Meet Natalie Lee From The New Season Of Love Is Blind
Back in 2020, in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, "Love Is Blind" aired its first season on Netflix. Millions of viewers tuned in as the show skyrocketed to mega popularity. The series follows hopeful singles as they communicate with potential matches in pods, where they are not allowed to see each other. Participants then decide to get engaged without ever having looked each other in the eyes, and spend the next few weeks getting to know each other in person. At the end of the season, they must decide if they want to walk down the aisle and exchange marriage vows, or part ways for good. Season 1 of the series saw many ups and downs, including the tumultuous relationship between Jessica Batten and Mark Cuevas and Batten's continuous pining for fellow castmate Matt Barnett (via Today).
"Love Is Blind" returned to Netflix with a new season on February 11, and fans were eager to meet the new cast (via Cosmopolitan). Among the new batch of hopeful romantics is 29-year-old Natalie Lee. The Chicago native announced that she would be joining the cast via Instagram in early February, and received support from "Love Is Blind" Season 1 alum Batten, who commented a string of heart emojis in response to the news. Lee has quickly become a fan favorite.
Natalie Lee has a big personality
Natalie Lee, who was born and raised in Chicago, works as a consulting manager. In Episode 1 of "Love Is Blind" Season 2, she described herself as a "loud, outgoing, and career-oriented woman." She expected her potential suitors to be surprised by this, as she has often faced issues with men who expect her to be much more demure, particularly due to stereotypes about her Korean heritage (via Marie Claire). She is unapologetically herself. Early in the season, when asked what she would say to her future husband, she said, "I would tell them I have IBS, and I go to the bathroom five times a day. But, hopefully, he loves me for who I am, and is still willing to get married to me!"
Lee has a strong work ethic, noting that her partner will have to be okay with attending work events and supporting her professional journey. When out of the office, Lee enjoys travel and food, as well as documenting her experiences with each on her Instagram account. In addition to glossy photos of exotic trips and delicious food, Lee also posts tons of photos with her family.
Natalie Lee's engagement has been tumultuous
Lee joined the cast of "Love Is Blind" Season 2 ready for love. Luckily for Lee, she quickly caught the attention of fellow cast member Shayne Jansen. The couple got off to a rocky start, as Shayne was initially interested in another woman as well. However, Lee and Jansen ultimately got engaged. Prior to their engagement, Jansen made a mistake that pitted fans against him as a match for Lee. In the pods, Jansen had been connecting with both Lee and Shaina Hurley. When he mistook Lee's voice for Hurley's, Lee became agitated. Jansen met her frustration with a defensive attitude and no real apology, causing viewers everywhere to take to social media to express their disappointment — and to claim that Lee deserves better. They got engaged nonetheless (via What To Watch).
Just halfway through the season, viewers have already seen the couple face many challenges (via Bustle). Lee was hoping for full support from her large family, but was met with disappointment from her mother after she announced her engagement to Jansen. When Lee tried to show off her ring, her mother brushed it off and said, "I don't want to see it." Given how close she is with her family, this has the potential to cause more problems for the couple down the road. Only time will tell. Until then, you can catch the Season 2 finale of "Love Is Blind" on February 25 (via Women's Health).