Big Brother’s Tucker and Rubina on Friendship After Amazing Race

Despite their recent breakup, the relationship between Big Brother alumni Tucker Des Lauriers and Rubina Bernabe remains amicable.

In an exclusive chat with Us Weekly during the Big Brother Finale Watch Party at Beaches Tropicana in West Hollywood on Sunday, September 28, 31-year-old Tucker stated, “We’re friends. We’re fine. There’s no hard feelings there. I think we’re both just happy that each other is happy. All is good.”

Meanwhile, 35-year-old Rubina shared her thoughts with Us, acknowledging that the nature of their reunion following the split “could have probably not been as good as it is.” She wanted to ensure their friendship was intact since they would be frequently crossing paths in Hollywood.

Reflecting on the challenges of maintaining relationships in the limelight, Rubina commented, “I don’t know how Hollywood people do it. You see your exes all the time. This is the first occasion in my life where I’ve had to continue seeing an ex. Usually, when you’re done, it’s a hard goodbye, but given the circumstances, I knew I’d be seeing him more often.”

Expressing her enduring affection, Rubina added, “I will always have love for him and will appreciate all lessons from any experience. You can’t be mad. There’s always a lesson or a blessing in everything, and you choose how you interpret that. I’ll be forever grateful.”

The duo ended their romance in May after nearly a year together, a breakup that followed their participation in the filming of The Amazing Race season 38, featuring Big Brother stars and their partners. During the race, Tucker competed alongside his brother, Eric Des Lauriers, while Rubina teamed up with her sister, Kristine Bernabe, an experience that premiered on CBS earlier this month.

Tucker noted that he and Rubina didn’t interact much during filming, explaining, “You don’t get to see the other teams very often.”

Further elaborating, he stated, “It was basically a race with my brother. Having Rubina there was fun, although our interactions were limited. It often felt like we were just passing each other, a quick exchange of, ‘You got this, yeah?’ It was a trip of a lifetime that I enjoyed, especially sharing it with my brother, my best friend — I wouldn’t trade that experience.”

Rubina concurred, humorously remarking how her sister’s presence sometimes felt like a more serious relationship during the race than with Tucker. “We indeed didn’t see much of each other. Having another shared experience is amazing, but I wouldn’t recommend racing together as a fresh couple — a zero out of 10 in terms of relationship building! However, it was always my dream to join the race with my sister,” she said.

Having ignited their romance during the filming of Big Brother season 26 in 2024, the couple had previously reported to Us in November 2024 that their relationship was “better than ever,” only to find themselves separated less than a year later.

Tucker previously addressed their split via his Instagram broadcast channel in May, stating, “There has been a lot going on lately, and I wanted to finally address things. Rubina and I are taking a break. It’s very sad, but deep down we both know it is what’s best for both of us at this time.”

Rubina confirmed their breakup on Instagram as well, expressing gratitude for their time together. “Grateful to have met him and for the love we shared. I’m feeling grounded and focused on this new chapter of growth. We appreciate your support and respect, and we ask for the space to move through this chapter privately. Thank you in advance for your ongoing support as I navigate through every season of life.”

The Amazing Race airs on CBS on Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m. ET.