Bachelor Nation is buzzing about the upcoming season of “The Golden Bachelor,” and much of that attention is focused on Mel Owens. The former NFL linebacker-turned-lawyer will be handing out roses as the lead of season 2. But before his reality TV debut, Owens was married for nearly two decades to his “first love,” Fabiana Pimentel.
Now that Owens, 66, is stepping into the Bachelor spotlight, fans are curious about his past and the woman who once shared nearly 18 years of his life.
Who Is Fabiana Pimentel, Mel Owens’ Ex-Wife?
Fabiana Pimentel Owens, who still uses her married name on social media, is a marketing director for Preferred Hotel & Resorts. According to her LinkedIn and Instagram bios, she has built a successful career in branding and hospitality.
During her marriage to Owens, Pimentel also worked part-time at his law firm from 2007 to 2016. Later, she co-founded Final Touch Organizing, a professional organizing company, where she worked until 2023.
Together, Owens and Pimentel are parents to two sons — Lucas, born in 2005, and Andre, born in 2007. Though the couple divorced in 2020, their marriage spanned 17 years and nine months.
When asked about her ex-husband’s new television role, Pimentel didn’t hold back. “Good luck. I mean, it’s going to be bad. But anyway, I don’t want to be involved in this,” she told the Daily Mail in July.
Why Did Mel Owens and Fabiana Divorce?
Court records show that Pimentel cited “irreconcilable differences” when she filed for divorce. As reported by US Weekly, Owens was ordered to pay his ex-wife a settlement of $980,000. The lump sum covered “unpaid child and spousal support that accumulated over time, potential child and/or spousal support owed after December 2024, the division of non-retirement community property assets and debts, prior monetary sanction against [Owens] by the court, and contribution to Fabiana’s attorney fees and costs.”
Owens was allowed to keep the family home in Orange County, California, following the split.
ABC noted in its press release announcing Owens as the star of “The Golden Bachelor” for season 2 that the end of his marriage, along with the loss of his father, marked a turning point in his life. “Now, after several years as a devoted dad, Owens is ready to rediscover a love rooted in the simple joys of companionship,” the network stated.
“The Golden Bachelor” season 2 Premieres Wednesday, September 24, 8/7c, ABC.
Tell us! Will you be turning into season 2 of “The Golden Bachelor”? Let us know in the comments below.
1 thought on “Who Is Fabiana Pimentel Owens, Meet Mel Owens’ Ex-Wife and Mother to His Kids”