Natalie Nunn and Jacob Payne have spent more than a decade in the public eye as a couple, with their relationship attracting plenty of attention from reality television fans. Nunn became widely known through shows such as Bad Girls Club, Bridezillas and Celebrity Big Brother, while Payne built his own profile through sports and later fitness and boxing.
The pair’s relationship moved quickly. They met in Detroit in 2011, became engaged in Jamaica the following year and married on May 5, 2012. Their wedding was also featured on television, making their early relationship part of the reality TV world that had already made Nunn a recognizable name.
Over the years, their marriage has included television appearances, family milestones, difficult moments and intense media attention. Despite the ups and downs that have played out publicly, Nunn and Payne have continued to be connected as a family and share a daughter, Journey Ruth Payne.
Who Is Jacob Payne?
Jacob Payne is best known publicly as Natalie Nunn’s husband, but he had a sporting background before becoming part of the reality television world.
Payne was born in Detroit, Michigan, and developed an interest in sports while growing up. He attended Central Michigan University, where he played college football. His athletic career eventually took him into the Arena Football League, where he played for the Arizona Rattlers.
His career was different from the traditional NFL route, but arena football gave Payne an opportunity to continue playing professionally and build experience as an athlete.
In later years, Payne became associated with fitness and boxing. His athletic background has remained an important part of his public image, even as his marriage to Nunn became the main reason many viewers came to know him.
How Did Natalie Nunn and Jacob Payne Meet?
Natalie Nunn and Jacob Payne reportedly met in Detroit in September 2011. At the time, Nunn was already developing a strong reputation in reality television, while Payne was pursuing his athletic career.
Their relationship progressed at a fast pace. They began dating soon after meeting, and within months, their romance had moved toward marriage.
For Nunn, the relationship came during a period when her television career was continuing to grow. She had become known for her outspoken personality and dramatic moments on Bad Girls Club, and her relationship with Payne eventually became part of her public story as well.
Payne and Nunn were photographed together publicly in the months after they began dating, and their relationship quickly attracted interest from reality TV audiences.
When Did Jacob Payne Propose to Natalie Nunn?
Payne proposed to Nunn in April 2012 while the couple were in Jamaica.
The engagement came less than a year after they first met. Rather than spending a long period privately preparing for marriage, the couple moved quickly from dating to engagement and then to their wedding.
Just one month after the proposal, they officially became husband and wife.
Their fast-moving relationship became one of the most memorable parts of their early story, especially because so much of it happened in front of cameras.
Natalie Nunn and Jacob Payne’s Wedding
Natalie Nunn and Jacob Payne married on May 5, 2012.
Their wedding was featured on Bridezillas, bringing their relationship directly into reality television. The ceremony was filmed in Malibu, California, and the televised wedding gave viewers a close look at the couple’s preparations and the drama surrounding their big day.
As with many reality television weddings, the event was not completely free of controversy. Reports surrounding the ceremony included family drama and a reported confrontation involving relatives.
Despite the distractions, Nunn and Payne went ahead with the wedding and began their married life together.
Their decision to share such an important personal moment with television viewers also set the tone for much of their relationship. Marriage, family and difficult moments have repeatedly been subjects of public discussion throughout their time together.
Their Reality TV Journey
Nunn and Payne have appeared together on more than one reality television program.
One of their notable appearances came through Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars. The series placed couples in an environment designed to examine relationship problems, communication and trust.
For Nunn and Payne, appearing on the program meant that parts of their marriage were discussed publicly. Like other couples on the show, they faced questions about their relationship and the challenges that came with living under constant public attention.
Their reality TV appearances helped make Payne recognizable to viewers who had originally known Nunn from Bad Girls Club.
Rather than remaining a behind-the-scenes spouse, Payne became part of the television storyline himself.
Natalie Nunn and Jacob Payne Became Parents
Family became an important part of Nunn and Payne’s story after they experienced a painful loss and later welcomed their daughter.
