Kriti Mehrotra
While you might remember Michael Aaron Fractor as the awkward comedian from Netflix’s ‘Twentysomethings: Austin,’ we see him in a different light in Hulu’s ‘Are You My First?’ He has never really been shy about the fact that he is a virgin, but this dating experiment definitely pushed him to come out of his comfort zone like never before, especially when all he was surrounded by were fellow virgins. However, he admittedly never imagined he would find a connection with a woman like Rachael Staudt, a blonde beauty from Tampa, Florida, who is around four years older than him.
Rachael and Michael Worked Together to Overcome Several Challenges
The moment Rachael entered the show, California turned Texas resident Michael was so struck by her beauty that he asserted he wouldn’t even try to talk to her. He truly felt as if she was out of his league, but things changed once everyone began mingling because the duo found themselves sitting by the pool in the evening and having a sincere one-on-one conversation. In fact, not only did they discover they have a really similar sense of humor, but he also made her feel so safe and secure that she was comfortable opening up about having Vaginismus.
Michael’s kind, caring response only pulled Rachael in further, so she expressed herself during the Crush Declaration ceremony by getting down on one knee and painting his ring finger. This was undeniably a bold move, but it was fortunately reciprocated by the 26-year-old in the form of his making more efforts to talk to her while not having eyes for anyone else. In other words, they essentially coupled up and even shared a beautiful first kiss within a few days, just for their bond to suddenly be ripped apart when Michael had to leave due to a family emergency.
It became evident how deep they had gotten in such a short period when Rachael broke down in tears upon hearing the news, but she still kept the hope of him returning alive in her heart. The fact that she didn’t even try to connect with anyone else romantically and wrote her missing beau a letter about how she was feeling also made it a big deal when he did return. What followed was a cute reunion as well as them deciding to pick up right from where they left off, although things did get a little complicated over time, owing to her severe physical intimacy issues.
While Rachael unequivocally wanted to pursue a physical connection with Michael, her body froze up not long after they got into bed together for the first time to cuddle, even though it was her idea. That’s when she realized that her biggest obstacle is her physical intimacy issues. Yet, the way her partner understood her worries, calmed her down, and prioritized her emotions made things a lot easier. This continued once they moved in together in a Love Shack too, following which she got the opportunity to be there for him as his fear of commitment and long distance came to light.
Rachael and Michael Are Possibly Still Together
Rachael and Michael hadn’t expected to find the relationship they found, so all of this was completely uncharted territory, yet at the end of their 3 weeks, they mutually chose to be with one another no matter what. Neither Rachael nor Michael has since come forward to share their relationship status, but we do believe they are still romantically involved and trying to make things work. After all, she traveled to Austin, Texas, in early 2025, and while he has often been vocal about wanting to “find love,” he hasn’t made any such remarks relatively recently. In other words, it’s possible they have already found love with one another.
Rachael and Michael Are Dedicated to Furthering Their Careers Today
While we already know Michael is a hardworking stand-up comedian specializing in crowd work as well as roasts, he has also evolved into a tour guide. In 2025 alone, he performed live at several establishments across the nation, expanded his online reach with the help of Instagram and TikTok, gave a few podcast interviews, grew his standing on Cameo, and more. His sarcastic and dry humor has really been helping him propel further in the industry, right alongside the support he receives from his fans, family, and friends alike. His former castmates from ‘Twentysomethings: Austin,’ like Kamari Bonds and Isha Punja, as well as his new co-stars from ‘Are You My First?’ are definitely a part of his support system too.
Coming to Rachael, while she might have primarily been a proud cocktail waitress doing bottle service in Tampa, Florida, for around 7 years at the time of filming, she is now a published author. In fact, not only did she self-publish her debut novel, ‘The King of Smoke and Shadows,’ on May 27, 2025, but she is currently editing her second book while also writing the third. Her second book is actually the second part of her Smoke and Shadows series, whereas her third will venture into a new story and world altogether. We specify this because the avid reader and travel enthusiast is a fantasy, romance, and dark romance author.
Read More: Are Brooklyn and Layne From Are You My First Still Together?
