If you spent any time glued to VH1 during the late 2000s, you remember the chaos. It was the era of "Of Love" shows, where Bret Michaels looked for love in a house full of hairspray and Flavor Flav was somehow the most eligible bachelor in America. Then came Daisy of Love. Among the sea of spiked hair and leather vests, one guy stood out for being, well, actually likable. Chi Chi.
Most fans know him as the sensitive, sweet-natured guy who made it deep into the competition for Daisy De La Hoya’s heart. But once the cameras stopped rolling and the VH1 "Celebreality" bubble popped, he kinda vanished. You’ve probably wondered where he went. Is he still making music? Did he ever find a girl who wasn't a reality TV star?
Honestly, the story of Branden Mathena—the man behind the nickname—is a lot more grounded than the show ever let on.
Who Was Chi Chi on Daisy of Love?
Let’s refresh. Branden Mathena, better known as Chi Chi, entered the Daisy of Love mansion in 2009. He was 29 at the time, hailing from Chicago. Unlike some of the other contestants who seemed like they were playing a character for a "Bad Boy" audition, Chi Chi felt real. He was the "nice guy" who actually had a shot.
He wasn't just there to drink tequila and fight. He was a singer. He had pipes. In fact, one of the most memorable moments of the season was when he sang to Daisy. It wasn't just some cheesy reality TV stunt; the dude could genuinely sing.
He made it all the way to Episode 9. He was eliminated just before the finale, mostly because Daisy felt his friendship with fellow contestant Sinister (Derrick Tribbett) was a bit of a "package deal" that got in the way of a romantic connection. It was a weird, bittersweet exit. But for fans, he was the moral compass of a very messy house.
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Life After the VH1 Limelight
What do you do after you've been on a dating show where the prize is a rockstar's niece? For Branden, the answer was more reality TV—at first.
He jumped onto I Love Money 4. If you don't remember that show, it was basically the Avengers: Endgame of VH1 trash TV. They took all the "villains" and "favorites" from different shows and made them compete for a cash prize in Mexico. Branden didn't win, but he kept the "Chi Chi" brand alive for a few more years.
But here is where things get interesting. Unlike some of his costars who tried to cling to fame by any means necessary, Branden eventually stepped back. He didn't become a career influencer. He didn't try to launch a line of energy drinks.
The Music Career That Never Quite Hit the Mainstream
Branden was always a musician first. Even before the show, he was a singer-songwriter. Post-VH1, he continued to release music under his real name. If you dig through old YouTube uploads or SoundCloud archives, you can find his tracks. His voice is soulful—think early 2010s R&B mixed with pop-rock.
He actually has a really impressive range. It’s the kind of talent that makes you realize reality TV often buries the most interesting parts of a person under a silly nickname like "Chi Chi."
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Where is Chi Chi Now? (Update 2026)
As of early 2026, Branden Mathena lives a relatively private life compared to his "of Love" days. He’s active on social media—mostly Instagram—under the handle @chivh1.
He’s still the same guy fans loved: tattoos, great hair, and a seemingly positive outlook on life. He often posts about his fitness journey, his travels, and his ongoing love for music. He hasn't completely abandoned the VH1 community, though. He still interacts with fans of the show and occasionally does "Talk of Love" style interviews where he spills tea on what really went down behind the scenes in 2009.
One thing that hasn't changed? The friendship with Sinister. They are still tight. It turns out Daisy was right—those two were a package deal for life.
Addressing the Misconceptions
There’s a lot of confusion online because another famous "Chi Chi" passed away a few years ago. Chi Chi DeVayne, a legend from RuPaul’s Drag Race, died in 2020. Because they shared a nickname, some people mistakenly think the Daisy of Love star passed away.
To be clear: Branden Mathena (Chi Chi) is alive, well, and doing his thing.
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He also dealt with some controversy a few years back regarding a tattoo that many found offensive. He addressed it in interviews, basically saying it was a mistake of his youth and that he doesn't harbor hate toward anyone. It’s one of those things that lives on Reddit threads forever, but in his day-to-day life, he seems focused on personal growth.
Why We Still Care About Daisy of Love
It’s been over 15 years. Why are we still talking about a show where guys called "12 Pack" and "Tool Box" fought over a woman in a leopard-print dress?
Because it was the peak of "comfort" trash TV. It wasn't polished like modern reality shows. It was raw, hilarious, and occasionally earnest. Chi Chi represented the "earnest" part. He was the underdog we all rooted for because he seemed like a guy you’d actually want to hang out with in real life.
How to Keep Up With Branden Today
If you want to see what he’s up to, don't look for "Chi Chi" in the news. Look for Branden Mathena.
- Follow his Instagram: He’s surprisingly engaged with his followers and shares a lot of his daily life.
- Listen to his vocals: Search for his name on music platforms. You’ll be surprised at the quality of the recordings compared to the acoustic bits we heard on VH1.
- Revisit the show: If you're feeling nostalgic, Daisy of Love is often available on streaming services like Hulu or Paramount+. It holds up in a "time capsule" kind of way.
The "of Love" era is long gone, and most of those stars have faded into obscurity. But Branden Mathena managed to come out the other side with his dignity—and his voice—intact. He might always be "Chi Chi" to us, but he’s clearly moved on to a much bigger stage: his own life.
If you’re looking to dive deeper into the VH1 nostalgia, your next step should be checking out the "Talk of Love" podcast episodes featuring the original cast. They provide the context that the editors left on the cutting room floor back in 2009.