Suvechha Sarkar
With every season, ‘Married at First Sight’ introduces hopeful individuals to one another who are looking for their one proper shot at a happily ever after. Based on the show’s expert matchmaking, season 16 brought Kirsten Grimes and Shaquille Dillon together — the former hails from Nashville, Tennessee, and the latter is a Louisiana native. The two were thriving in their respective careers but lacked stability in their personal lives, which led them to participate in the social experiment. Their time on the show was full of ups and downs, with them struggling with different expectations. What truly invested the viewers in their relationship was their trying to be there for each other despite their unbalanced dynamics throughout their journey.
Kirsten and Shaquille’s Promising Bond Slowly Turned Rocky
When Kirsten and Shaquille first met at the altar, they hit it off and were looking forward to their married life. Both were already quite successful in their careers but unlucky in their love lives. While he wanted someone kind and understanding as his partner, she expressed she always struggled to find someone who could meet her expectations. The first problem appeared when she expressed she was not attracted to her groom, noting that his being bald and younger than her were two strikes. However, Shaquille exclaimed that his bride was exactly his type and loved that she was kind. As they further navigated their life post exchanging their vows, conflicts and more challenges appeared.
The first conflict arose when Shaquille had to postpone their honeymoon for a research conference, leading to tensions between the two. Kirsten started to feel that there was no chemistry between them and even began to question if she felt any emotional connection to him. On the other hand, Shaquille felt like his wife was not opening up to him, felt constantly emotionally neglected, and failed to keep up to her expectations. The couple started to work on their existing communication issues. However, as the Decision Day approached, they were unsure whether they were ready to work things out.
On Decision Day, Kirsten expressed that she desired to continue working on their marriage, but Shaquille opted for a divorce. He said they had always been there for each other and constantly worked to be on the same page. However, he did not feel that he would be able to be the person she wanted him to be. While both had their fair share of good times and challenges, he expressed with a heavy heart that he might be unable to provide her with all the charms she expected. So, the couple parted ways because this is what they felt was best for the long-term.
Kirsten and Shaquille Chose Divorce But Maintain a Cordial Relationship
Kirsten and Shaquille were not in contact with one another and led separate lives for a brief period following the conclusion of their time on the show. When they connected again at the reunion, the two felt like they had finally listened to and processed what the other person was talking about. When the guys asked Shaquille during the reunion if there was any chance the former couple might get back together anytime in the future, he revealed that they finally managed to arrive on the same page and decided to be friends. Since both of them were in a happy place, someday there might be a chance when they might rethink starting over again.
This sparked several speculations about whether the once-couple would like to take another shot at their marriage, to which Kirsten mentioned that she had moved on from Shaquille. However, the two reality show personalities continue to stay in touch today. In one of her podcast episodes, she mentioned that they sometimes text each other on Instagram about their whereabouts and get on live together in some instances. The former couple has maintained a cordial relationship and does not harbor any resentful feelings between them.
Kirsten Balances a Fulfilling Relationship With Her Professional and Personal Growth
Kirsten finished her Bachelor of Health Service Administration at the University of Memphis and her MBA at Cumberland University in 2017. Following the conclusion of the season, she returned to her job as a realtor. In June 2024, she began working as an Affiliate Broker at Compass, the no. 1 realtor estate brokerage, as a proud member of The Gerard Team. In the same month, Kirsten started her podcast ‘D-List Diaries’ with her season 16 co-stars Nicole and Gina. In the podcast, they discuss their life beyond the reality TV show and personal experiences. She has also been remotely working as a Healthcare Sourcer since September 2024.
Additionally, she is active on her social media as a content creator with over 43k followers and focuses on fashion, lifestyle, and fitness. In December, she visited the Bahamas on a vacation with her family and made countless memories, from savoring delicious foods to dancing under the stars. She further enjoyed herself at karaoke, comedy shows, and during their cruise trip. Kirsten is very close to her family, especially her mother, with whom she spent meaningful time in Arrington Vineyard on Mother’s Day. While talking about her dating life, she mentioned on her podcast that she had been seeing somebody she had known for a while.
However, Kirsten has kept the details about the mystery man and their relationship under wraps. We believe she has been going strong in her relationship and wants to keep her love life private. She has also immersed herself in self-care with routine workouts and regular skincare. From what we could gather, she loves trying out new places in Nashville and has been doing so for the last year. Not only did she explore the nightlife but also the CMA Fest events in June 2024 with her friends. Kirsten has been friends with her podcast co-hosts, Nicole and Gin, and has continued to flourish professionally and personally.
Shaquille Now Holds a PhD and Inspires Others Through His Content
Shaquille started his career in the fashion industry, where he created Dapper Royalties, which made custom bowties. From there, he dabbled in the education industry and was a recruiter at Southern University and A&M College. During Shaquille’s time on the show, he was working as an Executive Director of Enrollment Services at Tennessee State University. After the show concluded, he continued his higher studies and completed his PhD in October 2023.
Presently, Dr. Shaquille Dillon is Vice President for Marketing, Strategy, Impact, and Innovation at Huston-Tillotson University and has been raising community awareness and showing unbelievable leadership qualities. He has continued to work on his brand, Dapper Royalties, and is an active part of HBCU. Shaquille aims to motivate others through social media and raise awareness of Black History Month. From educating his followers on educational endeavors to being a guest speaker at the Leadership & Research Summit, he is doing it all. Last but not least, Shaquille has also taken up the responsibility of his fur baby, Kobe, since February 2025.
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