90 Day Fiance star Brandon Gibbs has revealed why he decided to star on the series' eighth season with his Russian fiancee Julia Trubkina.
|
ADVERTISEMENT
|
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY KNOW? (PHOTOS)
When asked whether he was a fan of 90 Day Fiance or was at least aware of the show before starring on it, Brandon replied, "I had heard of it and think I watched some kind of YouTube video which talked about what it was about."
At the time Brandon came across 90 Day Fiance and learned how the show follows Americans who have fallen in love with foreigners bringing their fiances to the United States on K-1 visas, Brandon was engaged to Julia and planned to start a life with her soon.
Brandon said he told Julia, "Look at this show. It's exactly like what we're doing. It's crazy."
Brandon shared with the newspaper that Julia then started watching the series and fell in love with it.
Brandon recalled Julia telling him, "You have to write to them."
"I was like, 'I don't know if I want to do that,' but she talked me into it," Brandon revealed. "Next thing I knew, we were doing it."
The small-town farmer, however, admitted he had his concerns and doubts about starring on a reality show at first.
"When Julia wanted to do this, I was kind of like, 'Uh, yeah, I don't know.' I was very hesitant about it," Brandon explained.
"I definitely am not the type of person to want to pursue this on my own. So, Julia pushed me to do it."
RELATED LINK: 'MARRIED AT FIRST SIGHT' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO BROKE UP? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE' COUPLES NOWBrandon, in fact, said he's "still getting used to the idea."
"I'm not somebody who craves the limelight," Brandon said in his interview with The Progress-Index.
"Julia might be a little bit different. She loves the attention. Me, not so much."
Brandon said bringing Julia over to America on a K-1 visa was already a "crazy" experience and so putting their story on TV made for an even wilder ride.
Prior to Brandon's romance with Julia, he had never been in a serious relationship before.
Brandon called himself "a late bloomer" on 90 Day Fiance's eighth season and noted women were never really interested in him. Since Brandon's parents were worried about his future, they signed him up on a dating app for farmers.
But Brandon said he never needed to use the dating app because he met Julia. He said she loves a challenge and is competitive, having done beauty pageants and bodybuilding competitions.
Brandon met Julia, a dancer who works in a club as a go-go dancer, through a friend in Russia who allowed the pair to videchat. Brandon said he fell in love with Julia at first sight when they initially videchatted because she was "the most beautiful" girl he ever saw and he couldn't stop thinking about her.
ADVERTISEMENT
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: BEFORE THE 90 DAYS' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
The couple then applied for a Tourist Visa so Julia could visit him in the United States but she was denied the visa because she had told the consulate that Brandon was her boyfriend and they replied by saying she needed a K-1 visa.
Since Brandon couldn't stand the thought of living without Julia, after only five months and one visit in person, he invited her to join him in Iceland -- and that's where he proposed marriage to her.
Brandon said Julia understood how important family is to him and so they both subsequently planned a trip to France so their families could meet. After applying for a K-1 visa, six months later, Julia was approved.
"At first, my parents weren't sure about Julia. They weren't sure if she wanted a Green Card or money," Brandon said.
Brandon told Julia over videochat they needed to live with his parents to save some money because he had burned through their savings after paying for the both of them to go to Iceland as well as France. Brandon also paid for the K-1 visa, so he said he spent almost $10,000 in seven months.
Julia was also out of work at the time, so he knew he needed to support her.
Julia worried about living with Brandon's parents for too long, but he promised they'd leave at some point and not stay forever. Julia seemingly didn't like the idea of having Brandon's mother around all the time.
"My mother can be overbearing, which is why I kind of think they will butt heads and clash," Brandon explained in a confessional.
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: HAPPILY EVER AFTER?' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
Betty was apparently concerned about Julia's career as a dancer, saying she hoped she was never a prostitute, stripper or call-girl. Betty hoped Julia would embrace the farm and help out with chores that needed to be done.
Given Julia was more of a city girl, however, Brandon acknowledged moving to a farm would be quite an adjustment for her.
ADVERTISEMENT
"This is probably the first time in a relationship I've been this vulnerable," Brandon shared. "I don't know how sure I am that we're meant to be together, but I know how sure I am that I want to be with her."
Once Julia and Brandon reunited at the airport and checked into a nearby hotel, Julia was disappointed and upset to learn they wouldn't be able to share a room while staying with Betty and Ron.
Given Julia said she didn't want to have a child for another two or three years, Betty asked Julia "to take the proper steps to make sure there are no children yet."
Julia was offended and angry, telling the cameras she was ready to "explode" during her first night in America.
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY KNOW? (PHOTOS)
Julia didn't want Brandon's parents to think she was "a bad girl" if she declined birth control. She also said she wanted to sleep with Brandon in the same room because he had to work throughout their 90 days together and they wouldn't have much time to spend together.
Julia begged Brandon to just try talking to his parents, and he ultimately obliged.
"If I try fixing the situation, we have fighting with his parents 100 percent. Him lie [to] me... We don't marry if [he starts lying] to me more, more and more," Julia told the cameras.
Want more 90 Day Fiance spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our 90 Day Fiance homepage!
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
