If you’ve spent the last few months wondering why your Instagram feed is suddenly full of blurry paparazzi shots of a scruffy guy in a VIP box, you’re not alone. The Bravo universe basically imploded when Paige DeSorbo and Craig Conover called it quits in late 2024. For three years, they were the "it" couple of reality TV crossover—the New York fashionista meeting the South Carolina sewing mogul. But then, enter Joe D'Amelio.
Honestly, the transition was fast. Too fast for some fans. By January 2025, the rumors were already swirling, and by now, in early 2026, we finally have the full picture. It’s not just a rebound. It’s a whole new chapter that has Paige trading Charleston charm for the high-stakes world of sports marketing.
Joe D'Amelio: More Than Just a Mystery Man
So, who actually is this guy? People kept asking if he was related to the TikTok D'Amelios (Charli and Dixie). He’s not. Joe is a heavy hitter in a completely different arena. He is a Senior Vice President of Football Marketing at Klutch Sports Group. If that name sounds familiar, it should. That is the $1.4 billion agency founded by Rich Paul, the guy who represents LeBron James and Odell Beckham Jr.
Joe isn't some reality-star-in-waiting. He’s a suit. A very successful, well-connected suit who lives in New York City. For Paige, who famously refused to move to Charleston for Craig, this was a massive win. No more long-distance flights. No more fighting about "vibrations" in South Carolina. Just a subway ride or a short Uber to see her man.
- Job Title: SVP of Football Marketing at Klutch Sports.
- Location: New York City (The ultimate Paige requirement).
- The Vibe: Low-key, wealthy, and very much not interested in being a Bravo houseguest.
The Timeline That Raised Eyebrows
The "Gigglers" (Paige’s loyal podcast fanbase) are basically FBI agents at this point. They noticed things. First, there was the Philadelphia Eagles game. Paige, who usually wouldn't be caught dead in a stadium unless there was a specific outfit involved, was spotted in a VIP box. Then came the hand-holding photos in Capri, Italy, during the summer of 2025.
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But the drama actually starts earlier. Rumors suggest Joe broke off an engagement to a woman named Rachel Durante just months before he and Paige went public. Rachel even posted some pretty pointed stories about a "girl's girl" who wasn't actually a girl's girl, leading many to believe there might have been some overlap between Paige's exit from the Craig era and Joe's exit from his previous life.
Paige, of course, denies any cheating. She’s maintained that she and Joe were friends first. They were even spotted together at a Knicks game with their dads—a classic "we're just friends" move that usually means "we're definitely dating but I’m not ready for the internet to yell at me yet."
Why the Craig Conover Split Still Stings
We have to talk about Craig. It’s been a year, but the details coming out of Southern Charm Season 11 are brutal. Craig recently admitted on Watch What Happens Live that he actually used ChatGPT to process his feelings about the breakup. He was blindsided. While Paige was moving on with a sports exec, Craig was crying to an AI.
It’s a classic case of two people wanting different lives. Craig wanted the suburban dream in Charleston—the house, the kids, the sewing room. Paige wanted to remain the "Front Row" version of herself in Manhattan. In her 30s, she realized she didn't want to compromise her career or her zip code for a guy, even one as lovable as Craig.
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"Your 30s for women... are very transformative. You change a lot, and you grow a lot. It was just the right decision for both of us." — Paige on the Giggly Squad podcast.
Life After Summer House
In a shocking move, Paige actually left Summer House after seven seasons. She’s done with the Hamptons drama. She’s focusing on her brand, Daphne, and her massive podcast empire. Having a partner like Joe D'Amelio fits this new "quiet luxury" lifestyle perfectly. Joe doesn't need the cameras. In fact, he seems to avoid them.
During a recent episode of Giggly Squad in January 2026, Paige gave a rare update. She talked about a double date with Hannah Berner and Des Bishop where Joe and Des just sat there in silence while the girls performed for their "imaginary cameras." It’s a dynamic that works for her: a man who is successful enough to not be intimidated by her fame, but private enough to keep her personal life off the "grid" until she’s good and ready.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Pair
The biggest misconception is that this was a PR stunt to exit her relationship with Craig. It wasn't. If you look at Joe's background—his father was the CFO of Pfizer—he comes from a world of old-school East Coast money and corporate power. He doesn't need the "clout" that comes with dating a Bravolebrity.
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If anything, the relationship with Joe represents Paige finally getting exactly what she said she wanted: an Italian guy from New York who has his own life and stays out of hers when she's working.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Followers:
- Watch the Podcasts, Not the Show: If you want the real tea on Paige and Joe, stop looking for him on Bravo. He likely won't appear on Summer House or any spinoffs. The Giggly Squad podcast is where the actual breadcrumbs are dropped.
- Expect a Private Engagement: Given Joe's background and his family's status, don't expect a televised proposal. If these two get engaged, it’ll be a high-end, private affair in Italy or NYC, announced via a single, perfectly curated Instagram post.
- The "New" Paige: Observe how her content has shifted. She's moving away from the "fast fashion" influencer vibe and into a more "executive spouse/business mogul" aesthetic. This is the "Joe D'Amelio effect" in action.
The Paige and Joe era is officially here. It’s less "reality TV drama" and more "Manhattan power couple." While the transition was messy and the rumors of "emotional affairs" still linger on Reddit, Paige seems the happiest she's been in years. She traded a sewing machine for a sports agency, and honestly? It suits her.