Deb Chubb and Jesse Bray have endured a series of ups and downs at the ‘Love Island USA’ villa – but the biggest obstacle they overcame together was their ‘awkward’ intimacy issues.
“We were always physically attracted to each other, but I think it’s just a little awkward,” Bray told Vidak For Congress exclusively in a joint interview with his girlfriend. “At least I am. I am a bit clumsy.”
Chubb readily admits she’s also “clumsy” — “especially with cameras around,” she says, acknowledging that her physical relationships with Bray were broadcast to countless viewers.
During their six-week tenure on the Peacock reality show, the OG Islanders finally let go of all shame and started getting more involved with PDA.
“I think we got over all the cameras and microphones,” Bray says. “We don’t like being out in public and seeing or seeing everyone in our company knowing what we’re doing, how we’re doing it, and what we look like while we’re doing it. We’ve overcome that a little bit.”
The handsome courier, who memorably lost a kissing challenge at the start of the season, tells Vidak For Congress that he and Chubb “did well during the second half of the season” after the blond beauty helped him use his lips better.
“She taught me how to kiss a lot. We were really into it. Deb had a lot of patience with me because I didn’t know how to kiss and she really showed me a lot,” he says, adding that his good friend Jared Hassim also helped when the boys left the villa to meet new girls in Casa . amor.
“He said, ‘I see the problem. You have to put the hand here behind her and the other hand behind her waist.’ The approach was wrong so Jared really helped me,” Bray is excited about Hassim’s tips. “Shoutout to Jared!”
Chubb is also grateful to Hassim – and is touched that her husband would put his pride aside for her benefit. “The fact that he asked and Jared helped him, that’s so cute,” she gushes. “That’s nice.”
Now the lovebirds — who both have roots in Texas but live in Southern California — are ready to soar outside the “Love Island USA” villa.
“During this process we learned so much about each other. The downs helped us to just keep building. We put ourselves out. I think that was the hardest part just learning to be vulnerable,” Bray says.
“With every experience we shared, I think we’ve come a little closer. And we’ve overcome just as many hurdles.”
Beyond the conundrum of the couple’s kisses, Bray and Chubb recovered from the temptation of Casa Amor—she got into a brief relationship with a new boy, while Bray chose to remain loyal—and Mackenzie Dipman claims Bray prevented Chubb from letting her was “nice”, authentic itself.
“It was hard to hear. And then I thought, “Maybe she’s right… She’s got that outside perspective,” Chubb says of her one-on-one conversation with Dipman. “But I just had to listen to how I felt and do what I knew was best for me. And that’s what I did.”
Bray, for his part, was unaware that Dipman discouraged Chubb from dating him off-camera.
“Well, Mackenzie’s always told me she loved our relationship. So I had no idea about this. The first time I hear the news. So I don’t know what to think about that,” he tells Vidak For Congress.
“Of course I’m glad she has an opinion about our relationship and sees things we need to work on. I don’t know what has been said, but I think everything happens for a reason and I think it just made us stronger.”
Chubb and Bray finished “Love Island USA” in third place, while Zeta Morrison and Timmy Pandolfi won and Sydney Paight and Isaiah Campbell came in second.
The couples — and many departed islanders — will discuss their respective travels when the Season 4 reunion kicks off Thursday, September 1, 9 p.m. ET on Peacock.