Netflix knows exactly what it's doing. You’re sitting there, scrolling through the "New & Hot" tab, and suddenly you’re ten episodes deep into a social experiment where people propose to a wall. But Season 8 hit different. Among the chaos of the St. Paul, Minnesota cast, Love Is Blind Avery—specifically Avery Miles—became the person everyone actually wanted to root for. While other contestants were busy arguing about whether they looked like Megan Fox or getting tangled in messy love triangles, Avery brought a level of grounded energy that the show honestly didn't deserve.
She’s a recruiter. She knows how to read people. That professional background probably helped her navigate the pods, but it didn't shield her from the weirdness of the "experiment."
Avery wasn't the loudest person in the room. In a franchise that usually rewards the loudest screamers or the most dramatic villains, her storyline with Leo Braudy felt like a weird fever dream that we’re all still trying to process. It’s rare to see someone on reality TV who seems like a real person you’d actually grab a drink with, but Avery managed it. She was direct. She was skeptical when she needed to be. And she didn't let the pressure of the cameras force her into a "fairytale" that didn't exist.
The Pods Were a Mess, But Avery Stayed Focused
The St. Paul season was arguably one of the most chaotic iterations of the show. We had people lying about their physical appearance and others who seemed more interested in their Instagram follower count than a marriage certificate. Love Is Blind Avery entered the pods looking for something genuine, and for a second, it looked like she found it with Leo.
Leo was... a lot. He’s an art dealer. He’s wealthy. He mentioned his family business about 400 times in the first three episodes.
Watching Avery interact with him was a masterclass in patience. You could see the recruiter brain working. She was vetting him. While Leo was oscillating between Avery and Chelsea Blackwell, Avery remained remarkably consistent. She didn't engage in the "pick me" behavior that often plagues the women's quarters. Instead, she asked the hard questions. She wanted to know if the connection was based on substance or just the high of the environment.
That "Engaged But Not Moving Forward" Twist
Then came the moment that confused everyone watching at home. Leo proposed. Avery said yes. They walked out of those pods, met face-to-face, and... the producers basically told them they weren't going to Mexico.
Wait, what?
Historically, Love Is Blind only follows a certain number of couples to the retreat. Usually, it's five or six. If more couples get engaged, the ones with the "least compelling" stories (read: the least amount of manufactured drama) get cut from the main filming schedule. Avery and Leo were the casualties of this production choice.
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It felt like a snub. Fans were vocal on social media, wondering why we were forced to watch toxic cycles for hours while Love Is Blind Avery was relegated to a "where are they now" footnote mid-season. It’s a reminder that this is a television show first and a social experiment second. If you aren't fighting or crying in a way that generates clips for TikTok, you might get the boot.
Life After the Cameras Stopped Rolling
Most people think the story ends when the screen goes black, but for Avery, the real experiment started in the "real world" without the Netflix budget. She and Leo actually tried to make it work. They even went on their own trip to Morocco.
Think about that for a second. Most couples on this show break up the moment they realize they have to pay for their own flights. Avery and Leo actually attempted to build a bridge between the pod fantasy and Minnesota reality.
- They traveled together.
- They met families.
- They tried the day-to-day grind.
But honestly? It didn't stick. In post-show interviews and social media updates, Avery has been pretty transparent about the fact that the connection they felt in the pods didn't translate to a lifelong partnership. There wasn't some massive, scandalous blowout. It was just... not it. And that’s okay. In fact, it’s more "human" than most of the scripted-feeling breakups we see during the reunions.
Why Avery Redefined the "Winner" Archetype
We usually think the winners of Love Is Blind are the ones who say "I do" at the altar. But look at the track rate. Most of those marriages are in divorce court within eighteen months.
The real winners are the ones who leave with their reputation intact and a massive career boost. Love Is Blind Avery walked away looking like the most sane person in St. Paul. She didn't get caught in lies. She didn't treat other women poorly. She stood her ground when things felt off.
In the recruitment world, she talks a lot about "cultural fit." It turns out Leo wasn't a cultural fit for her life. That’s a high-value realization. It saves years of heartache.
