The Amazing Race winners Colin Guinn and Christie Woods, who were dubbed "life partners" on Season 31, have clarified they are not actually married, and now they're explaining why that's the case.
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During an exclusive interview with Reality TV World on Thursday, Colin and Christie denied prior news reports that they are married, which may shock many longtime The Amazing Race viewers who saw the couple get engaged on television nearly 15 years ago.
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"We are not married," Colin, 38, told Reality TV World.
"We're not married," Christie, 40, echoed.
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"We are engaged," Colin confirmed. "We got engaged on The Early Show [on CBS] after our first season of The Amazing Race, so technically we are engaged, I guess."
Colin and Christie, who currently reside in Austin, TX, first competed on Season 5 of The Amazing Race and finished as the runners-up. Colin popped the question to Christie on The Early Show in September 2004, shortly after the finale aired on CBS.
"Yes, we are life partners," Christie noted.
"We are lovers," Colin joked.
Once Colin and Christie confirmed they do not have wedding plans in the works either, Reality TV World asked the couple why they've chosen not to tie the knot after all these years.
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"Probably just because I'm not a big fan of the institution of marriage and just energetically what that sort of represents," Christie explained.
"There's a lot of programming dividing our culture as to what that means, and I don't know, there's a part of me that feels like if my relationship gets bonded in that same type of consciousness, it may not necessarily be serving."
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Christie added, "Also, I feel like your commitment is in your heart and, really, a piece of paper doesn't make a whole lot of difference."
Colin seemed to agree with Christie and noted, "You should be earning it every day."
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Christie, however, pointed out she and Colin are technically "common law wed in Texas" -- which the state refers to as an "informal marriage" -- because they've been living together "for a certain amount of years."
"Yeah, she would have to give me half of everything [if we got married]," Colin joked.
A valid common law marriage in Texas consists of a man and woman becoming husband and wife without ever having obtained a marriage license or participated in a traditional marriage ceremony, according to FindLaw.com.
Once established, a common law marriage has the same legal effect as a ceremonial marriage.
Colin and Christie were crowned the winners of The Amazing Race's 31st season and won the $1 million grand prize during Wednesday night's two-hour finale episode.
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Colin and Christie defeated the runner-up team, Tyler Oakley and Korey Kuhl, as well as third-place finishers Leo Temory and Jamal Zadran in the final leg in Detroit, Michigan.
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Big Brother's team of Nicole Franzel and Victor Arroyo were eliminated in Leg 11 in London, England and placed fourth.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski