America’s Favorite Couple 2025: Shannon & René’s Story of Deaf-Hearing Love
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From Bumble to Quarterfinals: What We Learned Competing in America’s Favorite Couple 2025.
Skip to: Thank-You | Our Story | Competition Timeline (Archived) | Archived Spreadsheet | Integrity | Work with Shannon | Media
Post-Competition Update — Aug 22, 2025
The Quarterfinals ended at 9:00pm CT. We finished #8 in our group, and only #1 advanced to the Semifinals. We didn’t move on — and we’re proud of how we showed up.
We kept it clean (no paid self-sponsorships, no pay-to-play), shared what’s real — Deaf + hearing, over-40, blended family — and led with the quiet muscle of resilience. Would $20,000 have been nice? lol yes. But the win we’re keeping is how many of you saw yourselves in this story.
Let’s be honest. This contest has frayed edges — votes reset, leaderboards swing, and yes, paid “boosts” exist. We didn’t do that. Not because we’re anti-winning, but because we wanted any progress to mean something. We asked for free clicks from real people who believed our story was worth seeing.
We bounced around the board and finished #8. Moving the needle from there was tough — and that’s okay. We showed up the way we live: with presence, humor, and resilience.
If you’re here, maybe you’re curious about America’s Favorite Couple 2025 rankings, or maybe you were searching for this year’s winner. Either way, you just found one of the couples. We’re Shannon and Rene — a real-life, beautifully imperfect, second-chance, Deaf-hearing love story that proves connection can bridge worlds, even when those worlds speak different languages.
💛 Thank you (truly)
To everyone who clicked, shared, texted friends, or sent “go you!” messages — thank you. You turned a quirky internet contest into a reminder that people are generous, curious, and kind. Special shoutout to my dad for sleuthing the Quarterfinals groups and building that community spreadsheet. MVP behavior.
What we’re taking with us: real love deserves visibility — not hype. Our story is Deaf + hearing, over-40, blended family, and it’s carried by resilience. That’s the part we’ll keep amplifying long after the voting clock ran out.
📸 Work with Shannon (Twin Cities dating-profile photography)
If you’re stepping back into dating — or just ready to feel seen on camera — I’d love to help you show up naturally, confidently, and you.
Book a session · View portfolio
🧭 A note on integrity
We heard the rumors and saw the swings. For the record: the official rules prohibit competitors (and partners) from casting votes by donation for themselves or using their own funds/payment methods to pay for votes on their own profile. Support confirmed that this includes paid self-sponsorships (using your own money to “sponsor” your tally). We didn’t do it.
No pay-to-play schemes. No pressure to pay. We’re here to prove that real stories can still move people, even when the system is messy.
America’s Favorite Couple 2025 Competition Timeline (Archived)
- Quarterfinals (Aug 11–21): votes reset; only #1 advanced. We finished #8.
- Semifinals (Aug 22–28): votes reset; #1 advanced to Finals.
- Finals (Aug 29–Sept 4): winner announced around Sept 19.
America’s Favorite Couple 2025 Quick FAQ (Archived)
- Is this a real competition? Yes—public voting decides who advances, and rounds reset.
- How did voting work? One free daily vote per person; optional donation “Hero” votes for the public.
- Did you buy votes? No. We did not do paid self-sponsorships; we chose free votes + shares.
- Why keep this page up? People still search for “America’s Favorite Couple 2025” and land here; this recap gives context and points them to our actual story.
How to support us beyond the America’s Favorite Couple 2025 Competition
- Share this page with someone who needs a second-chance story.
- Follow along for tiny ASL lessons + real-life updates.
- Work with Shannon if you’re stepping back into dating (or just want to feel seen on camera).
- Media or podcast? Grab our media kit and say hello.
Archived America’s Favorite Couple 2025 Quarterfinals Snapshot (Community-Compiled)
We did the legwork so you don’t have to.
We’ve pulled together the biggest sneak peek you’ll find — my dad’s custom spreadsheet showing 9 of the 14 Quarterfinals groups (there’s an actual total of 196 couples) in the America’s Favorite Couple 2025 competition.
It’s not the full list — but it’s the fastest way to see most of the competition without clicking through hundreds of pages.
📂 View the Quarterfinals Spreadsheet
Compiled from public pages.
