Suvechha Sarkar
Lifetime’s ‘Married at First Sight’ is popularly known for its expert matchmaking and captivating the audience with drama and love. Season 9 of the show introduced four couples, among whom Deonna McNeill and Gregory Okotie are the biggest evidence that love can flourish under extraordinary circumstances. Throughout the show, their relationship gradually evolved from cautious interactions to genuine affection towards one another. Ultimately, their mutual respect and willingness to make it work turned them into one of the fan favorites.
Deonna and Gregory’s Journey On the Show Was Nothing Short of a Fairytale
From the beginning, it was quite evident that Deonna struggled with vulnerability and opening up emotionally. Although this initially created a barrier between her and Gregory, he did not get frustrated. Instead, he was quite patient and allowed her to move at her own pace. One of the biggest highlights of their relationship was his ability to reassure her without pressurizing his opinions. Since their honeymoon and early weeks together were marked by Gregory’s playful and caring nature, Deonna became more comfortable around him. From sharing laughter and cooking together to having deep conversations, they had very few to no fights. Ultimately, when Decision Day arrived, as expected, the duo chose to continue their marriage and explore more of their union.
Deonna and Gregory Are Proud Parents to a Son and Two Dogs
After their heartfelt decision to remain married, both Deonna and Gregory ultimately set out to explore their relationship and how it would unfold beyond the cameras. Their similar thoughts and genuine love for each other laid a strong foundation, leading them to enjoy the bliss of their union. To top it off, the couple excitedly announced that they were expecting their first child in September 2020. They expressed their elatedness, saying, “We are blessed to begin this new chapter and can’t wait to meet our little bundle of joy.” Finally ending their anticipation on February 27, 2021, they welcomed their little bundle of joy, Declan. Their happiness knew no bounds; and the duo welcomed their parenthood with open arms.
Following the birth of their loving son, Deonna and Gregory have smoothly stepped into this new chapter of their life, which has made their bond deeper. Since then, they have been sharing their experiences as new parents on their social media and often document their daily lives. From discussing the challenges and the joys of raising their baby boy with the audience to providing a sneak peek at their weekend getaways, they have been living the life of their dreams. As of now, Declan is four years old, and the duo have been basking in the happiness of their fulfilled familial life alongside their two cute furry pups, Sandy and Cassandra.
Deonna and Gregory Are Both Thriving in Their Respective Careers
Deonna completed her Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Winthrop University in August 2013 and has created a professional journey in operations management and customer service. She has been in this industry for over 15 years and started her career as a Hospice Marketer at Agape Senior Care in April 2010. After serving there for almost three years, she left the role in January 2013 and moved on to her position at Hollister Co. Here, where the reality star worked as the manager for 10 months, from August 2013 to May 2014. Finally, Deonna embraced her role at AvidXchange, Inc. in June 2014 and gradually climbed the ladder.
Although she started out as a Payment Representative, she has been the Payment Operations Manager at the esteemed organization since April 2015. In this role, she has always showcased her prowess in managing, coaching, and mentoring teams alongside boosting her company’s revenue. On the other hand, Gregory holds a Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and his career reflects a very strong commitment to human resources and diversity initiatives. He stepped into his career as an Associate system engineer and, over the years, rose to the ranks as a Solutions Architect before finally setting out on a different professional trajectory.
In February 2017, he became a business owner and director of the Mathnasium of Lake Wylie, where his role mainly entailed managing learning center operations in several arenas. However, it seems that due to some bumps in the road, he had to pause this venture in July 2020. One year later, he joined as a full-time Associate Director of Human Resources and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Heart Maths tutoring and served in the position until July 2024. Since September 2024, he has been serving as the Director of People Operations and HR Systems at KIPP North Carolina Public Schools.
Deonna and Gregory Have a Prominent Presence in Social Media Today
Inspired by their journey on the show, Deonna and Gregory launched their brand Akpesiri, which translates to “good life.” It offers multiple products mainly designed to help individuals embrace better lives. However, after five years of operation, the duo finally decided to pause their clothing business and shared their decision with their followers in January 2025. They acknowledged that the challenges of balancing the venture alongside their growing family had been quite difficult. Hence, they have been clearing out their stocks through clearance sales. Beyond their business endeavors, Deonna and Gregory have also cultivated a decent social media following.
While Gregory has cultivated 205K followers on Instagram, Deonna currently has 349 K. They have also been dabbling in brand promotions with the Mockingbird stroller and Panera Bread. The pair also have a joint YouTube account named The Okoties, where they often share glimpses from their personal lives and their journey from being new business partners to eventually new parents. No matter how busy they are in their professional life, Deonna and Gregory have remained connected to their roots. They always make sure to spend quality time with their family, creating everlasting memories and making it evident how much they mean to the couple.
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