Beauty and the Geek 2021‘s Bryanna Reynolds has revealed what really goes on behind the scenes of Australia’s most “wholesome” reality TV show.
Bryanna exclusively revealed everything from Beauty and the Geek production secrets to final edits during episode 207 of the So Dramatic! podcast with Megan Pustetto.
Answering all BATG fans‘ burning questions, Bryanna dished to So Dramatic! all about TV showmances, off-screen drama, the reality of challenges and more!
It’s Really True! Beauty and the Geek is NOTHING Like Married at First Sight Australia
Despite both shows being produced by Endemol Shine, Bryanna explained that Beauty and the Geek’s biggest goal was to be NOTHING like Married at First Sight Australia.
Having filmed back in 2020, Bryanna recalled that the production team were always “checking in” and they had very specific instructions for the BATG contestants.
“We were always told specifically, ‘this is not MAFS‘. That was very clear from day one. Like ‘we don’t want drama’,” Bryanna said.
The 31-year-old entertainment reporter — who was paired with Kiran Rao on BATG — admitted that filming the show was just as “wholesome” and “beautiful” as watching it.
“There’s nothing that happened,” Bryanna said after she was asked whether there was any drama, noting that “everything’s real”.
Bryanna continued: “Everything was just like clockwork. It was amazing to be a part of, everyone was super good to get along with. Everyone still chats to this day. Yeah, it’s such a beautiful show. I hope it keeps coming back and back.”
While she personally didn’t see anything spicy happen, Bryanna thinks that if drama — such as a partner swap or a fight between two contestants — went down behind the scenes, production would cut it out because it wasn’t on brand.
Bryanna Reynolds Reveals Just How Often the Beauty and the Geek Contestants Interact With Each Other
While Bryanna recalled going with the other Beauties to get their nails done or get a coffee, their interactions with the Geeks were strictly controlled by production.
“We were allowed to see each other outside [after being eliminated]. But we weren’t really allowed to talk when we were still in the competition,” Bryanna said.
Just like Married at First Sight cast members have previously revealed, Beauty and the Geek had BTS cameras in the hotel hallways and even security guards posted on each floor.
“I was terrified to leave my room because I didn’t want to get in trouble. I’m a goody two-shoes. I never want to get in trouble,” Bryanna said.
However, she did reveal the Beauties and Geeks spent a lot more time with each other than the show made out.
“We filmed [mixer parties] from like three to five hours,” Bryanna said, before adding: “Then you see it on the show. And it’s only like, two or three minutes.”
Apparently, somebody even channel their inner MAFS star and smashed a wine glass. Accidentally, of course!
Beauty and the Geek Contestants Weren’t Allowed to Watch the Other Couples’ Challenges
With challenges ranging from photoshoots to jumping off buildings, it’s no surprise the contestants wanted to know how other couples faired.
However, Bryanna revealed that during the filming of the 2021 season, contestants weren’t allowed to see each other compete in individual challenges.
“We were always separated from all the other pairs, so you never actually knew how each pair was doing. So I found that really different,” she said.
“I thought from watching the show that everyone’s always like sitting around cheering people on and all of that but you never got to see anybody else’s challenge. I would have loved to have seen to see how you were going as a pair.”
Was Bryanna Reynolds and Kiran Rao’s Romance on Beauty and the Geek Real?
While Kiran and Bryanna are now just friends, it sounds like their on-screen relationship wasn’t just another showmance.
One of the cutest moments of the 2021 season was Kiran spontaneously bringing Bryanna a bouquet of flowers (and a camera crew just happened to be there too).
But while the scene fans watched was obviously produced, the romantic moment was genuinely Kiran’s idea.
He had initially left the flowers outside her door at night, with production only finding out about the romantic gesture the next day. Producers then encouraged Kiran to recreate the moment, this time giving Bryanna the flowers in person.
“I had absolutely no idea that he had done that the night before. So a producer came to the door, and they had a film crew,” she continued.
Bryanna recalled that they mic’d her up, but didn’t let her know what Kiran’s plans were in order to capture her IRL reaction.
“So then [Kiran’s] like, ‘Oh, I’ve got something for you’. And I didn’t know something was happening. He gave me the flowers and even thinking about it, I’m gonna cry.”
Bryanna also revealed she actually kissed him in the kitchen but the producers asked them to recreate their “first” kiss closer to the elevator, which is what BATG viewers saw in the final edit.
Kinda weird but still so cute!
Want even more goss? Listen to episode 207 of the So Dramatic! podcast with Megan Pustetto below!
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