“Big Brother” season 26 runner-up Makensy Manbeck isn’t afraid to show her vulnerable side, having posted a tear-filled Instagram video one week after announcing her split from fellow “Big Brother” player Matt Hardeman.
Makensy & Matt’s Love Story
CBSMakensy and Matt met while filming “Big Brother” season 26, although their relationship didn’t blossom in the house. Matt was the first person evicted from the season, leaving him very little time to make an impression on Makensy. The former project engineer made it much farther in the game, landing herself a spot in the final two chairs and taking home the second place $75,000 prize.
Once Makensy and Matt were both out of the “Big Brother” house, they were able to reconnect, talking for hours and bonding over their shared faith. By December 2024, their relationship was Instagram official.
Unfortunately, the good times couldn’t last forever, and fans noticed the couple’s relationship was on the rocks when Matt and Makensy unfollowed each other on Instagram. The next day, Makensy confirmed everyone’s suspicious: she and Matt ended their relationship.
Makensy’s Brave Instagram Story Post
On Friday, October 24, 2025, the “Big Brother” runner-up posted a video to her Instagram story, in which she can be seen crying. The tears, however, are not entire out of sadness. Makensy received a package of Baked by Melissa mini-cupcakes, a gift she was not expecting. Happy V, a brand Makensy has worked with, sent the gift in the wake of her breakup.
Makensy admitted that although she cries often and has cried a lot since ending her relationship, she “was really proud” of herself for not feeling the urge to cry that morning until the gift arrived. However, she assured viewers that her tears were not those of sadness. “It honestly just made me feel overwhelmingly happy to see people care about me so much,” she said about the package.
“I’m a huge cryer. I want to feel everything. I don’t want to like, surpress it. So obviously I’ve been crying a lot,” Makensy said about how she handles her emotions. Makensy’s ability to show her vulnerable side lets her viewers know it’s okay to feel your emotions, even if they aren’t pretty. Makensy showed that vulnerability is brave.
“I’m very sad right now, but I’m very thankful for everybody and everything around me,” the influencer said.
Since her and Matt’s breakup, Makensy has kept busy. She recently had a VIP experience at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas for the 2025 United States Grand Prix.
