Alison Victoria’s Dynamic Relationship with Brandt Andersen on HGTV

HGTV star Alison Victoria has always maintained a high level of privacy regarding her love life, especially after her split from ex-husband Luke Harding. Despite being private, it’s no secret that she has found a new spark with her boyfriend, Brandt Andersen. The couple shared a sweet kiss on the Daytime Emmys red carpet on June 7, 2024, yet they remain reserved about the intimate details of their relationship. Andersen revealed that they “were friends first” before they started dating.

Nicole Haley, a dating and relationship coach, told The List that friendship can fortify a romantic relationship, making it both stronger and spicier. According to Haley, “friendship leads to a clear understanding of compatibility without the distraction of physical intimacy.” When lovers start as friends, they are usually bonded by common interests and tend to communicate openly due to a lack of expectations.

Haley noted that while it’s rare for friendship to evolve into romance, when it does, it can bring couples closer and keep the passion alive. “It can lead to a deeper emotional connection, creating a spicier relationship,” she explained. “Knowing each other so well lowers inhibitions, allowing couples to relax into each other’s passions because they feel fully accepted and seen by one another. That level of intimacy forms the foundation for a truly spicy relationship.”

Many relationships start as friendships, but the quality of connection can vary, especially when distance is a factor. Alison Victoria revealed in an interview with A Drink With that she and ex-husband Luke Harding met on the dating site Match.com in 2011. At that time, she was in Las Vegas, and he was in Chicago, and they talked on the phone for a month before meeting at a Chicago Cubs game.

In contrast, Victoria and her new love, Brandt Andersen, seemed to have been within close proximity for a while. The “Windy City Rehab” star told Us Weekly she didn’t expect her friendship with Andersen to blossom into romance, but she acknowledged that “surprises are good.” Andersen added that they have a “very honest relationship” and that they laugh, dance, and “have a great time all the time.”

Discussing Victoria’s friendships with her ex-husband and current partner, Haley mentioned that it’s challenging to establish a genuine friendship through dating apps. People on these platforms often have specific goals and expectations, which can interfere with the “natural and slow evolution that characterizes most deep and lasting friendships,” according to Haley. The expert concluded that a solid foundation of friendship enhances the quality of connection in a lasting partnership.

Alison Victoria loves those who love her and both Brandt Andersen and her ex-husband Luke Harding have been her biggest fans. She previously mentioned that she married Harding because “he was the guy that was my biggest fan,” according to Distractify. The HGTV host also noted that the insurance agent was “super proud” of her.

Currently, Andersen seems to have taken Harding’s place as her number one fan off-camera. Although Andersen, an activist and filmmaker, only started following her work after they met, he did so fervently. “As soon as we met, I binge-watched [her show] like crazy,” he told Us Weekly. “Now, I’m like an expert on her show. She’s amazing.”

Victoria acknowledged her boyfriend’s support and love when she made their relationship Instagram official on June 12, 2024, just five days after their PDA-packed red carpet debut. She shared a series of photos of them attending the 2024 Daytime Emmys on Instagram and included a quote from Persian poet Rumi that spoke volumes about their connection. “Set your life on fire. Seek those who fan your flames,” read the quote. It appears that Victoria is also a fan of her man. She told Us Weekly that he’s the “most amazing human” she’s ever met, and she’s “proud to be next to him.”