Serene Russell and Brandon Jones

Met on: Bachelor in Paradise, Season 8

Current Status: Broken Up

Serene Russell and Brandon Jones clicked during the first several days of Season 8 of Bachelor in Paradise, and they were inseparable on the beach in Mexico for the rest of the season.

On Bachelor in Paradise's Season 8 finale, Serene told Brandon: "I found my best friend, my missing puzzle piece and my soul mate," Serene shared with Brandon on the final day of filming. "I love you so much and I'm never going to take that for granted."

In reply, Brandon shared how "The Split" twist had made him realize that he never wanted to spend another day of his life without Serene. Brandon gushed about how he loved her in every sense of the word and she's an "everlasting spark" in his life.

"I will love you until the end of time. I will love you until my last breath, and I want to start forever with you," Brandon said. "And that starts with making you my forever."

Brandon then got down on one knee and the couple got engaged.

Bachelor in Paradise host Jesse Palmer asked the pair if they'd like to get married right then and there on the beach, but the couple chose not to, knowing their loved ones would want to attend the wedding.

Brandon confirmed on the Bachelor in Paradise reunion it was love at first sight with Serene and she's the "most perfect" woman for him. And Serene said she was so grateful for Brandon, who yelled, "I love the sh-t out of you!"

After the show, Serene and Brandon moved in together in San Diego.

Brandon and Serene revealed in November 2022 that they were already thinking "about wedding plans" given their engagement had filmed in Mexico about five months prior.

The couple said they'd like to have a long engagement and get married in 2024.

"I think we would get married in Paradise if our families were there!" Serene shared.

"It is such a special place to us and having our families there in the place where we got engaged and thought about getting married would be so special. We are definitely thinking about it!"

Brandon traveled to Serene's hometown of Oklahoma City for Thanksgiving and met her family.

Serene sparked breakup speculation in early December when she posted some photos without her engagement ring on social media, but she quickly shut down the gossip.

Serene posted a mirror selfie with Brandon in which she was proudly showing off her Neil Lane bling.

"Y'all when I model, sometimes there's gonna be a shoot without my ring on," Serene explained to fans, "especially if it took place before the finale so before I could wear it out."

Brandon shared how he and Serene plan to bring their families together and celebrate Christmas in San Diego.

However, the couple's relationship ended less than six months after their engagement aired on ABC, with the couple announcing they had split in a joint Instagram statement in May 2023.

According to Serene, the couple broke up after a video circulated online that appeared to show  Brandon looking cozy with and kissing another woman at a bar.

"I think after that, it was like, 'Okay, there's irreparable damage,'" Serene recalled during an October 2023 episode of the "Off the Vine with Kaitlyn Bristowe" podcast.

"Of course there was a part of me that was like, 'Okay, I really love this person,' and I struggled with it for a long time. But there was just no coming back."

Brandon had denied he cheated on Serene and claims the couple had already privately agreed to end their relationship before the events in the video occurred.