Will these couples make it together and tie the knot in time?
Will their relationship stand the test of time?
Will it overcome the fact that Ximena doesn’t speak English and Mike speaks only a smidge of Spanish?
What about closed borders and travel restrictions?
There were so many questions, so we set out to ask him.
What motivated Mike to go on Before the 90 Days?
I love the “90 Day” franchise.
I talked toBig Edabout two weeks ago.
So I met Ximena on an international dating app in the middle of the pandemic.
It was February, March 2020.
So there wasn’t really much to do.
I was like, let me just try this out, try this international dating app.
So I’m like, all right.
I didn’t think anything of it and I matched.
I’m like, oh.
I’m like, oh.
And when I visited, that’s when we just did [the show].
Everyone tells me I’m crazy, but I was like, I don’t mind doing it.
You only live once, so you might as well.
And what was it like being on a reality TV show for the first time?
Do you think you gave your authentic self on camera?
Were you trying to be aware of how you were behaving?
What was that all like?
Some points were a little stressful, but this is my first time doing it.
I was always trying to confirm I don’t look …
I don’t make a, what’s the word?
I don’t want to make myself look stupid.
I’m just watching what I do, what I say.
[I] tried to at least.
But I think so far it’s a pretty good experience.
Definitely do it again.
Well, I would say always, what’s the word?
It’s just repetitive that’s all, sometimes.
But other than that, it was fun.
And as you mentioned, you both met on a dating app.
She showed me, like, her family on video chat.
So once they opened it up, that’s when I started to schedule trips and things like that.
But yeah, just her family’s amazing.
The two kids are great.
Well, she does look amazing, but that’s not the whole thing.
But yeah, just overall, just yeah, just, like, Ximena.
Oh, that’s really sweet.
Like, oh, what’s this person doing?
We have to grow through that because long distance is definitely hard.
But yeah, we just have to grow through that.
What’s the status?
Can you share anything?
I have to just say December 12th is when [the new season] starts, so.
And where in the States are you?
You’re in New York.
So yeah, New York’s definitely a lot different than Colombia.
And were there any concerns on the part of your family or friends when you started this whole experience?
Ximena is definitely not like that.
But for anything deeper, you’ll just have to watch.
[Laughs] All right.
You’re leaving me hanging.
It’s very unique.
If you know the person is for you, ignore all the haters and just be you.
Just live a normal life as best as you’re able to.
He’s like, “Wait weren’t you on “90 Day Fiance”?
Because he saw the preview.
I was like, “Yeah.”
So I was like, “I can’t give you much details.
You just got to watch it.”
He’s like, “Get out of here.”
So yeah, my town’s small.
I mean, just be me.
I’m not going to change who I am for attention.
So just do my daily thing and just ignore haters, because my
Authenticity is key, so.
I have a go at be just authentic regardless whether I’m on camera or not, so.
And I’m sure that may have been something that you were aware of during the filming process.
I know that COVID definitely impacted filming and international travel.
So walk me through that.
What was that like?
So that, COVID, yeah, basically messed everything up.
Otherwise I wouldn’t have waited.
I waited so long just to see her from when I first met because it was COVID.
Colombia like a couple months in, COVID finally released.
Well, Colombia finally opened it, [and] then America slowly opened.
Then they were like, you got to get tested and all this.
So that was the one major headache.
I’ve had probably so many tests so far.
How’s your nose doing?
It’s all right.
It’s better now.
Does Mike watch reality TV shows himself?
We at The List do something where we ask a couple questions to everyone.
So first and foremost, what is your favorite reality television show of this year to watch yourself?
I mean, back in the day I did watch “Jersey Shore.”
Okay, that’s fun.
And when they were filming, I was actually in Seaside.
And I was in the club, I think it was Karma.
So I was there and I saw Mike, I saw Sammy.
I saw they all just passed me.
Oh, that’s so fun.
Our table was right by the stairs and they walked past us to like where they were sitting.
I was like, oh s***.
A little glimpse into your future, perhaps.
Everyone’s like crowding around you.
But besides that, I just watch, like, Netflix series.
Like “Roswell” now.
We all have that one show that I feel like defined our COVID experience.
So mine was “The Crown.”
I watched every season of it, back to back, so.
Oh, so you like the superhero scene?
I know that we are a little pressed for time.
I always want to verify that we’ve kind of covered our bases.
I think we’re good.
Detailing cars when I’m not filming.
But yeah, just your everyday average person when I’m not filming.