The Social Media Aftermath
If you follow Avery now, you’ll see she hasn't pivoted into that cringey "full-time influencer" vibe that some of her castmates embraced. Yes, she does the occasional brand deal—it’s 2026, everyone does—but she kept her day job. She’s still Avery. She’s posting about her life in Minnesota, her friends, and her actual career.
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There’s a specific kind of "reality TV glow-up" that involves a lot of filler and a move to Los Angeles. Avery skipped that. She stayed grounded in the Midwest, which only makes her more likable to the fans who found her relatable in the first place.
What the "Avery Edit" Tells Us About Reality TV
Producers are editors of human lives. They take hundreds of hours of footage and chop it into a narrative. The fact that Avery was "cut" from the Mexico trip suggests she wasn't giving them the "mess" they wanted.
Is it a compliment? Probably.
If you’re too healthy for a reality show, you get less airtime. We see it every season. The couples who actually communicate well and resolve conflict without screaming are boring to the average viewer who wants to see a wine glass get thrown. By losing out on the Mexico trip, Avery actually won the "integrity" game. She got the exposure of the show without the soul-crushing humiliation of having her worst moments broadcast to millions of people.
Navigating the St. Paul Dating Scene Post-Show
Being a public figure in a city like St. Paul isn't the same as being one in NYC or LA. Everyone knows everyone. When Love Is Blind Avery goes out to a local spot, people recognize her.
She’s handled the "local celebrity" status with a lot of grace. She’s been open about how weird it is to date after being on a show where your romantic failures are public record. But she’s also used her platform to talk about things that matter, like career growth and the reality of being a woman in the corporate world.
She isn't just "the girl from the pods." She’s a professional who happened to take a wild detour into a Netflix studio.
Common Misconceptions About the Avery and Leo Split
People love a villain. Because Leo was portrayed as a bit of a "trust fund kid" archetype, many fans assumed Avery dumped him the second she saw his bank account wasn't enough to make up for his personality.
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That’s a bit too simple.
The reality is that the pod environment creates an artificial intimacy. You’re talking for 12 to 15 hours a day. You have nothing else to do. No phones. No books. Just talking. When you get out, and you realize your partner spends four hours a day on their phone or has habits that drive you up the wall, that "pod love" evaporates. Avery has been clear that it was a mutual realization that they were just different people.
- Geography wasn't the issue: They both lived in the same area.
- Money wasn't the issue: Avery is a successful professional in her own right.
- The "Spark": It’s the one thing you can’t manufacture, and they just didn't have it in the sunlight.
The Future of the Love Is Blind Franchise
Avery’s experience highlights a major flaw in the show: the "extra" couples. As the show gets more popular, more people are "winning" the pods. Netflix needs to figure out how to handle these stories. Either follow everyone or be more transparent about why some are left behind.
For Avery, being left behind was a blessing in disguise. She avoided the "villain edit" that often comes during the high-stress vacation and move-in phases. She got to control her narrative in a way that someone like Sam or Chelsea didn't.
What You Can Learn From Avery’s Journey
If you’re a fan of the show, there are actually some decent life lessons to pull from how Avery handled herself.
- Trust your gut early: If someone feels like they’re performing (like Leo’s constant mentions of his status), they probably are.
- Don't chase the camera: Avery stayed true to herself even when it meant less screen time.
- Post-show grace: How you treat your "ex" after the cameras are gone says more about you than the edited clips.
Avery Miles proved that you can go on a trashy reality show and come out the other side with your dignity. She’s become a bit of a blueprint for future contestants who want the experience without the reputation destruction.
Next Steps for Fans and Career Seekers
If you're inspired by how Avery managed her professional identity while being in the public eye, your first move should be auditing your own digital footprint. Avery kept her LinkedIn professional and her Instagram authentic, which preserved her "hireability" post-show.
Take a page out of the Love Is Blind Avery handbook: before you commit to a major life change or a new "experiment," vet the situation with the same intensity she used in the pods. Look for the red flags of performative behavior in your own relationships and career. Being the "boring" healthy person in the room is usually the ultimate win.
Check out Avery’s actual recruitment tips on her social channels if you're looking to level up your job search; she’s one of the few reality stars actually providing tangible value to her followers beyond just "use my discount code."