Mari Pepin-SolisAnd Kenny BraaschWe were one of three couples that ended season 7 Bachelor in ParadiseThey were engaged, but the road to happiness was not easy.
The boy band manager fell in love with the former beauty queen when the season began in August 2021. Bachelor Nation debut during Matt James‘ season of The Bachelor. The duo appeared to be one of the strongest couples at the beach at first, but then Mari told Kenny that she wanted her options open.
“Initially, we had a conversation about not going on dates with other people [and] it wasn’t shown,” the Puerto Rico native recalled during a September episode of the “Click Bait” podcast. “And then after sleeping on it a little bit, after getting some opinions [and] advice — I talked to Wells [Adams] a little bit and I asked him, ‘When do couples usually start to become more exclusive?’ And he said not until, like, week three or four usually.”
At that point in the season, Mari thought she wasn’t ready to commit to Kenny, but she reconsidered when Demi Burnett arrived. The BiPSeason 6 alum sets her sights on the BacheloretteSeason 16 veteran, eventually taking them to the boomboom room. But their romance quickly fizzled.
Kenny went on a late arrival date with Kenny Tia BoothHe tried many things, but ultimately decided Mari was the one for them. He was worried about the 15-year difference in age, but they talked it over and realized that they were both ready for the big day.
“At the end of the day, we did go through a lot of real-life relationship stuff, and we were tested like no other couple in Paradise, I think,” the Right Stuff Entertainment founder said while popping the question. “Mari, I am f—king so in love with you. And I literally, like, I can’t see my life without you. You’re such an amazing woman that you’ve changed my whole outlook on life.”
After the October 2021 finale, the couple revealed their love story. Us Weekly they hadn’t started planning their wedding yet, but Mari said she’s planning a move to Kenny’s hometown of Chicago.
“So that’s our first step, and we did agree to get married in Puerto Rico, where I’m from,” the Towson University alum added. “So there’s that.”
Keep scrolling for a look back at Kenny and Mari’s relationship ups and downs:
