Boston Rob 'Needed an Alliance' and Thought Wife Amber Mariano Was 'Hot' When They First Met on “Survivor: All-Stars” (Exclusive)
- - Boston Rob 'Needed an Alliance' and Thought Wife Amber Mariano Was 'Hot' When They First Met on “Survivor: All-Stars” (Exclusive)
Brendan LeFebruary 10, 2026 at 6:00 AM
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Amber Brkich and Rob Mariano; Rob and Amber Mariano
James Devaney/WireImage; Boston Rob Mariano/Instagram
"Boston Rob" Mariano tells PEOPLE what his first impression of wife Amber was when they competed on Survivor: All-Stars.
Today, the Survivor couple, who celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary in 2025, share four daughters.
For PEOPLE's 2026 Love Week, reality TV couples reflect on the unique way they fell in love.
Reality TV relationships are notorious for not lasting, with a lot of showmances often ending in contentious breakups that play out on social media for all to see.However, some reality TV stars have successfully found their soulmates on dating shows, competition shows, even unscripted series and created relationships that have gone the distance. For PEOPLE's 2026 Love Week, we chatted with the couples who have managed to make it work, defying the pitfalls that sometimes come with launching your love story on national television.Below, Rob Mariano talks about first impressions, pros and cons of meeting on reality TV and what keeps them going.
"Boston Rob" Mariano's love story with Amber Mariano (née Brkich) began with a competition for $1 million and ended with a marriage proposal.
Rob, 50, and Amber, 47, returned for a second chance at the grand prize in an all-stars season, which aired in 2004. Over the 39 days on the Pearl Islands, the pair fought their way to the final two — and fell for each other along the way.
During the live finale, before the final votes were read, Rob told host Jeff Probst, "Regardless of what happens here tonight with the vote, I feel like I already won. I have the most special girl in the entire world sitting here right next to me. If you don't mind, I'd like to say something to her."
Rob then got down on one knee to propose to Amber in front of the audience and both their parents. Today, the competition reality royalty — who celebrated 20 years of marriage in 2025 — share four daughters: Lucia, 16, Carina, 15, Isabetta, 13 and Adelina, 11. They have also competed on two seasons of The Amazing Race and Survivor: Winners at War, 15 years after first playing together.
Reflecting on his reality TV romance-turned-forever love, Rob credits Survivor as "the show that gave us each other and our four girls."
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Rob Mariano proposes to Amber Brkich
Scott Gries/Getty
Do you remember your first reaction to seeing each other?
ROB: Needed an alliance and thought she was hot!
What is the best and worst part about meeting on reality TV?
ROB: I literally had nothing to impress her with except maybe catching a fish… but starting with less than nothing on the island made everything else after seem extraordinary. We had nowhere to go but up.
Rob Mariano and Amber Brkich
Monty Brinton/CBS Photo Archive via Getty
Why do you think your relationship has beat the reality TV odds?
ROB: Strong family values and not forgetting why we formed an alliance in the first place.
One sentence of advice for someone trying to find love on reality TV?
ROB: Our situation was unique in that we didnt go there looking for it… and I think that might be the key. It just kinda happened organically, as crazy as that sounds, so I don't know that I'm qualified to answer that one.
Boston Rob Mariano and Amber Mariano with daughters Lucia, Carina, Isabetta and Adelina.
Boston Rob Mariano/ Instagram
An onscreen moment from your TV history you still love to watch (or hope to never watch again)?
ROB: Love watching the family visit on Survivor: Winners at War. It was a full-circle moment. The show that gave us each other and our four girls, all together on the island, just felt perfect.
How do you talk about 'how we met' to your kids?
ROB: They can watch it!
on People
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