Taylor Olympios and Shea Foster appeared on Netflix’s new series Surviving Paradise as a couple, but did they make it in the real world? The reality TV series featured 12 cast members competing for $200,000 in a luxurious villa. However, there was a catch: the Surviving Paradise cast could vote each other in and out of the villa, and contestants had to be in the villa to win. After participating in a survival drop together, Shea and Taylor formed a bond and later a relationship, but was ten days in the wilderness enough foundation for these reality TV stars?
Surviving Paradise wasn’t one of the best reality TV series of 2023. While Netflix has graced viewers with such hit reality TV series as Love Is Blind, Too Hot To Handle, and The Circle, Surviving Paradise wasn’t quite able to have the same effect. The game was contrived and unclear, personalities were lackluster, and the relationships were predictable. Even Shea and Taylor’s relationship seemed pre-planned to involve romance in the otherwise platonic show. However, their chemistry could have led them to a relationship in the real world.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Taylor and Shea broke up after appearing on Surviving Paradise. They left the show on a sour note, with Taylor asserting Shea she would go back to camp, allowing him to stay in the villa. Instead of offering to go in her place, he agreed, which rubbed Taylor the wrong way. However, Shea had sacrificed himself multiple times throughout the game for Taylor, so certain cast members found her complaining irritating. Even though Taylor forgave Shea, his treatment of her left a bad taste in her mouth, as he was in the top 4, and she was eliminated because of her sacrifice.
While neither Taylor nor Shea have confirmed or denied their relationship, the show was filmed in the summer of 2022, and they’ve never been in the same place at the same time. However, according to Distractify, Taylor and Shea did date after filming Surviving Paradise. He introduced Taylor to his family in Houston, Texas, and they even stayed in Miami, where she met Shea’s friends.
In an interview with The Daily Mail from October 2023, Shea did say their relationship is “complicated” and “conflicting schedules” were hindering the relationship. However, Shea never said he was single and even revealed marriage could be in his and Taylor’s future. Despite their reconciliation, it’s unclear where Taylor and Shea stand in 2024.
Since appearing on Surviving Paradise, Taylor has become an influencer with almost 41,000 followers on the platform. She has appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated and models for a vintage website. The successful model doesn’t seem to be in a relationship at the moment but is thriving in her career. Meanwhile, Shea has been running again after a spinal fusion surgery in 2021 and continues his career as a private jet broker.
As mentioned before, it was reported that Shea and Taylor started dating after they filmed Surviving Paradise. The couple went as far as to meet his parents, which is quite serious for a new relationship. As for whether the pair is together in 2024, it’s unknown; however, it’s very likely the two ended their relationship after the show aired. Taylor and Shea follow each other on Instagram but don’t interact much on the platform.
Taylor, for her part, has been focusing on her career as an influencer, as mentioned before, but she always has time for friends. In an Instagram post from early May, Taylor shared a carousel of images at a Miami restaurant with fellow Surviving Paradise castmate Alex Dourassof. Taylor also spends a lot of time with her sister Corinne Olympios, a former The Bachelor contestant and cast member on House of Villains season 1.
As for Shea, he hasn’t given an update on his life on Instagram since November 2023, a month after Surviving Paradise season 1 aired. The last post he shared was several images from the show, none of them including Taylor. He also wrote at the end of his caption, “Ladies, shoot your shot,” indicating he and Taylor are not together.
Taylor and Shea likely aren’t together after Surviving Paradise but are thriving after the show. Shea is a successful entrepreneur who can do more physical activity after recovering from a car accident, and Taylor is a sought-after influencer and model. While their relationship was as lackluster as the show, they’re doing well post-filming.
Sources: Distractify, The Daily Mail, Taylor Olympios/Instagram, Shea Foster/Instagram