most.

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

SEAN: I wouldn’t recommend it, but if you’re going to give it a try, try to pick someone who isn’t seeking fame.

CATHERINE: Be genuine. I remember exposing my bathing suit body alongside the bikini bodies of the other girls on the show, and even though I wasn’t fully secure with myself, I thought, if he chooses me, he knows what he’s choosing. He could have chosen a model if that’s what he wanted, but he chose me. Showing [my] vulnerable side and him accepting that [made] me feel so secure with him. So if you’re weird, be weird. If you like to wear a lot of makeup, wear a lot of makeup. Just be who you are, it’s so much easier on the other side of the screen — whether you find love or not.

Catherine Giudici and Sean Lowe family

Catherine Giudici/Instagram

What's an onscreen moment from your TV history you still love to watch (or hope to never watch again)?

SEAN: I love to watch the proposal. Catherine is shaking in disbelief and clearly overcome with emotion and I’m on cloud nine after proposing to the woman of my dreams. It doesn’t get much better than that.

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CATHERINE: I haven’t rewatched a ton of our season, so maybe I need to revisit and unearth a lot more of our early days. But the proposal never gets old. My facial expressions used to make me cringe, but now they make me smile. It was such an honest moment that will forever be special.

Sean Lowe and Catherine Giudici

Catherine Giudici/Instagram

How will you talk about 'how we met' to your kids one day?

SEAN: The kids have always known we met on The Bachelor because people have been coming up to us in public asking for pictures since they can remember. We’ve shown them edited clips of the two of us from the show, and we’re hoping that satisfies their curiosity.

CATHERINE: They know, and I don’t think they are all that impressed. They’ve seen my limo exit and our proposal and they aren’t that excited about it. Ha! They kind of smile and then yawn and then ask what’s for dinner.

on People

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”