Season 2 of The Golden Bachelor has been grabbing quite a bit of attention since its premiere, with intrigued viewers wondering which woman, if any, would become ‘the one’ for former NFL star Mel Owens. The controversial reality show took an emotional turn this week when Owens opened up about his painful past during an intimate dinner date with contestant Nicolle Kate. 

What started as a light-hearted one-on-one dinner conversation soon became a raw, vulnerable moment as the 66-year-old ex-NFL player revealed how his 25-year marriage to Fabiana Pimetel came to a heartbreaking end, breaking his silence about how things unravelled between the former spouses. 

Nicolle and Mel talk about marriage and divorce

During a recent episode of The Golden Bachelor season 2, Mel Owens opened up about his past while on a one-on-one date with 64-year-old yoga instructor Nicolle Kate. When the conversation turned to his first and only marriage, Mel reflected on his relationship with his ex-wife, Fabiana Pimentel, the mother of his two sons. The couple parted ways in February 2020 after more than two decades together. Owens said:

“I had one marriage, right? And it lasted a total of 25 years.”

To this, Nicolle responded with another question: whether his marriage to Fabiana would last for the rest of his life. Mel looked visibly hurt before he quietly said, “Well, I took the vow.”

Despite a 19-year age gap, Mel Owens and Fabiana Pimentel shared a long marriage that lasted nearly two decades. The couple married in 2002 and had two sons together, Lucas, 19, and Andre, 18. After filing for divorce in 2020, their lengthy legal battle concluded in December 2024.

According to the former NFL star, it was Fabiana who had initiated the divorce one day. Being much younger than Mel, she allegedly wanted to experience other things in life, and he didn’t want to get in her way. Visibly heartbroken over the incident, Mel shared with Nicolle how their separation unfolded. When Nicolle asked who decided to end the marriage, Mel said:

“She decided. She was younger, and she wanted to experience other things; it was more like, ‘it’s over.’ And the papers were there, and I’m not fighting it… It was, like, heart-wrenching. It was really, really painful.”

Despite the pain, Owens is ready for a new beginning in his life. When Nicolle asked if, after such a heartbreaking experience, he would like to get married again, Mel hinted that he’s still open to love, even marriage. He calmly responded by saying, “I would trust it again for sure.”

The heartfelt conversation ended with Nicolle accepting the rose that Mel offered. The two embraced and shared passionate kisses under the lights before ending the evening, both claiming to have felt a deep connection. Speaking about his one-on-one dinner session with Nicolle, the 66-year-old ‘Golden Bachelor’ said:

“The time that I spent with Nicolle is very meaningful. The chemistry between us is good. you can’t manufacture the chemistry, and you can’t fight it. And she’s definitely a person I can see in my life. So, we’ll have some fun going forward.”

Who is Mel Owens’ ex-wife, Fabiana Pimentel?

Mel’s ex-wife, Fabiana Pimentel, is a Brazilian-born entrepreneur who holds a business degree from Faculdade da Cidade and a master’s in marketing from UCLA. Now 47, Pimentel has built an impressive career in hospitality, currently serving as the Director of Experiences at Preferred Hotels & Resorts. She is also the co-founder of home organising brand Final Touch Organising. 

Mel and Fabiana were once a much-loved couple in the entertainment world, often turning heads with their unconventional marriage, given their 19-year age gap. However, their love story came to an end in 2020 when Fabiana filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. According to court filings, the divorce was finalised in December 2024 after a lengthy legal battle. 

As part of the settlement, Mel was ordered to pay nearly USD 980,000 in spousal and child support, property division, and legal fees. Mel, however, retained assets worth over USD 2.75 million, including their Orange County home.

Was a third person responsible for Mel and Fabiana’s divorce?

During the premiere of The Golden Bachelor season 2, Mel revealed that the real reason behind their split was that Fabiana had been falling for someone new. Despite the heartbreak, he told Us Weekly:

“I’m never going to get in the way of someone’s happiness. Life is short, and if you’re in love with somebody else, that’s fine.”

As this season’s The Golden Bachelor continues to unfold, fans are eager to see whether Mel’s second chance at love will lead to a fairytale ending in the show.

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