Austin McBroom and Catherine Paiz pose for a photo together in September 2017 ; Austin McBroom and Catherine Piaz smile with their 3 kids and family dog in December 2021.
Once the shining stars of YouTube’s family vlogging scene, Austin McBroom and Catherine Paiz captured hearts around the world with their channel, the ACE Family. With their three children, Elle, Alaïa, and Steel, they built a world of laughter, challenges, and unforgettable moments that resonated deeply with over 18 million subscribers.
They launched their journey in 2016 and soon became beloved pioneers in the world of family content creation. But even the brightest stories are not without shadows. In 2022, they made the heartfelt decision to step away from YouTube, choosing instead to focus on traveling the world with their children and embracing the next chapter of life.
Behind the scenes, however, life presented challenges that slowly pulled them in different directions. Financial stress, legal battles, and growing emotional distance began to chip away at the foundation they had built. In October 2021, their $10.1 million Los Angeles home fell into foreclosure, a sign of the storms they were weathering.
By January 2024, their journey as a couple came to a poignant pause. Both Austin and Catherine took to Instagram with quiet grace, announcing their decision to part ways. Austin described it as one of the hardest decisions of his life, while Catherine simply acknowledged that some paths are meant to diverge.
Months later, Catherine opened her heart in a deeply personal conversation on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast. Her voice steady but tender, she spoke about the pain of infidelity and the unraveling of their marriage. She confirmed three known betrayals and spoke of many more rumored ones, choosing not to dwell on bitterness but to share her truth with honesty.
Still, she moved forward with grace. Nearly a year later, Catherine introduced her new relationship with Igor Ten through a quiet Instagram post. Austin responded not with resentment, but with understanding, expressing his trust in Catherine’s ability to choose someone who would respect their children and bring stability to their lives.
They now live only minutes apart, working together to co-parent with compassion and intention. Birthdays, holidays, and school milestones are moments they still share as a united front, offering their children love without confusion, and structure without tension.
Austin reflected on their new reality in a candid podcast episode with his brother, speaking of heartbreak and healing, and the responsibility he carries as a father above all else. Catherine, in turn, emphasized that while some things change, mutual respect and care for their children will always remain.
Her upcoming memoir, Dolores: My Journey Home, promises to share more of her story. Meanwhile, Austin continues to open up through short reflections on Snapchat, showing the world that even after endings, life can bloom in unexpected ways.
As for Elle, Alaïa, and Steel, the children who once lit up every ACE Family video, they remain quietly loved, protected, and supported. Their stories are no longer broadcast to the world, but rather held close, nurtured in privacy and peace.
The ACE Family may have closed a beloved chapter, but the love they once shared continues to evolve. Not as viral moments, but as quiet triumphs — the kind found in bedtime stories, in after-school hugs, and in the shared smiles of two parents choosing peace above all else.
