Big Brother’s Tucker Des Lauriers and Rubina Bernabe are happy to confirm their showmance has absolutely turned into a romance.
“It’s official,” Rubina exclusively told Us Weekly at the 11th Annual Reality TV Awards on November 18. “We’re better than ever.”
Tucker added, “It’s alive and real, baby.”
After making a strong connection in the Big Brother house this past summer, Tucker and Rubina were open about their hopes to grow their friendship once the show came to an end. After the season finale aired on October 14, the former contestants quickly learned the spark was still there.
“We actually like each other even more now,” Rubina shared with Us while wearing House of CB at the Hollywood award show. Tucker — who stepped out in John Varvatos — added, “Getting to see her and her friends and meet her family and just everything, it makes me like her even more.”
Although the pair is doing long distance — Rubina is in Los Angeles while Tucker is closer to Brooklyn, New York — both parties are going back and forth to make sure they don’t spend too much time apart.
They also are recalling the moment they realized they may be more than just contestants fighting for a cash prize.
“For me, I knew it when we were sitting on the stage before we even went in the house,” Tucker told Us. “I was being told to be quiet, and I couldn’t stay quiet, but she started laughing and just being cute. You were sitting in front of me and you were giggling when I was being annoying. And I was like, ‘Yeah, she’s gonna be really fun. I’ll probably be best friends with her.’”
Rubina added, “On the other end of that, I thought, ‘Oh my God, is he gonna drive me nuts all season?’ But I knew. Literally after week one, I was like, ‘Oh no, I’m in trouble.’ I’m in trouble because he had so many amazing qualities, just the best man I know.”
As they continue growing their relationship, both Tucker and Rubina are willing to do more reality TV in the future.
Tucker, who won America’s Favorite Player for season 26, is open to competing on The Challenge and would also “be down” to play The Amazing Race with Rubina.
Until then, the couple is expressing gratitude that a reality show brought them together and helped launch an unconventional love story.
“I don’t know what other way I would have met him, but I feel like it was totally meant to be,” Rubina gushed to Us. “If there was anything that came from the show, it was us meeting each other. I feel like we win. We totally win.”
Tucker added, “I’m thankful to be able to share such a crazy experience with her and now start to share the experiences we wanted. We’re the real winners. Sorry Chelsie [Baham].”
You can watch the 11th Annual American Reality Television Awards on Roku Channel, Pluto TV and Xumo starting Friday, November 29.
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