If you first met Caelynn Bell (formerly Caelynn Miller-Keyes) on your television screen in 2019, you probably remember the high-octane drama, the pristine red-carpet glam, and the relentless public scrutiny surrounding her early romance with Dean Bell (formerly Dean Unglert) on Bachelor in Paradise. Back then, her world was dictated by rose ceremonies, carefully edited plotlines, and the chaotic hum of the Los Angeles spotlight. But step onto her multi-acre property in Colorado’s Roaring Fork Valley today, and that high-stakes reality TV chaos feels like an entirely different universe.
At 31, Caelynn has pulled off one of the most impressive, genuine pivots in pop culture. She has effortlessly transformed from a pageant queen (Miss North Carolina USA and first runner-up at Miss USA) and franchise favorite into a grounded digital creator, devoted wife, and serious fashion entrepreneur. She isn’t just riding the influencer wave; she is steering her own ship as the founder and creative director of BellBoy, her modern heirloom jewelry brand that proves accessible pieces can still carry deep, romantic histories.
When Caelynn first stepped in front of ABC’s cameras, she was practically a kid. She certainly didn’t expect that her ultimate takeaway wouldn’t be a temporary TV narrative, but a lasting marriage and a total lifestyle overhaul. Looking back on her franchise days, she marvels at how much her priorities have shifted over the last decade.
“I was 23 when I went on the show, or 22 even,” Caelynn reflects to Celeb Secrets host Juliet Schroder. “And now I’m 31, married to Dean, who I did meet on the show. It’s been seven years, which is crazy… I feel very different now. I feel very grounded. We live in Colorado, it’s just like a slower pace of life and very relaxing. We’ve got three rescue animals and we’re just enjoying a quieter life.”
That quiet life is anchored in a tiny mountain town outside Aspen — a place that gave Caelynn a sense of belonging that major hubs like LA or Las Vegas never quite offered. “Living in LA or Vegas, we didn’t have that sense of community,” she shares. “Everyone’s just kind of doing their own thing, and here it’s very intentional. The people are great, the views are amazing, and our animals are so happy. They get to run around on a couple acres of land.”
While Dean was the one who dragged her into the great outdoors — Caelynn recently conquered an eight-mile hike, a massive personal win for the Virginia native — it’s the daily rhythm of mountain living that fuels her creative eye now.
“I’m very driven by what I see out here,” she says. “Even just driving down the road today, I left the driveway and there’s a baby deer, like the tiniest little baby deer. Or Dean and I got breakfast and I’m passing horses… Watching the baby cows be born and grow up, it’s just completely different from LA and everything we had going on there.”
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Relationships forged on reality television face notoriously brutal odds. Yet, seven years after their spark on a beach in Mexico, Caelynn and Dean have turned early public skepticism into one of the franchise’s most enduring success stories. Their secret? Tuning out the commentary from day one and building a life built on real, unscripted adventures.
“Being on reality TV, being in the public eye, it can either make or break you,” Caelynn admits candidly. “And we allowed it to really bring us closer and not listen. You know, if we had listened, we wouldn’t be together. Like, no one thought we would last. We’ve dealt with the hate and we’ve dealt with people attacking our relationship… and I feel like we’ve just ignored that or allowed it to make us stronger.”
Right after wrapping Bachelor in Paradise, the pair immediately dove into van life, traveling across the US before taking off for Europe. “Having those experiences, we were able to just dive deeper really quickly and know that Dean’s my person and I’m his person,” she says.
These days, they’ve figured out the ultimate dynamic for keeping the romance alive without forcing each other into uncomfortable boxes. “I have found that I prefer the nice, bougie trips with my girlfriends,” Caelynn laughs. “And then I like the camping, kind of grungy van life stuff with Dean, and with groups of people that enjoy that as well. He doesn’t really like that kind of elevated trip, so I’m like, ‘I’ll save that for my friends, and then we can do this.’ ‘Cause I love both, honestly!”
Caelynn’s latest chapter is also her most personal: BellBoy, a jewelry line born from a love of vintage treasures, old-world architecture, and equestrian heritage. The spark hit during a trip to Malta, where she spent hours wandering through historic antique shops.
“I was just inspired by the history and these unique pieces of jewelry and the architecture,” she explains. “I think we’re all drawn to vintage things… but then you can’t buy that exact item. So I wanted to create something that is affordable, something that feels like it has some history to it.”
The brand’s playful name weaves together personal milestones: her married surname (Bell), her love for classic old-school hotel hospitality, and a sweet nod to Dean’s past real-world job. “Dean was a bellboy at the Ritz-Carlton!” she reveals. “So it’s like my last name, Bellboy, but then he was also a bellboy, so it kind of all tied together. I’m really drawn to old-school hotels as well, with the silver tray and gloves, and it all is brought together in the name.”
With most pieces kept strictly under or around $100, Bellboy strikes the perfect balance between quality craftsmanship and everyday wearability. Crafted in sterling silver and 18k gold-plated finishes, standouts from the line include: The Heirloom Drops ($80), which are delicate, faceted white sapphires on classic hooks (now newly available in a rich 18k gold-plated finish); The Shell Earrings ($90), which are softly ribbed, ocean-inspired studs cast in 18k gold-plated brass; The Reflections Necklace ($100), which is a vintage compact-inspired pendant that opens up to reveal an actual hidden mirror; The Stable Set ($80), which can be described as a cheeky, mismatched pair of equestrian hoops featuring a horse on one ear and a saddle on the other; and The Dressage Brooch ($65), which features dual horse heads connected by delicate draping chains designed to accent a collar, top, or jacket.
Every piece in the collection carries an emotional weight, none more so than The Heirloom Drops. “They just remind me of my mom every time I wear them,” Caelynn shares. “I was specifically obsessed with a similar pair in her jewelry box when I was five years old. I would just look at all my mom’s jewelry, so I wanted to create something like that.”
Her upcoming collection runs even deeper, incorporating designs modeled after family heirlooms gifted by her late grandmother, who passed away suddenly this past summer. “I had already been working on this, so it’s just even more special,” she says quietly. “It’s keeping her legacy, honoring her.”
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When she isn’t prepping sketching new designs, Caelynn’s home life in the mountains revolves around simple, grounded rituals.
For starters, she has quietly turned into an absolute bookworm. “I read, I think, 50 books last year, aiming for 75 this year,” she laughs. “I wasn’t a big reader… I picked up Fourth Wing maybe three or four years ago and it just sparked something in me. I’ll wake up at 5:00 or 6:00 AM, read for an hour, and then when I go to bed I’ll read for another hour or two.” Her current obsession? Conform (recommended by fellow Bachelor alum Jessica Higgins) and her top all-time recommendation, Daggermouth.
She’s also been on a massive wellness kick over the past year, swearing by two specific non-negotiables: “Protein coffee, very first thing in the morning, has just been the biggest game-changer with sleep, with so many different things,” she shares. “And then NAD IVs — I started getting them once a month. I did it for aesthetics and beauty and I’ve not seen any of that, but my energy levels are insane!”
And as for secrets? Caelynn insists what you see is truly what you get.
“I told Dean I was doing this right before, we had breakfast, and he was like, ‘Well, what’s your secret?’ I was like, ‘I think I’m an open book!'” she laughs. “I share everything. I love crafting, cooking, baking, hiking, romantasy books… I feel like I put it all out there. There’s nothing to hide.”
For more on Caelynn Bell and Bellboy, make sure to watch our full interview below.
Interview quotes have been edited and condensed for clarity.