Why we’re still proud we entered America’s Favorite Couple 2025
We said from the start that this wasn’t about hype. It was about visibility for a real, imperfect love:
- Deaf + hearing connection can thrive.
- Over-40 doesn’t mean “over and out”—it’s a second bloom.
- Blended families can be tender, funny, and fiercely strong.
- And through it all, resilience is our love language.
Would $20,000 have been nice? lol, yes.
Would we still pick each other and this life without it? Every single time.
What we learned about participating in America’s Favorite Couple 2025 (and want to keep)
- Trying matters. You don’t know until you try, and we’re proud we did.
- Presence over polish works—on camera and in life.
- Two languages, one love. Learning to communicate well is a superpower.
- Community > algorithm. People sharing links beat any gimmick.
Where it all began…
From Bumble to America’s Favorite Couple? Help Us Make It Happen!
Pick a section below to learn how we met, how we communicate, and why this story matters.
CHAPTER 1: How We Met – Our First Coffee Date Turned Into a Forever Love Story
How America’s Favorite Couple 2025 Started with a Simple Coffee Date
It started with a Bumble match and a “let’s meet for coffee” at a little place called The Wild Bean.
We didn’t know it then, but that afternoon changed everything. Two people, two lattes, and two life stories that didn’t match the script we thought we’d be living by now.
Rene and I met in our 40s. He’d been navigating dating apps for years.
I was a single mom who cautiously gave Bumble a try at 42.
He was only the second person I met… and my last first date. ❤️
He didn’t mention that he was Deaf, but I noticed right away. Rene turned his chair to face mine, asked thoughtful questions, and truly listened.
That presence—being fully “there” in the moment—is what struck me most.
What I didn’t know then—but understand now—is how much courage it took for him to keep showing up.
The Hidden Reality of Dating While Deaf — Our Personal Story
For years, Rene listed “Deaf” on his dating profile. But over time, he noticed a pattern:
- Very few matches.
- Even fewer conversations.
That one word—Deaf—became a filter, not a fact. People made assumptions and swiped away without ever getting to know him.
Eventually, he removed it.
Not because of shame.
But because he wanted a fair chance to be seen as a whole person.
Even then, some women showed up for a first date, realized he was Deaf, and excused themselves to “go to the restroom”…
…and never returned.
Yes, that really happened.
More than once.
I shared this part of our story on Instagram recently, and the response was overwhelming.
It struck a nerve—so many people had no idea this kind of thing happens. View this post on Instagram
But despite all of that, what stood out most wasn’t his communication style—it was his presence.
From the very beginning, Rene led with kindness, humor, and a rare openness.
He didn’t let past experiences harden him.
Rene kept showing up with his heart wide open.
That’s what mattered to me then.
And that’s what still matters now.
This Coffee Wasn’t Just Coffee — It Was Everything
We talked for 90 uninterrupted minutes.
It felt like we were picking up a conversation that had already begun.
Not rushed.
No surface-level chit-chat.
Just two people—showing up, fully.
Sometimes the right person shows up when you’ve stopped looking for them.
When we walked away from that coffee date, we both knew:
This wasn’t just coffee.
It was the beginning of everything.
Love a good ‘we met online’ story? Click here to cast your Day 1 vote.
Early dates turned into everyday Facetime calls. Weekend plans turned into shared calendars.
We built this thing slowly, on trust and curiosity — and on learning how to love in two languages: English and ASL.
CHAPTER 2: Our Wedding Proposal Story and How COVID Changed Our Wedding Plans
The Proposal That Brought Us Full Circle
Exactly one year after our first coffee date, Rene brought me back to that same café.
But this time, it wasn’t just a casual meet-up—it was the beginning of forever.
Our kids were there, quietly watching, recording the entire moment.
There were tears, laughter, and that surreal “How did we get so lucky?” feeling.
It wasn’t flashy.
It was real.
And it was perfect.
Our love speaks two languages — and both say ‘I’m here for you.”
Our Dream Wedding Plans Were Set… Until Life Had Other Ideas
We had it all lined up:
- A destination wedding in Mexico.
- Outfits purchased.
- Venue booked.
- A date circled on the calendar.
But just as everything was falling into place, the world shut down.
COVID-19 forced us, like so many couples, to rethink everything.
