Seasons 7 and 8 “The Bachelor In Paradise” star Jessenia Cruz is engaged to her partner, David Arbona.
Getty“Feeling so grateful that I get to spend forever with my best friend and the love of my life,” Cruz captioned an Instagram post on Saturday, March 15. The former dating show contestant also gushed, “I can’t wait to spend the rest of my days with you.”
Cruz wore a pale blue off-the-shoulder mini dress with strappy heels as she appeared to cover her mouth in shock before crouching down to kiss and embrace her new fiancé. Arbona, a University of Texas grad who works as a healthcare consultant, donned a relaxed white top with simple black slacks and a pair of neutral walking shoes for the big moment.
Cruz, who competed on season 25 of “The Bachelor” before going on to be featured in seasons 7 and 8 of “The Bachelor In Paradise,” said while she’s happy for the competitors with success stories, the game show’s dating format wasn’t the right way for her to find love.
“I’m a romantic at heart so I love seeing love. ‘Paradise’ just wasn’t for me. There are things I would’ve done differently, people I would have avoided, and things I wish I knew beforehand that I think would have altered the outcome,” Cruz told Bachelor Nation in December 2021.
The influencer was eliminated in the third week of “The Bachelor in Paradise” season 7, and chose to self-eliminate during the fifth week of season 8.
Fans Reacted to Jessenia Cruz’s Surprise Engagement News on Instagram
Cruz chose to keep the proposal a secret for a bit before revealing it to the world, saying “We’ve been soaking up our engagement bubble, but it’s finally time to share.”
When they finally learned the news, Cruz’s thrilled fans flooded her comments with congratulatory notes.
“It’s not just a rock, it’s a BOULDERRRR,” one person wrote in reaction to Cruz’s glimmering ring.
“I’ve watched you on tv and I must say I’m so glad for you. It’s YOUR time to shine……Congrats!” exclaimed another fan.
“Congratulations. You are going to be the most beautiful bride,” said a third commenter.
Jessenia Cruz Previously Posted Mystery Man On Vacation
Cruz is relatively private on social media, and hasn’t shared many pictures of herself with Arbona.
However, in September 2024, she “soft-launched” a possible relationship by captioning a carousel of snaps, “Found love in paradise after all.”
Included in the slides were two faceless photos of a muscular man carrying a surfboard and strolling towards a car on the beach.
Cruz didn’t reveal the man’s identity, but fans went wild with excitement.
One commented, “Yassss girl. I found my boo in Puerto Rico too and he ain’t even Puerto Rican just a great man ready to love!!! Loving this! You deserve it all!! Xoxo.”
Another fan used a Spanish word to send blessings to Cruz, saying, “Love this for you. So deserving. One of the realest to ever come out of the franchise. Bendiciones!”
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‘Bachelor In Paradise’ Star Announces Engagement