Brandt Andersen and Alison Victoria. Paul Archuleta/Getty Images
Alison Victoria is absolutely delighted in her romance with boyfriend Brandt Andersen — but is the prospect of an engagement on the horizon?
“I don’t like that kind of stuff,” Victoria, 43, candidly shared with Us Weekly at the distinguished 11th Annual American Reality Television Awards held on Monday, November 18, as she discussed the potential of elevating her relationship. “I like living in the moment. I really do.”
The star of Windy City Rehab offered insight into her and Andersen’s outlook, expressing, “I feel like we’ve both been married before,” indicating that an engagement isn’t part of their immediate plans. (For context, Victoria was previously married to Luke Harding from 2013 until their divorce in 2019, while details about Andersen’s former marriage remain private.)
“I just love being with him,” Victoria gushed. “So every day, I’m focused on staying present, not thinking about the future, and just enjoying this moment right now.”
The couple, who officially went public in June while gracing the Daytime Emmys red carpet, is eagerly anticipating their first holiday season together. “We’re doing Thanksgiving together with my kids,” Andersen, 47, revealed to Us at the awards show, which took place at the iconic Avalon Hollywood. “We’re gonna be together all through the holidays.”
Victoria teased that she and Andersen are “winging it” for the festive season. The HGTV star has exciting plans that include bringing her boyfriend along for her traditional family getaway. “I do a sibling weekend every year in Michigan with my siblings and my nieces and nephews, and he’ll be with [me],” she shared with enthusiasm.
While Victoria may radiate joy and affection for her partner now, she emphasized that her journey to finding love was not an easy one — a testament to resilience that should encourage fans not to lose hope. “Kiss the frogs,” she advised single women, reminiscing about her own experiences. “You gotta do it. Not so many of them but kiss them. See what happens.”
After navigating through a series of unsatisfactory relationships, Victoria was thrilled to have found Andersen, expressing that she “wouldn’t change a thing” about her love journey. “Of course, I wish I met him earlier,” she added with a hint of nostalgia. “But I wouldn’t be the person that I am able [or be able] to give the way that I do in this relationship if I hadn’t kissed a few toads.”
Related: HGTV Stars‘ Dating Histories Through the Years
Over the years, the hosts and personalities on various HGTV series have been outspoken about their relationships. Tarek El Moussa and Christina Haack made a splash on the network when their show Flip or Flop debuted in April 2013, chronicling their property flips in Southern California and their family life as a then-married couple and parents of two. The real estate […]
As Thanksgiving week approaches, Victoria is brimming with gratitude, particularly towards her man. “I’m thankful every day that we found each other, but I’m more thankful for just the fact that we just keep getting better and better,” she expressed joyfully to Us. “We keep growing and laughing. I literally said to him on the way here, ‘You are the funniest person I’ve ever met’ and he just makes me die laughing.”
Andersen echoed the sentiment. “She’s saved me in so many ways. Our time together is the best time together,” he expressed. “It’s meaningful and it’s fun and it’s enlightening and it’s honest. It’s just different than what I’ve experienced.”
You can catch the 11th Annual American Reality Television Awards airing on Roku Channel, Pluto TV, and Xumo on Friday, November 29.
With reporting by Mike Vulpo
How do Alison Victoria and Brandt Andersen plan to celebrate the holidays together this year?
**Interview with Alison Victoria on Her Relationship with Brandt Andersen**
**Interviewer:** Thanks for joining us today, Alison. It’s wonderful to have you. Your relationship with Brandt Andersen seems to be blossoming beautifully. How are you both feeling about it?
**Alison Victoria:** Thank you for having me! I’m absolutely thrilled to be here. Brandt and I are really enjoying each other’s company. We’ve both had our fair share of experiences in the past, and now it feels great to be in a place where we can just enjoy the moment together.
**Interviewer:** Speaking of enjoying the moment, there’s a lot of speculation about whether an engagement might be on the horizon for you two. What are your thoughts on that?
**Alison Victoria:** (laughs) I get asked that a lot! Honestly, I’m not into that kind of stuff right now. I really prefer to focus on living in the moment. Brandt and I both feel we’ve been through the ups and downs of marriage before, so we’re just enjoying our time together without the pressure of planning for the future.
**Interviewer:** That sounds refreshing! You both are gearing up for the holidays—how do you plan to celebrate together?
**Alison Victoria:** Yes, we’re so excited! We’ll be doing Thanksgiving with my kids, and I have my traditional sibling weekend in Michigan coming up. Brandt will be joining us for that, which is fantastic. We’re just winging it, making plans together and enjoying family traditions.
**Interviewer:** It’s great to hear that you’re blending families. It sounds like the holidays will be quite special this year. Reflecting on your journey to find love, can you share any advice for those still searching?
**Alison Victoria:** Absolutely! My advice is: don’t be afraid to kiss a few frogs. (smiling) Seriously, you have to go through a few things to understand what you want and need. It’s important to stay hopeful and not give up on love, even if the path is a bit rocky sometimes.
**Interviewer:** Wise words indeed. It’s wonderful to see you so happy. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us, Alison!
**Alison Victoria:** Thank you! I appreciate the opportunity to chat. I just love being in this moment, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds—whatever that may be!
