Natalie Nunn & Jacob Payne – Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars

By: Jamie Steinberg

Q) What are the recent projects that you are working on?

Natalie: We have “Marriage Boot Camp,” which we are really excited about. We’re looking forward to the craziness that comes with the show.

Q) What made you think that the show was a good fit for you as a couple?

Jacob: It’s to really sharpen up the little problems and issues we had. We wanted to nip them in the bud before they turned into major issues. We thought the boot camp that Jim and Elizabeth put on was good. We knew it was good from the beginning. We did a little research on them before we went into the house and before we agreed to do the show. So, we knew what we were getting into. It was really just to get those little issues figured out before they turned into major issues. We’ve only been married for going on three years now.

Q) Did you bond with any of your fellow participants from the show?

Natalie: It was a different atmosphere, but everybody came from their own particular show and was a star on whatever show they were on. I gave everyone the benefit of the doubt. It’s not “The Bad Girls Club.” So, I tried to get to know everyone for who they were and not from how they were portrayed on TV, which I was guilty of doing that in the beginning thinking Spencer and Heidi were just these spoiled brats from “The Hills.” In the end, we ended up becoming the closest with them. There are some ups and downs while we’re at the boot camp with them. We were able to see past of what TV portrayed of them because they are actually an amazing couple and awesome people. We had a lot of fun times with Heidi and Spencer and became really, really close with them.

Q) What were some of your most memorable moments from filming the show?

Jacob: The most memorable one was the very last day and Natalie opened the box and the ring was there. With all the stress of the boot camp, nobody knew what was going to happen!

Natalie: People on social media obviously know that we are still together. There are some crazy stuff that Jim and Elizabeth had us go through!

Jacob: Everything they had us go through! When you watch it, you will see it is not easy. All the people who know about our relationship is just from what they see on Instagram or social media. Jim and Elizabeth really dug deep. It was more than just little problems that we have that we wanted to process. They really dug deep and got to the bottom of all the issues that we had and found the source of where they came from.

Q) What did you learn from boot camp that will help you with your relationship?

Natalie: We learned a lot! “Marriage Boot Camp” didn’t just expose our issues on TV that we have with me being a “Bad Girl” and being stuck in my ways. “Marriage Boot Camp” literally gave us tools to live with. If it was that Jacob wanted to have more sex and he’s a very sex driven guy, instead of leaving him wondering when I would have sex with him that one of their tools was to set days and make a schedule. Monday, Wednesday and Friday are the days he gets to have sex. They just gave us so many tools! A man doesn’t want to have to wonder when his wife is going to have sex with him. You don’t want him to keep nagging at you to have sex. So, set a schedule. It sounded so silly, but when we left boot camp we set a schedule. I have my stuff going on with TV and Hollywood stuff and he has football. So, we set a schedule for our time together and it works so well!

Q) You are both so open with your fans and followers. What did boot camp teach you about your lives on social media?

Natalie: Social media was one of the biggest issues with why we went to boot camp.

Jacob: We were a little TOO open.

Natalie: Jacob was very upset about a lot of me Instagram posts. He thought thong bikinis on the beach in Brazil was way too much for a married woman. We discussed all of these issues at boot camp and I opened up a lot about why I do it. A lot of woman would say I do it because I have a nice butt or body, but I really opened up and said being a “Bad Girl” this is my fanbase and this is what they want to see “Bad Girls” do. They want to live vicariously through me and I come out and say, “I don’t really like wearing thong bikinis on the beach. I’d rather wear a one piece because I like to dive in the waves and don’t want to lose my bottom or my top!” But I honestly share the truth and I feel very caught up in the “Bad Girl” lifestyle because that’s how I’ve been portrayed for the last six years and I feel that’s what sells for me. In this industry, it’s very cut and dry and I talk about that on the show. I think it’s really good because there are reality stars and celebrities on the show. People that follow me on social media and Instagram think, “Oh Natalie is like that because she wants to show off her ass.” No, the more likes I get for a photo the more money I get paid. I start really telling people on the show the truth about what it is really like to be not just a reality TV star for the last almost seven years of my life, but being married now and why I do this stuff. Sometimes people will say to me, “Why did you post that picture on Instragram because that’s tacky, you’re married.” Then, a lot of the comments are like, “Oh my gosh! I want to be just like Natalie!” So, I really open up on boot camp and tell people how I feel and why I do the things that I do.

Q) Are you looking forward then to the reaction from fans you’ll receive when the episodes premiere?

Natalie: I’m not nervous. I think being on so many TV shows that this one is very personal. It’s now Jacob is on this show and I’m very protective of my family. I’m very protective of my husband. So, I think people are going to have a whole new perspective of us. Especially with me being the “Bad Girl,” I’m not that bad on this show. That scares me because my fanbase loves the drama. They love the drama! Obviously, I bring some drama because naturally I’m an outspoken person and some of the cast members clash. But it’s not “Bad Girls Club” where I’m smacking bitches and throwing people down stairs. It does scare me because I just want my fans to grow with me. There is going to be some ups and downs for sure. People are going to have different feelings about t.

Q) What would you like to say to fans and supporters of both of you?

Jacob: Keep supporting us! This is not the new, changed Natalie. It’s just the real Natalie. I didn’t marry Natalie from “The Bad Girls Club.” I married Natalie Nunn the grad from USC. She’s still wild and crazy, but it’s not in our every day life. She’s still a regular person, too.

Natalie: Now Jacob gets to talk. I can say all day how I’m an angel, which we know could be true and then there can be the side the people see on TV that is the “Bad Girl.” I think it’s important that Jacob is going to have a voice and they will learn, “She’s actually married. She’s been married for three years. He plays professional football and he’s a really nice guy.” They are going to want to hear from Jacob. People have so many questions for him like, “What’s it like being married to the baddest ‘Bad Girl?’ What’s it like being married to Natalie?” So, I’m anxious for everyone to hear him speak because he actually says a lot of things that I couldn’t say about myself. It’s going to be good! This boot camp is going to be very turned up! It’s going to blow last season out of the water. It’s going to be really entertaining. That’s the only thing I’m a little nervous about. It’s going to be really, refreshing reality TV!