Flights were canceled.
Borders closed.
Big plans? Postponed indefinitely.
Love Doesn’t Get Postponed — Our Simple, Perfect MN Wedding
This wasn’t a public spectacle. We weren’t chasing a social media stunt. It was just us — and the quiet knowing that this was exactly where we were meant to land.
While the world hit pause, our commitment didn’t.
We chose to pivot.
With just a few close family members present, we exchanged vows in a quiet, meaningful ceremony here in Minnesota.
It wasn’t the wedding we had pictured… it was better.
It was personal. Intentional. Ours.
No fanfare.
Just two people promising forever in the most authentic way possible.
Why This Proposal & Pivot Embody America’s Favorite Couple 2025
For us, this wasn’t just about adapting wedding plans.
It symbolized everything about our relationship:
- Resilience.
- Adaptability.
- Choosing love, over and over again.
That’s why being part of America’s Favorite Couple 2025 meant so much.
It wasn’t about highlight-reel moments.
It was about real stories where love bends, flexes, and shows up—even when life doesn’t go as planned.
🎥 Watch the moment Rene proposed—back at the same coffee shop where it all began.
Our kids filmed the whole thing. Happy tears were had. (Spoiler: You might need tissues too.)
CHAPTER 3: Life After Love – What Our Day-to-Day Looks Like as a Blended Family
What Life Looks Like After America’s Favorite Couple 2025 Proposal
We’re not flashy. Most days are a mix of coffee, family chaos, home projects, and inside jokes. And we wouldn’t trade it for anything.
And when it comes to date nights?
Let’s just say we’re more likely to win awards for “garage cleaning champs” than candlelit dinners.
Ours is a life of ordinary moments woven with quiet, intentional love—the kind that shows up, over and over, even on the mundane days.
“Love is built in the everyday.”
Falling in Love After 40: A Real, Unfiltered Look at Second-Chance Romance
Finding love later in life comes with perks, like knowing exactly what matters—and what’s just noise.
Grand gestures? They’re nice.
But it’s the little things that truly connect us:
- A shared glance that says, “we’ve got this.”
- Inside jokes whispered during grocery runs.
- The quiet understanding that real partnership is built on the unspoken, everyday rhythms.
Fireworks are fun, but love after 40 is about the slow burn—the steady flame that keeps everything else warm.
Why Real, Everyday Love Stories Like Ours Deserve to Be Celebrated
Our story isn’t polished for Instagram perfection.
There are no filters or carefully curated highlight reels.
It’s messy. It’s funny. And it’s deeply real.
But more than anything, it’s ours.
That’s exactly why stories like ours need visibility.
Deaf-hearing couples navigating life hand-in-hand.
Blended families learning and growing together.
Two people who are wildly different—yet find perfect sync in the ways that count.
In our eyes, that’s what America’s Favorite Couple 2025 should celebrate.
Not fairytales, but love that’s lived in, beautifully imperfect, and absolutely worth rooting for.
How We Communicate in a Deaf-Hearing Relationship: Our Real-Life Story
One of the questions we get asked most is: “How do you two actually communicate?”
It’s a fair question—and we love pulling back the curtain on it.
Here’s the honest answer:
Rene does speak.
So, on the surface, our conversations might look “normal.”
But the real magic is in how intentional we are when we communicate.
There’s a lot more:
- Eye contact.
- Presence.
- Visual cues.
- And a rhythm we’ve built together that bridges any gap.
Mostly that means lip-reading.
Other times, it’s gestures, texts, or signing.
But always, it’s about choosing to show up fully in the conversation.
Rather than just explain, we figured we’d show you what it looks like in real life.
Scroll down for two short videos that give you a peek into our world.
🎥 Video 1: How We Communicate — The Real-Life Version
In this video, I answer some of the most common questions we get about our daily conversations. You’ll see how we navigate communication with a blend of speech, visual cues, humor, and intentionality.
💬 ASL Flirt-Off (60 seconds of joy)
Our love speaks two languages—English and ASL. Watch our quick reel.
▶️ Watch the ASL Flirt-Off on Instagram
🎥 Video 2: Deaf Accessibility Fail at the Movies: Our Story at AMC Theater
Yes, this actually happened. Picture us at a movie theater using an official captioning device—only to have an employee accuse us of using a phone mid-movie. Spoiler: It was their own accessibility tool. Watch us tell the full story HERE on Youtube.
