90 Day Fiancé’s Cortney’s Anxieties: Who Joins Her in the Quest for Love?

Cortney Reardanz is opening up about her initial concerns before stepping into the world of 90 Day Fiancé: Hunt for Love. Ahead of joining the show, the 34-year-old reality star had one particular fear in mind: the return of the franchise’s most controversial personalities.

“I was worried Ed ‘Big Ed’ Brown or Angela [Deem] were going to be there, causing drama or instigating chaos constantly,” Cortney revealed in an exclusive interview with Us Weekly.
“It made me a bit anxious,” she admitted.

Fortunately, the cast lineup for the new TLC installment included familiar faces such as Rob Warne, Colt Johnson, Chantel Everett, Usman “Sojaboy” Umar, Tim Malcolm, Tiffany Franco, and Jeniffer Tarazona.

Cortney described a particularly awkward moment upon meeting Usman, who seemed to not remember her at all.

“I’ve met him. It’s like, ‘Who else is tall, blonde, and sounds like me? It’s me,’” she joked.
“Why are you pretending you don’t know me?”

Despite her reservations, Cortney approached the show with genuine hope of finding love.

“At 34, I feel like I’ve been trying on my own to find love, so why not let the professionals help me?” she said.

After undergoing extensive assessments and consultations with matchmakers, Cortney was impressed by the show’s dedication to pairing participants meaningfully.

“But I didn’t expect so many workshops,” she confessed.
“It was intense. A lot of work went into it.”

The Ever-Expanding 90 Day Universe

Since its 2014 debut, 90 Day Fiancé has become a cultural phenomenon, chronicling the journeys of couples navigating the K-1 visa process. Its success has led to multiple spinoffs including Happily Ever After?, Before the 90 Days, The Other Way, and now, Hunt for Love.

Cortney’s anxiety surrounding Big Ed Brown, now 60, stems from his unpredictable dating history on the franchise — including failed relationships with Rose Vega and Liz Woods.

In a May 2024 interview with Us Weekly, Ed shared some of his quirky dating anecdotes:

“I receive marriage proposals almost daily,” he said.
“They’re mostly from people over 85, and I can’t even pinpoint their nursing homes, so I just don’t reply.”

He continued with a laugh:
“The last wild message I got was from neighbors inviting me on a fully-covered couple’s trip to Florida. I wasn’t worried, being single. They end up being fun outings.”

But behind the lighthearted stories, Ed also shared a deeper reflection.

“People want to dine with me, but not actually with Ed—they want the celebrity, ‘Big Ed,’ and that’s part of the package,” he explained.

While Ed is not a part of Hunt for Love, his search for genuine connection continues—albeit with a new perspective.

“I’ve been navigating the dating world. It’s still awkward because, with dating, it feels like you’re pretending to be someone else,” he said.
“Instead, I’m focusing on building genuine friendships. I’ve met a few people in the industry we hang out with, play Top Golf, or enjoy happy hours. I’m waiting for the right companion to come along.”