DC ExtraTime: Fun Times with AYTO's Stephen & Julia

BY DC CUEVA                      

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

This weekend marks the fifth anniversary of the premiere of Are You The One?, which premiered after bedtime on January 21, 2014... one of the many shows to receive the launchpad of airing after the Teen Mom franchise. AYTO marked MTV's first entry into modern romantic reality television, and has brought its own share of big moments, memorable couples and cast members, and through the science of matchmaking has brought together dozens of perfect matches.

This past year, those who believe in reality TV love were dealt three blows to this philosophy when AYTO fan favorite couples Zak & Hannah of Season 3, Gianna & Hayden of Season 5 and Alivia & Kareem of Season 6 all called it quits... but there's hope for the lone couple to remain together from the most recent season of Season 7 in Chicagoan Cali & Miami guy Tomas. And all couples from this series all strive to be the next Amber & Ethan Diamond - the only couple that's a perfect match, are happily married, and are proud parents to two kids.

One of the small handful of couples who are still together years after their MTV fame have ended is Stephen McHugh and Julia Rose from the Season 4 cast of 2016 which introduced everyone to Tori Deal (who herself has become one-half of an MTV power couple with Challenge champ Jordan Wiseley). Stephen & Julia met in Hawaii three years ago and hit it off almost from the beginning, even as the intentions castmate Giovanni had for her led to a blowup at one matchup night.

For a moment, Stephen & Julia weren't together: a revelation on a TRL After Show during Season 5 revealed that, while in Las Vegas, he had gotten close to Hannah Fugazzi from the only cast to not win the jackpot for getting all the perfect matches in order. But time did heal, and very quickly before everyone knew it, the Philadelphia native and the beauty from the South were back together... and they still are today. Perhaps, engagement rings and/or parenthood are next up for them.

Last month, Stephen and Julia posted on their YouTube channel videos of them having fun as a couple who, while they are not a perfect match as the matchmakers had it, but are one in any other way. That includes pulling their own blindfold trick before it became the world's latest viral sensation when she fed him food like he was a young baby. Also included, a prank she got to pull on him, some waxing of his body, and doing their own imitation of the game show Minute to Win It.

And lastly, the couple got to do a Q&A to answer fan questions on why they have lasted as long as most AYTO couples, among other things.

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