Benjamin Taylor wasn't your typical reality TV star. When he first appeared on 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days Season 3, he was a soft-spoken divorced dad from Phoenix, Arizona. He wasn't looking for club scenes or Instagram fame. Honestly, he just wanted a wife who shared his deep religious convictions. That's how he ended up on a plane to Nairobi, Kenya, to meet Akinyi Obala.
It was awkward. Like, really awkward.
Remember the scene where he had one margerita and basically shut down? Or the intense "bride price" negotiations with Akinyi’s father and brother? People still talk about that. Benjamin was the first white man to ever visit Akinyi’s village, and the cultural chasm was massive. He was broke—or at least, he didn't have the kind of cash Akinyi's family expected for a dowry. He was stressed. He was out of his element. Yet, against the odds of reality TV's notoriously low success rate, Benjamin from 90 Day Fiancé actually made it work.
The Bride Price and the Kenyan Culture Shock
The biggest hurdle for Benjamin Taylor wasn't the long-distance relationship; it was the tradition. In Kenya, particularly within Akinyi's community, the bride price is a serious cultural milestone. It’s not "buying" a person, though it can look that way to Western eyes. It’s a gesture of respect to the parents.
Benjamin showed up with limited funds.
He had to sit in a room with Akinyi's brother, Fidel, who wasn't exactly making things easy. There was this palpable tension because Benjamin didn't quite understand that he wasn't just marrying a girl; he was joining a lineage. The negotiations were painful to watch. He ended up paying a portion of the bride price, which allowed them to be "married" under Kenyan law, though the U.S. government didn't see it that way yet.
Culture shock is a phrase we throw around a lot, but for Ben, it was physical. He struggled with the food, the climate, and the social expectations. Most fans thought he would fold. They figured he'd hop on a plane back to Arizona and never look back. But he stayed. He listened. Even when he looked like he wanted to vanish into the floorboards during those family meals, he stayed.
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Life After the Cameras: The Long Wait
Television makes everything look fast. You see a plane land, a fight, a wedding, and credits roll. For Benjamin and Akinyi, the reality was a brutal two-year wait.
The COVID-19 pandemic hit right when they were trying to navigate the K-1 visa process. This is the part the show doesn't always emphasize: the grinding bureaucracy of USCIS. While other couples were breaking up over leaked DMs or cheating scandals, these two were just staring at a computer screen on FaceTime.
- They stayed together for over two years apart.
- Benjamin focused on being a father to his son, Grayson.
- Akinyi stayed in Nairobi, continuing her life while waiting for the embassy to reopen.
When she finally landed in the United States in 2021, the dynamic shifted. Transitioning from a vibrant life in Nairobi to a quiet suburban existence in Phoenix is a lot. Akinyi had to deal with the dry heat, the isolation of American car culture, and the reality of being a stepmother.
Dealing with the "Boring" Label
Critics of the show often called Benjamin "boring" or "too passive." In a franchise filled with people throwing drinks and screaming in airports, a guy who prays and worries about his budget doesn't always move the needle for drama-hungry viewers.
But that "boring" quality is likely why they are still married today.
They didn't chase the influencer lifestyle as hard as others. Sure, they have a YouTube channel and they do the occasional social media update, but they aren't selling weight-loss teas or starting "OnlyFans" accounts. They're just living. Benjamin works in social services/insurance sectors, and they've focused on building a stable home for his son.
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The Step-Parenting Dynamic
One of the most nuanced parts of Benjamin's story is how he integrated Akinyi into his son’s life. If you watch their later appearances on 90 Day Diaries, you see a much more confident Akinyi. She wasn't just the shy girl from Kenya anymore; she was a woman navigating the complexities of American parenting.
Benjamin had to balance his loyalty to his son, Grayson, with his new marriage. It’s a tightrope. His ex-wife was also part of the equation, though she mostly stayed off-camera. Unlike other 90 Day stars who use their kids as plot points, Benjamin seemed genuinely protective of his son’s privacy and well-being. This created a slower, more deliberate pace to their relationship that actually allowed for real roots to grow.
Financial Realities and the 90 Day Paycheck
There's a massive misconception that being on 90 Day Fiancé makes you rich. It doesn't.
Cast members on the main show typically make about $1,000 to $1,500 per episode. If you aren't on screen, you don't get paid. For a guy like Benjamin, who was already working a regular job, the show was a boost, but it wasn't "set for life" money. The real financial strain came from the visa fees, the flights to Africa, and the ongoing support of two households.
Benjamin was very transparent about his financial struggles on the show. He didn't have a mansion. He didn't have a luxury car. He was a guy living a very modest, middle-class life. Seeing him navigate the "bride price" with a limited bank account was one of the most honest depictions of the economic disparity often found in international dating. He wasn't a "sugar daddy," and he never tried to pretend he was.
Why Their Relationship Defied the Odds
Most people bet against them. The odds were objectively terrible.
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- Extreme religious differences (within the same faith but different practices).
- Huge cultural gap regarding family roles.
- The "instant family" pressure of Benjamin’s son.
- The global pandemic.
They survived because they seem to actually like each other. It sounds simple, but it’s rare in this franchise. If you look at their social media today, they aren't just posting professional photoshoots. They’re posting about going to church, cooking Kenyan food in Arizona, and dealing with the mundane parts of marriage.
Akinyi has also become quite the entrepreneur, exploring her interests in cooking and digital content, while Benjamin remains the steady, somewhat awkward guy we met years ago. He hasn't undergone some massive "glow up" or personality transplant. He's just Ben.
Navigating the Future
What’s next for Benjamin and Akinyi? They’ve expressed interest in growing their family eventually, but they’ve been very vocal about doing things on their own timeline. They aren't rushing into things just to stay relevant in the TLC universe.
They represent a specific niche of the show: the success story that isn't built on fireworks, but on patience. Benjamin Taylor might not be the most "exciting" cast member in the history of the show, but he’s one of the few who actually achieved what the show is supposedly about—finding a partner and making a life together.
How to Apply Their Lessons to Real Life
If you’re looking at Benjamin’s journey and wondering how to navigate your own cross-cultural relationship or major life transition, there are a few takeaways that aren't just reality TV fodder.
- Acknowledge the cultural "bride price" equivalents. Even if you aren't paying a dowry, every culture has expectations of what a partner "owes" the family—be it time, respect, or financial stability. Address these early.
- Be honest about your finances. Benjamin’s honesty about his budget was painful to watch, but it prevented bigger lies from destroying the relationship later.
- Patience is the only way through the K-1 process. There are no shortcuts. Expect delays and use that time to build a foundation of communication that doesn't rely on physical presence.
- Integrate children slowly. Benjamin’s focus on his son’s comfort level over TV drama is a blueprint for any divorced parent entering a new marriage.
The story of Benjamin from 90 Day Fiancé is a reminder that sometimes the people who seem the least likely to "make it" are the ones who actually do, simply because they are willing to endure the awkwardness of the process. For those interested in following their current journey, the couple remains active on their shared YouTube channel and Instagram, where they document the reality of being an international couple in the American Southwest.
If you want to understand the visa process they went through, you can look into the K-1 Nonimmigrant Visa requirements on the official USCIS website, which outlines the same hurdles Benjamin and Akinyi faced for years. Their success wasn't magic; it was paperwork, persistence, and a lot of long-distance phone calls.