'The Golden Bachelor' Finale, Mel Owens Hid His Ex-Wife, Fabiana's 19-Year Age Gap With Him?

The Golden Bachelor season 2 just dropped its much-awaited grand finale on November 12, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. It marks the end of the 66-year-old former NFL linebacker's journey to find love after his messy divorce from his ex-wife, Fabiana Pimentel. Mel Owens selected two finalists from among 23 beautiful, talented women. The lucky ladies who won Mel's heart were Peg Munson, 62, and Cindy Cullers, 60. During Mel Owens' romantic date night with one of them, their conversation sparked speculation of the contestants being unaware of Mel's age gap with his ex-wife, generating buzz online.

Did Mel Owens hide the age gap between him and his ex-wife from The Golden Bachelor contestants?

It is unclear whether 'Golden Bachelor', Mel Owens intentionally hid the almost two-decade age gap between him and his ex-wife, Fabiana Pimentel, from the contestants. However, it is worth noting that the significant age difference was not discussed on camera during the show's filming. Notably, an on-air exchange with one of the finalists, Cindy Cullers, suggests that the women were unaware of the actual age difference. During a Fantasy Suite dinner date, Cindy questioned Mel about why he married so late in life.

Mel gave Cindy a limited response that didn't include his much younger ex-wife's age. Cindy's line of questioning suggested she felt that Mel and Fabiana were about the same age and had waited until their 40s to tie the knot finally. During Mel and Fabiana's marriage in 2002, he was 42 and she was 24. Regarding why Mel didn't get married earlier, it was most probably because of Fabiana's age. She would have been a minor if the duo had walked the aisle at least six years earlier, while he would have been in his late thirties.

Why might Mel Owens not have wanted to hide the age gap between him and Fabiana Pimentel?

Before the premiere of The Golden Bachelor season 2, Mel Owens faced backlash for comments he made on a podcast about his ideal type. He stated that he preferred to date women between the ages of 45 and 60, and he did not want women with 'artificial hips and wigs'. While he apologised to the contestants for these remarks at the start of the season, revealing the age gap with his ex-wife, Fabiana could have added to the controversy.

Since Mel Owens was already facing criticism over his age preferences for dating, it is plausible that he chose not to reveal the considerable age difference with his ex-wife to avoid further criticism and scrutiny from the women on the show. Although Fabiana was much younger than Mel, the two built a beautiful relationship and enjoyed a stable married life until their feelings changed.

Why did Mel Owens and Fabiana Pimentel get divorced?

Fabiana had filed for divorce from Mel in February 2020, which was finalised in December 2024 after a five-year legal battle. Initially, the cause of the split was reported to be 'irreconcilable differences' between the ex-spouses. However, later, Mel Owens claimed that their marriage ended because of Fabiana Pimentel. As per him, they had to opt for a divorce as she fell for someone else, hinting at an infidelity angle.

Regarding the legal aspect, Mel Owens was ordered by the court to pay nearly USD 1 million (USD 979K) to his ex-wife for unpaid child and spousal support. The two of them avoided contact as much as possible and didn't interfere in each other's lives after the divorce. When Fabiana was asked about Mel Owens being on The Golden Bachelor, Fabiana took a sly dig at her ex-husband, saying:

"Good luck. I mean, it's going to be bad. But anyway, I don't want to be involved in this."

What are your thoughts on Mel Owens possibly hiding his and Fabiana Pimentel's age gap from the contestants of The Golden Bachelor? Let us know.

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