Exclusive Interview
Inside ‘Claim to Fame’s Olivia Aquilina & Hugo Wentzel’s Love Story, Their Major Next Step & More
Reality TV fans first fell in love with Hugo Wentzel and Olivia Aquilina during Season 2 of ABC’s Claim to Fame. Two years after their stint on the celebrity relatives competition show, Wentzel, who is President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter‘s grandson, and Olivia, who is Jenny McCarthy‘s niece, are still going strong today.
The couple recently sat down with Swooon for our Summer Catch-Up series to discuss the early days of their relationship, their exciting plans for the summer, Wentzel’s love for the Chili’s Triple Dipper, and more. Scroll down for our chat with Hugo Wentzel and Olivia Aquilina, and make sure to check back soon to find out which other reality TV shows are on their relationship bucket list!
It’s been two years since you met on Claim to Fame. Do you remember what your first impressions of each other were?
Hugo Wentzel: I remember that we were having the intro to the show, and we were doing introductions, like, two truths and a lie. It was the very first day, and I just got driven down to the set and everything. And then everyone did their two truths and a lie. Olivia said, “Do you guys want to play Magic: The Gathering? I was like, ‘Oh, very interesting individual.” It was
so expected for [Olivia] to say that, it’s kinda hot, though.
Olivia Aquilina: I’ll be honest, that first day I was so overwhelmed with everything, the only first impression I got that day was [Shayne Murphy]. I do remember the talent show, because reality shows sometimes, especially in the beginning, they tell you, “Sit here [and talk.]” They put me next to Hugo at an individual table. I just thought he was really sweet and charming, and immediately so easy to talk to.
I feel like going into reality TV is a little scary and intimidating. But also on top of that, knowing that everyone is related to a celebrity or is very well off or whatever, I think that was also intimidating to me. So it was really nice to meet Hugo and just feel like he didn’t have an ego with that.
Which one of you confessed your feelings for the other first?
Aquilina: It was kind of like both of us at the same time. Both of us were like, “Oh, boy, are you feeling something?”
Wentzel: I feel like I said it first, very early on.
Aquilina: I was trying to protect myself a little bit because Hugo likes to play around and stuff. I felt like he was flirting with everyone. So, I was like, “Is this earnest?” but not a bad way.
Wentzel: I think I’m very loud, and I love talking to every individual. But I didn’t have any romantic [feelings for] anyone on the show except for Olivia. I remember that was, like, really strong.
Hugo Wentzel / Kinetic Content
How long did you date before going public?
Aquilina: We weren’t allowed to reveal our identities until after we got out on the show, so we became official a few months after we filmed.
Wentzel: I also remember people on Reddit were like, “Are you and Olivia dating?” Because I was commenting on Olivia’s post. It was so funny. People on Twitter figured out that we were dating.
Aquilina: I feel like the show is all about snooping. You know what I mean? You gotta try to get your clues and figure stuff out, so it makes sense.
Since you left Claim to Fame, what have you been up to as a couple for the past few years?
Wentzel: We’ve had a lot of fun together. I feel like we travel a lot more than any couple; we travel so much together. And because Olivia lives in LA, and I live in Atlanta, we had to go back and forth. And now Olivia is moving to Atlanta with me, which is very exciting. I think that our relationship has just been a nonstop adventure.
Aquilina: I feel like adventure is the right word. I would describe it the same way. We technically couldn’t have a first date until [after the show], and we had to meet up somewhere because we lived in different cities. We didn’t do this, but we were like, “Should our first date be in Japan?” But our first date was in New York. We did meet in a separate place, which was really cute, and we stayed in my sister’s apartment. The whole thing was really charming. And then we became official in a 7-Eleven.
7-Eleven is an incredibly romantic location. Can you walk us through that moment?
Aquilina: I think it was like one of those Cantina 7-Elevens, so we were drinking some Baja Blasts with tequila in it, or something, right?
Wentzel: I liked Olivia a lot. Really, I was already in love with Olivia when we started dating at the 7-Eleven.
When did you first say “I love you” to each other?
Aquilina: The first time we said “I love you” to each other, it was so aligned. Because, for some reason, so many things were happening where I wanted to be like, “I love you.” But you know, when you’re dating someone, you feel like those words hold a lot more strength. And it was that day that so many things kept happening, I just kept wanting to say it. And then later that night, Hugo and I were lying in bed with our heads facing each other. We were watching Berserk, the anime–
Wentzel: Berserk has to be in the interview. [Laughs]
Aquilina: And I remember saying, “I’m really happy, and I really want to tell you something, but I’m a little nervous to say it.” And he was like, “I also want to tell you something, but I’m nervous to say it.” And I was like, “Are we looking to say the same thing?” And he was like, “Yeah.” And I was like, “Okay, I think you should say it first.” He was like, “Okay, I love you.’ And I was like, “I love you, too.” We both really felt the need to say it that day. It was very cute.
Hugo Wentzel / Kinetic Content
One of the adventures we’ve been seeing you go through on social media is your health and fitness journey. What has it been like going through that together?
Wentzel: Honestly, amazing, because I’m actually coaching Olivia in weightlifting, and Olivia has seen an unbelievable transformation and has gotten very shredded recently. I would say we’re a very health-oriented couple.
Aquilina: I’m very mental health and gut-oriented, and Hugo is very physical health-oriented. So it works out perfectly, because I’m able to have us talk through emotions and try to eat healthy, and he’s good about telling me I should go to the gym. We still get Crumbl and Chili’s, though. That Triple Dipper is all Hugo talks about.
What are your plans for the summer?
Aquilina: We’re moving in together! It’s really exciting. I’m currently just trying to figure out a lot of life stuff with my career. I’m pulled in many directions artistically, and I’m just gonna figure that stuff out, which I’m also very excited to do. And Hugo, yours is probably very business and fun-oriented?
Wentzel: I think we’re in our career era, making racks and grinding it out together in a very romantic way. We help each other up a lot. It’s gonna be really fun because we’re gonna be living together. It’ll be a very exciting, bright future, I think.
What’s something you recently learned about each other?
Wentzel: I think I’m learning more about Olivia’s childhood and their interaction with their twin when they were younger. Like, how that shaped Olivia’s personality. Because I think a lot of people don’t know, but Olivia has a twin named Gigi who is very, very cool, and I just learned more about how they interacted when they were younger.
Aquilina: I think I’m just learning more that Hugo is someone who is so positive and has so many aspirations. I think it’s really nice to be learning about all the other emotions that you hold. Do what I mean? Hugo generally lives in the positive and happy parts. And I admire that, but I really like seeing all the sides of him. It’s really kind that he’s vulnerable enough to show that to me. That’s what I’ll say.
What’s a goal that you two want to accomplish together?
Wentzel: Well, the thing is, everything I do is oriented around fitness, and I’m doing a coaching business, so it’s taking up so much of my time. But we have a clothing brand that we made together. It’s really cool and really unique, and it has a very positive focus on bringing people up. So we’re gonna do that, eventually.
Aquilina: I think our goal is just to be very settled and happy. To wake up slow and feel like we’re helping people. You know, enjoying life. I genuinely do feel like it’s the goal of every human.
Would the two of you ever return to Claim to Fame?
Wentzel: Claim to Fame should bring us back at any cost! Everyone would love to see it, and we’d love to do an episode. It’s my favorite show.
