Russ And Paola Mayfield are one of the most famous and dramatic couples from 90 Day Fiance, but they were uncertain about saying yes to the reality series. Fans learned about their love story in season 1 when Russ, who is from Owasso, Oklahoma, began dating Paola, who is from Colombia. Paola Mayfield is a wrestler and trainer, and both stars post about their family life with their son Axel on their Instagrams, which have huge followings.
Since Russ and Paola Mayfield were in a relationship before they were cast on 90 Day Fiance, it's likely that they would have stayed together even if reality cameras hadn't come calling. But still, it's amazing to think that they weren't sure about starring on 90 Day Fiance was the right thing to do at first. What was the initial hesitation?
Why Did Russ And Paola Mayfield Almost Say No To 90 Day Fiance?
While some 90 Day Fiance couples are toxic, Russ and Paola Mayfield seem to genuinely be in love, and nothing about them stands out quite as much as some other romances on the reality show. And considering how famous they have gotten as a result of starring on season 1 of the show that aired back in 2014, it's amazing to think that the couple might have said no to being cast members.
Russ and Paola talked about joining 90 Day Fiance in an interview with Glamour in 2020 and Russ explained that he wasn't sure about being on a reality TV show in general. More specifically, he was concerned that it would be too much like another show...
Russ told Glamour, "My first question to them was “Is this going to be like Jersey Shore?' That was the only reality show I was familiar with at that time, and I didn’t want it to be anything like that. They said, 'No, you’re just sharing your love story.'"
It definitely makes sense that Russ Mayfield would have wondered if starring on 90 Day Fiance was the right call. Letting strangers see the ins and outs of the visa process isn't an easy decision, and if people aren't used to living their lives on camera, all that scrutiny could feel strange.
Russ and Paola showed fans a lot of the problems of their early relationship in season 1 of 90 Day Fiance. They began living together and planned their wedding, but they never knew if things would work out the way that they planned. According to Us Weekly, their wedding happened in October 2013.
Russ added in his interview with Glamour he began working with a lawyer and then he and Paola learned that there would be a reality series focused on couples who were in the same situation as them.
Russ said, "It was the first season of the show, so no one knew about it. I didn’t want the pressure of the K-1 visa to rest solely on me, so I hired someone who knew what they were doing with the process."
He continued, "We had a couple of casting interviews. During one of them I was visiting Pao in Colombia, so we got to do a casting interview together."
Did 90 Day Fiance's Russ And Paola Mayfield Have Relationship Problems?
According to In Touch, in August 2021, Russ and Paola Mayfield decided to hit pause on their relationship, and fans have been curious about the status of their relationship ever since.
People reported that fans wondered what was going on between them when, in the summer of 2021, Paola tweeted, "People asked me why I don't take pictures with my husband, and my answer is... I just don't like to pretend #youareguessingright."
She also wrote "decisions decisions" and "Sometimes [it] is better to recognize when it's time to move on and accept that it wasn't meant to be for the long run."
Dominique Enchinton, who manages Paola, said, “During this pandemic, it’s hit everyone very hard, especially couples who have had to stay indoors with each other 24/7. Russ has lost his job during the pandemic, so Paola was the sole breadwinner for the past year. With all of that, it’s definitely taken a toll on both of them being in each other’s faces, so they are going to be taking a break for a little bit," according to In Touch.
Russ and Paola Mayfield moved in together again in December 2022, according to In Touch Weekly, and began living in a house in Orlando that has four bedrooms. Paola explained to the publication, “It’s the perfect place to actually … start again. I already decorated Axel’s room. I have my little office, which is with my sewing equipment because I also do sewing — I sew my own [wrestling] gear."
In Touch Weekly reported that while the pair did go on their "break," they repaired their relationship later on in 2021.
Inside 90 Day Fiance's Russ And Paola Mayfield's Family Life
Russ and Paola Mayfield became parents to Axel in January 2019. Paola explained to People that while they thought that Axel would be born around Christmastime, he came at the beginning of 2019 instead.
And in May 2019, Paola shared with People that strangers have said some mean things to her while she has been on her motherhood journey. She made sure that viewers knew how she was feeling when she was on 90 Day Fiance and in the years since her season aired, she has definitely continued to be real with people.
Paola said, “People think that because I became a mother, I had to stop being like the way I was. That I had to start dressing as a mom, and I don’t even know what that means. I don’t need to change who I am, because I was proud of who I was before I was a mom.”
In March 2022, Us Weekly reported that Paola and Russ Mayfield would like to adopt a baby. Paola explained, “That’s my biggest goal: to adopt this year or next year. I’m planning on [more babies] but not directly from me.”