How Our Love Story Inspired My Career in Online Dating Photography
As a Twin Cities dating profile photographer, I’ve photographed hundreds of people stepping into new seasons of life. People brave enough to be seen again—after heartbreak, divorce, single parenthood, or just plain dating burnout.
This love story is the reason I do what I do.
It’s why I believe so deeply in:
- Online dating photography that feels natural and inviting
- Portraits that show your personality, not perfection
- Helping you feel magnetic and confident in front of the camera
If you’re thinking, “Maybe it’s time to try again,”—you’re in the right place. And I’d love to help you feel seen. 👉 Book a session with me or view my portfolio
💬 Curious how Bumble works or thinking about giving it a shot yourself?
- I wrote a guide to help you navigate the app with clarity and confidence. 👉 Read: How Does Bumble Work? Your Guide to Modern Dating Success in 2025
Press & Media Inquiries:
- Download our press release Here.
- Or visit my Media Kit Here
Real connection deserves visibility—not hype. If presence over polish is your vibe, you’re our people.
FAQ: Everything You Need to Know About Voting for America’s Favorite Couple 2025
It’s a national competition where couples from across the country share their love stories — and the public votes for their favorites in multiple elimination rounds. Each round narrows the field, and finalists compete for the grand prize of $20,000, a feature in Variety Magazine, and a national spotlight. This year’s America’s Favorite Couple contestants 2025include inspiring, real-life love stories from every corner of the country.
Yes, America’s Favorite Couple contestants are real people from across the country. It’s a legitimate, nationally recognized contest run by Colossal, the same company behind America’s Favorite Pet and other popular competitions. Winners receive a verified cash prize and a feature in Variety Magazine. Voting is public, transparent, and updated in real time. (And no, we don’t see who votes — so if your ex votes for us, we’ll never know 😉).
We first saw the America’s Favorite Couple voting announcement on Instagram and thought, “Why not?” But once the votes started coming in, we realized it was about more than us — it was about representing stories of love after heartbreak, blended families, and Deaf-hearing relationships.
Because this isn’t just a love story. It’s proof that love over 40 is vibrant, that connection across differences is powerful, and that real relationships deserve visibility. Your vote helps keep us moving up in the America’s Favorite Couple rankingand closer to that grand prize.
We took 1st place in our Group Finals 🎉 — which means we’re now in the Quarterfinals. From here, the competition goes from over 10,000 couples down to just 196. Every single vote matters more than ever, especially since each round starts fresh at zero.
Share the voting link, forward the blog, bring in a friend, or repost on social media. One extra person voting can tip the scales. And if our story moves you — tell us! Every message means the world.
Right here ➡️ Read our story & vote now — it’s free, takes under 5 seconds, and no signup is required.
Hi — I’m Shannon O’Malley.
I’m a Minneapolis-based (soon-to-be Dallas, TX) photographer specializing in online dating profile photography, personal branding portraits, business headshots, and senior sessions. I work with people who want photos that feel natural, confident, and genuinely reflective of who they are — not stiff, overproduced, or performative.
My approach is rooted in natural light, ease, and emotional intelligence. I believe the best photos happen when people feel comfortable enough to be themselves — and seen enough to trust the process. Whether someone is stepping back into dating, refining their professional presence, or marking a meaningful season of life, my goal is always the same: to create images that feel honest and quietly powerful.
With over 15 years of experience behind the camera — and a journey that includes single motherhood, entrepreneurship, and a national CBS feature — I’ve seen firsthand how much impact the right photos can have. A strong image isn’t about vanity. It’s about clarity. It’s often the first impression that shapes how others perceive you — before you ever get the chance to explain yourself.
This blog is where I share insights on photography, visibility, confidence, and showing up with intention — both on and off camera.
When I’m not photographing clients, you’ll usually find me with my husband, my son, and our beautifully blended family — soaking up everyday life here in the Twin Cities (for now). We’ll be relocating to Dallas, Texas in 2026, where I’ll continue offering my signature photography experience for daters, creatives, and business owners throughout the DFW area.
If you’re here because you want photos that actually feel like you, you’re in the right place. I’m glad you found your way here.
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