The couple had announced pregnancy news in 2014, but Nunn later suffered a miscarriage. The experience was publicly discussed and became one of the more difficult chapters in their relationship.
After that heartbreak, the couple eventually welcomed their daughter, Journey Ruth Payne, on April 16, 2017.
Journey’s arrival marked a major new chapter for Nunn and Payne. Parenthood gave the couple another shared responsibility outside the world of television and public appearances.
Nunn has regularly spoken about motherhood and family life, while Journey has also appeared in the family’s social media presence.
Who Is Journey Ruth Payne?
Journey Ruth Payne is the daughter of Natalie Nunn and Jacob Payne.
Born in April 2017, she has grown up with parents who have spent much of their adult lives in the public eye. Nunn has shared aspects of Journey’s childhood with her audience, allowing fans to see occasional glimpses of their family life.
Journey has also developed a social media presence of her own through an account associated with her name and interests.
For Nunn and Payne, raising their daughter has become one of the central parts of their lives. Their family story also gives fans a different perspective on the couple beyond reality television drama.
Challenges in Their Marriage
Like many celebrity couples, Nunn and Payne have faced considerable public scrutiny.
Their relationship has been surrounded by rumors, reports about relationship problems and allegations involving infidelity. Some of those stories became major topics within reality television and entertainment coverage.
Nunn has also faced separate public controversy connected to her television career and relationships with other people in the entertainment world.
For a couple who have spent so much of their relationship in front of cameras, separating private issues from public speculation has not always been easy.
Still, Nunn and Payne have continued to be associated as a married couple for more than a decade. Their ability to continue their family life despite the attention has been one of the defining features of their relationship.
How Long Have Natalie Nunn and Jacob Payne Been Married?
Nunn and Payne married on May 5, 2012.
That means their marriage has lasted well over a decade. In 2024, they marked their 12th wedding anniversary, an important milestone considering how quickly their relationship developed after they met.
Their marriage has lasted through career changes, reality television appearances, parenthood and periods of intense public speculation.
While their relationship has not always appeared perfect, their long history together remains notable in the often unpredictable world of reality television relationships.
What Does Jacob Payne Do Now?
Payne’s early career was centered on sports, particularly arena football. His athletic background later became connected with fitness and boxing.
He has continued to maintain an interest in physical training and competitive boxing, keeping the athletic side of his identity alive after his professional football career.
Being married to one of reality television’s most recognizable personalities has naturally brought Payne additional attention, but his sporting background remains an important part of who he is.
Natalie Nunn and Jacob Payne Today
Natalie Nunn and Jacob Payne’s relationship has gone through many different stages since they first met in 2011.
They went from a quick romance to an engagement, then a televised wedding, reality television appearances and eventually parenthood. Along the way, they have faced personal challenges and constant public attention.
Their daughter Journey remains an important part of their family story, while both Nunn and Payne continue to maintain public profiles.
Nunn remains closely associated with reality television and entertainment, while Payne continues to be recognized for his athletic background, fitness interests and his long-standing marriage to Nunn.
More than a decade after their first meeting, their relationship continues to attract interest because it combines celebrity, reality television, family life and a marriage that has survived plenty of public scrutiny.
Final Thoughts
Natalie Nunn and Jacob Payne’s relationship began quickly, but their marriage has lasted far longer than many reality TV romances.
They met in Detroit in 2011, became engaged in Jamaica in 2012 and married on May 5 of that year. Their wedding was televised, and they later appeared together on Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars.
The couple also experienced the heartbreak of miscarriage before welcoming their daughter, Journey Ruth Payne, in April 2017.
Their journey has included happy family milestones as well as difficult moments played out under the watch of the public. Through it all, Nunn and Payne have remained an important part of each other’s stories.
For fans who know Nunn from reality television, Jacob Payne offers another side of her life, one connected to marriage, fatherhood and a relationship that has continued for more than a decade.