The internet almost broke when Catherine Paiz and Austin McBroom announced their divorce. For years, they were the "gold standard" of YouTube family life, despite the constant swirl of lawsuits and house foreclosures. But then came the single era. While Catherine has largely moved on with a quieter lifestyle, Austin’s post-divorce journey has been... well, it’s been Austin McBroom. Loud, chaotic, and very much on camera.
If you’ve been following the breadcrumbs on Snapchat or Twitch lately, you’ve likely seen a new face. Her name is Alexa Mel.
She isn't just a background character in his new life. She’s become a central figure in his "rebrand" as a streamer and bachelor. People are obsessed. They want to know who she is, if they’re still together, and why on earth she seems to be the only person willing to check his ego in front of thousands of viewers.
Who Exactly is Alexa Mel?
Forget the mysterious Instagram model tropes for a second. Alexa Mel (sometimes referred to as Alexa Mal) is an influencer and content creator in her own right. She didn't just appear out of thin air. She has her own following, though it’s obviously skyrocketed since she started appearing on Austin’s feeds.
Honestly, she’s different from what many fans expected. After Catherine, most people thought Austin would date someone who stayed quiet and played the "supportive girlfriend" role to a tee. Alexa isn't that. She’s sharp. She’s vocal. And she has zero problems telling Austin when he’s being "out of touch."
The Moment Austin McBroom Got a Reality Check
There’s one specific clip that went viral and basically defined their dynamic for the public. Austin was on a livestream complaining—quite loudly—about his fans. He was frustrated that people weren't paying the $7 subscription fee to follow his Twitch. He was doing that thing where he questions how people can afford iPhones but not a sub.
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Alexa was sitting right there. She didn't nod along.
She looked at him and basically told him he had no idea what the real world looked like. She pointed out that people have to buy diapers, pay rent, and deal with a tough economy. She told him he’d lived in "mansion world" for way too long. It was a rare moment of genuine accountability that fans hadn't seen in the ACE Family era.
It made people actually like her. They saw her as a "real one" who wasn't just there for the clout or the lifestyle.
The Controversy: Recreating the Past?
Internet sleuths are a different breed. It didn't take long for people to notice something weird about Austin's photos with Alexa. Some fans started accusing Austin of "recreating" old photos he had with Catherine.
- Same poses.
- Similar outfits.
- The exact same vibe.
Is it intentional? Who knows. Some say it’s a sign he hasn't moved on. Others think it’s just his "aesthetic" and he’s doing what he knows works for the algorithm. Regardless, it put Alexa in the middle of a massive comparison war. Being the "new girlfriend" of a famous divorcee is hard enough, but when the internet starts side-by-ing you with the ex-wife every single day, it’s a lot to handle.
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Are Austin and Alexa Still Together?
This is where things get tricky because Austin’s life is a 24/7 reality show. They’ve had their ups and downs publicly. There was drama involving livestreams on Hollywood Blvd, weird puppy-selling situations that drew backlash, and the constant friction of their different personalities.
They’ve been spotted together as recently as late 2025 and into 2026. They were seen at a Justin Bieber Skylrk basketball game in LA, looking very much like a pair. However, in the world of influencers, "together" is a relative term. They might be "together" for a stream one day and "focusing on themselves" the next.
Basically, it’s complicated.
Why Does This Relationship Even Matter?
You might be wondering why anyone cares about a streamer and his girlfriend. But Austin McBroom represents a specific era of the internet. He was the king of family content. Seeing him navigate a relationship with Alexa Mel is like watching a sequel to a movie you thought was over.
Alexa serves as a foil to Austin’s more eccentric tendencies. While he’s trying to figure out how to be a "Twitch guy," she’s often the one grounding the content. Whether they stay together long-term or not, she’s already left a mark on his public image by being the person who finally said "shut up" when he needed to hear it.
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What You Should Know Moving Forward
If you’re trying to keep up with the Austin and Alexa saga, keep these things in mind:
- Watch the Streams, Not Just the Clips: Clips on TikTok are edited for maximum drama. If you watch the full VODs on Twitch, their dynamic is often a lot more chill and less "confrontational" than the viral moments suggest.
- Separate the Influencer from the Drama: Alexa has her own career. It’s worth looking at her solo content to see who she is when Austin isn't in the frame.
- Take the "ACE Family" Comparisons with a Grain of Salt: It’s easy to judge Austin for his past, but comparing Alexa to Catherine isn't fair to either woman. They are clearly at very different stages in their lives.
Austin McBroom’s life will probably always be a bit of a circus. That’s how he stays relevant. But with Alexa in the picture, the show has definitely changed its tone.
The next few months will likely reveal if this is a serious, long-term partnership or just another chapter in the post-ACE Family fallout. Keep an eye on his Snapchat stories; that’s usually where the real tea drops first. If they’re still posting together, the "mansion world" vs. "reality" debate is likely still going strong.
Actionable Insight: If you're interested in the business side of influencer relationships, track how Alexa's engagement rates change when she posts solo versus with Austin. It’s a classic case study in how "couples content" still dominates the algorithm, even when the relationship itself is polarizing.
Expert Note: Remember that social media is a curated performance. What looks like a "reality check" on stream can sometimes be a calculated move to garner sympathy or views. Always maintain a healthy skepticism when consuming creator-led drama.