Rubina Bernabe, one of the most talked-about contestants from Big Brother 26, is trying to turn her on-screen romance with fellow housemate Tucker Des Lauriers into something real outside the show. During their time in the Big Brother house, Rubina and Tucker developed feelings for each other that they couldn’t ignore.
Despite the challenges of being on national television and under constant surveillance, the two got close and even had intimate moments that were caught on the live feed.
Though Tucker Des Lauriers was evicted in week 6, Rubina made it all the way to the Final Four. Even though they left the house at different times, both of them have shown interest in continuing their relationship now that the show is over. They’ve gone from reality TV contestants to a possible real-life couple, and they’re both hoping to see where it goes.
In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Rubina opened up about what it was like to see her romance with Tucker play out on screen. Living through it was one thing, but watching it all unfold again on TV has been an emotional experience for her.
She said that while things between her and Tucker happened unexpectedly, she’s happy about the connection they built and excited about what might come next.
Rubina Bernabe and Tucker Des Lauriers Face Long-Distance Challenges
One of the biggest challenges Rubina and Tucker are dealing with now that Big Brother is over is the fact that they live in different parts of the country. Rubina currently calls Los Angeles home, while Tucker is based in Brooklyn, New York, where he works as a marketing and sales executive.
The physical distance between them could make things difficult, but Rubina said she’s willing to put in the effort if Tucker is. She’s hopeful that they can make their relationship work despite the obstacles.
During the interview, Rubina shared that she never planned on starting a romance while in the Big Brother house. Like many reality stars, she went in with a specific strategy and mindset. However, life inside the house turned out to be unpredictable, and she found herself genuinely falling for Tucker.
Rubina said that while being part of a reality TV show romance wasn’t what she intended, she doesn’t regret any of it.
Talking about the steamy moment that she and Tucker shared on the live feed, Rubina admitted that it was definitely not something she had planned. She said, “It was honestly the last thing I expected to happen. Now I guess millions of people saw me doing that.”
While some people might be embarrassed by such a personal moment being broadcast to the world, Rubina seems to be taking it all in stride.
She added that she feels lucky to have met someone like Tucker, someone she truly connects with. She’s hopeful that their connection isn’t just something that worked in the controlled environment of the Big Brother house but that it can also thrive in the real world. Rubina is ready to give the relationship a shot, even though the circumstances are challenging.
Rubina’s Relationship with Tucker Wasn’t Instant
While it might seem like Rubina and Tucker hit it off right from the start, that wasn’t actually the case. In fact, Rubina didn’t think she would even like Tucker at first.
After her eviction, which happened just before the Big Brother 26 finale, Rubina sat down with Parade to talk about her time in the house and her unexpected romance with Tucker. She revealed that during the early days of the show, she found Tucker pretty annoying.
At the start of the competition, Rubina didn’t think she and Tucker would get along. They seemed like very different people, and their personalities didn’t seem to match. However, as time went on and they spent more time together, Rubina started to see a different side of Tucker.
She realized that he had a lot of qualities that she hadn’t noticed before, and as they got to know each other better, her feelings for him began to change.
Rubina shared that even though she didn’t go into Big Brother thinking about romance, it was hard for her not to develop feelings for Tucker as the competition went on. She explained that, in a way, the controlled environment of the house helped them focus on each other.
With no outside distractions, they were able to really get to know each other on a deep level, which is why their connection felt so strong by the time Tucker was evicted in week 6.
For a while, Rubina and Tucker kept their growing connection private. They didn’t want to make it too obvious to the other houseguests that something was going on between them. But eventually, it became clear to everyone that the two were more than just friends.
The Houseguests Weren’t Surprised by Rubina and Tucker’s Romance
Although Rubina and Tucker tried to keep their romance low-key at first, the other houseguests soon caught on. By the time they were ready to go public with their relationship, no one in the house was really surprised. Rubina said that when she and Tucker finally admitted they were together, the other houseguests actually seemed relieved.
In the same interview with Parade, Rubina shared her thoughts on the other players’ reactions, saying, “Us being outward and finally explicit about our relationship was not a surprise to the other players. I think they felt honestly relieved that we were finally out about it because we tried really hard not to make it a thing.”
Even though their relationship might have added another layer of complication to the already intense competition, Rubina said that the other players were supportive of her and Tucker once they made things official.
Rubina’s Other Friendships in the Big Brother House
While her romance with Tucker Des Lauriers has been one of the most talked-about parts of Rubina’s journey on Big Brother 26, it wasn’t the only important connection she made during her time in the house. Rubina also formed strong bonds with two other houseguests, T’kor Clottey and Kimo Apaka.
According to Rubina, these friendships were essential to her making it as far as she did in the competition. She said, “I truly don’t know if I would have even made it past Week 4 without them.” T’kor and Kimo became her closest allies in the house, and their support helped her survive some of the most challenging parts of the competition.
Rubina described how the three of them became each other’s lifelines inside the house. With all the pressure of the competition, the alliances, and the constant scheming, having friends she could trust made all the difference. Even now that the show is over, Rubina said that her friendship with T’kor and Kimo is still going strong. The three of them have stayed in touch, and she considers them an important part of her Big Brother experience.
What’s Next for Rubina and Tucker?
Now that Big Brother 26 has officially wrapped, the real question is: what’s next for Rubina and Tucker? They’ve expressed interest in making their relationship work, but only time will tell how things play out for them in the real world. With Rubina living in Los Angeles and Tucker in Brooklyn, they’re going to have to figure out how to handle the long-distance dynamic.
For now, both Rubina and Tucker seem optimistic. They’ve faced challenges together in the Big Brother house, and they’re ready to face the challenges that come with life after reality TV.
The finale of Big Brother 26 aired on October 13, 2024. All episodes, including the live feeds, are available for streaming on Paramount+.
