It’s the kind of relationship that honestly defines an entire era of Bravo. You know the one. For years, the saga of Naomie Olindo and Craig Conover was the beating heart of Southern Charm. It wasn't just about two people dating; it was a collision of two completely different worlds. On one side, you had Naomie, the hyper-organized, driven daughter of French entrepreneurs who didn't have much patience for "fluff." On the other, Craig, the guy who just wanted to sew pillows and maybe, eventually, think about taking the bar exam.
They were the golden couple until they weren't.
If you’ve been following the Charleston crew lately, you know the landscape has shifted. It’s now 2026, and the dust has mostly settled on the "pillows vs. law" era. But people still get the details of their split and that weird Season 8 "reunion" totally wrong. Most fans think it was a clean break followed by a random hookup, but the reality was a messy, multi-year process of outgrowing each other while the cameras caught every uncomfortable second.
The Breakup No One Saw Coming (But Everyone Should Have)
When Naomie and Craig finally called it quits in September 2017, the fan base was split. Half the viewers thought Naomie was being "mean" to Craig for mocking his sewing. The other half saw a woman drowning in a relationship with a guy who lied about his graduation and slept until noon.
It was toxic.
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Craig later admitted he was battling deep depression during that time. His house was literally falling apart, and his relationship was following suit. Naomie has since expressed regret for how harsh she came across on screen, but you’ve got to admit, watching someone tell their partner to "shut up" at a dinner party is hard to forget. They were together for three years, and by the end, they were basically speaking different languages. Naomie wanted a "partner in crime" with a 401k, and Craig wanted to find himself.
The Vegas Hookup and the Season 8 Chaos
Fast forward to 2021. Naomie had just gone through a brutal, public breakup with Metul Shah after discovery of his infidelity. She was raw. She was back in Charleston. And Craig? He was the familiar face.
Here is the part most people forget: they actually hooked up in Las Vegas before Season 8 started filming.
It wasn't a "we're getting back together" moment. It was, as Craig put it, "temporary comfort." But because this is Southern Charm, nothing stays simple. By the time the cameras were rolling for Season 8, Craig was already dating Paige DeSorbo.
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The tension was thick. You could literally feel it through the screen.
- The Closure: Craig claimed the Vegas hookup gave him the closure he needed.
- The Paige Factor: Paige, being the New York straight-shooter she is, wasn't exactly thrilled about Naomie hanging around.
- The Whitney Twist: Naomie then hooked up with Whitney Sudler-Smith, which felt like a giant middle finger to the group dynamic.
Honestly, Season 8 felt like a fever dream. Craig was trying so hard to prove he was "over" Naomie by being borderline aggressive toward her at parties. It was a classic case of overcompensating. He wanted Paige to feel secure, but his anger toward Naomie made it look like he still cared way too much.
Where Are Naomie and Craig Now?
It's 2026, and the "will they, won't they" is officially dead. Craig has turned Sewing Down South into a genuine empire. Remember when people laughed at him for the pillows? He’s the one laughing now. His relationship with Paige has had its ups and downs—mostly regarding the "Charleston vs. New York" move—but he’s found the stability he lacked with Naomie.
Naomie, meanwhile, has largely stepped away from the reality TV grind. She’s focused on her business, L'Abeye, and her life in Charleston. She’s rescued dogs, she’s traveled, and she’s kept her private life much more... well, private.
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She hasn't returned to the show as a full-time cast member recently, and frankly, it seems like the best move for her mental health. The "villain" edit she got during the breakup years was a lot to handle.
Why Their Story Still Matters to Fans
We're obsessed with Naomie and Craig because they represent that "first big love" that just isn't meant to last. It’s relatable. We’ve all been the person who stays too long because of history, or the person who feels judged by their partner.
Their dynamic was a lesson in compatibility versus chemistry. They had the chemistry, but their lifestyles were a disaster together.
If you’re looking for a takeaway from the whole Naomie and Craig saga, it’s this: closure doesn't always look like a polite conversation. Sometimes it looks like a messy season of television, a couple of awkward run-ins at a dog wedding, and eventually, just moving on with your life.
What you can do next:
If you're catching up on old seasons, pay close attention to the Season 6 reunion. It’s where you really see the transition from "bitter exes" to "people trying to be friends." Also, check out Craig’s book, Pillow Talk: What’s Wrong with My Sewing?, if you want the unfiltered version of how he felt during those dark months post-Naomie. It gives a lot of context that the show's editors left on the floor.