‘Big Brother’ Stars Rachel Reilly and Brendon Villegas’ Relationship Timeline: From Showmance to Romance

If Big Brother fans know anything, it’s that no one comes between Rachel Reilly and her man, Brendon Villegas.

The two met as houseguests on Big Brother 12, immediately connecting over their mutual passion for science, as Rachel majored in chemistry and Brendon was a Phd student in biomedical physics. While the two were polarizing figures — especially Rachel — they made for entertaining TV and were brought back the next season to compete again.

On a show that likes to remind anyone who will listen that it has created more marriages than The Bachelor, Brendon and Rachel are the quintessential poster children for Big Brother showmances. They have since married and welcomed two kids, while continuing to compete together and separately throughout the reality TV universe.

Most recently, Rachel shocked Big Brother 27 houseguests by showing up on the CBS summer staple in 2025 for the first time in 14 years. That followed her appearances on Snake in the Grass, The Traitors and Worst Cooks in America.

As the couple continues to make waves in the reality competition universe, keep scrolling for Brendon and Rachel’s complete relationship timeline.

2010

Brendon and Rachel met on day 1 in the Big Brother 12 house and were in a showmance by the end of the first week. Though Brendon finished in sixth place and Rachel finished ninth, the two were among the faces of the season. That summer, Rachel became known for telling evicted houseguests in their goodbye messages that “no one comes between me and my man.”

February 2011

Brendon proposed to Rachel on the beach after a hot air balloon ride on Valentine’s Day 2011.

“I’m engaged 2 my best friend!!!!!!!!!” an ecstatic Rachel posted that night via X.

Summer 2011

After getting engaged, Brendon and Rachel returned to Big Brother for season 13 as part of a duos twist that also reintroduced fans to Dick and Daniele Donato and Jeff Schroeder and Jordan Lloyd. This time, Brendon was evicted twice, but Rachel went on to win the game and the $500,000 grand prize.

Fall 2011

Brendon and Rachel returned to reality TV just months after exiting the Big Brother house. Their run of success continued as the couple finished third on The Amazing Race 20 and were later invited back for Amazing Race All-Stars.

2012

The couple tied the knot two years after meeting in a ceremony officiated by Big Brother 12 houseguest Matt Hoffman. Schroeder and Lloyd also attended the wedding, which was featured on We TV’s My Fair Wedding that December.

2014

Brendon and Rachel returned to The Amazing Race in 2014 for its All-Stars season, again placing third out of 11 couples.

2016

The reality legends welcomed their first child, daughter Adora, in April 2016.

“@rachelereillyvillegas and I promise to train you carefully our little Jedi,” Brendon wrote via Instagram at the time, alongside a photo of the newborn. “We know you are tough like your mother.😍 the force is strong with you.”

2018

Brendon and Rachel returned to our TV screens together in 2018 for an episode of Celebrity Fear Factor, where they were matched up against other Big Brother and Survivor pairs. They won their episode, defeating Big Brother 16 pals Cody Calafiore and Zach Rance in the final and earning $50,000 for a lung cancer charity.

2020

The family welcomed son Adler in November 2020.

“Our little Adler is such an amazing addition to our family,” Rachel told Us Weekly exclusively at the time. “We can’t wait to get to know what his personality is going to be like.”

2025

As Rachel prepared to return to the Big Brother house, social media was abuzz with rumors about her joining the cast. Brendon did his best to throw fans off the scent by posting a video via Instagram the day of the premiere announcing that he and Rachel would go live as soon as the episode ended to talk about it. Naturally, fans didn’t buy it and Rachel entered the house that night.