Who Is Marriage Or Mortgage's Nichole Holmes?

Reality television junkies, your latest unscripted obsession just landed on Netflix on March 10, 2021. In the streaming platform's latest show, engaged couples will have to choose between investing their hard-earned money in a fairytale wedding or dream home. 

The series, Marriage or Mortgage, pits Nashville-based wedding planner Sarah Miller against real estate agent Nichole Holmes as they persuade each couple to spend their money on love or practicality, (per People Magazine). Guess we can't always have both. 

As it turns out, there is an intriguing reason why Holmes is so comfortable in front of the camera. Back in 1995, Holmes actually finished as the second runner-up in the Miss USA Pageant as Miss Illinois USA in 1995. She even managed to secure the distinguished title of "Miss Photogenic" and was able to turn that talent into a brief modeling career (per The Daily Egyptian). 

According to Holmes' LinkedIn, she worked as a model at the Shop at Home Network before working her way up to become the host of the show in just six years. The real estate agent has worked as an affiliate broker for the Tennessee-based real estate firm Parks since 2017.

Nichole Holmes is relatively clear in her motives: She doesn't want someone else to repeat her past mistakes.

 "My first wedding was a very large and extravagant wedding, and my father came to me and said, 'Are you sure you don't want a big down payment on a house or two matching luxury cars in the driveway?'" Holmes told Realtor.com. "And I was, like, 'No, I've got to have my big day, Daddy!' Well, fast-forward seven years, and I got divorced. And then I was amortizing how much everything cost, and what it cost per year that the marriage lasted, and I was, like, 'Wow, that really wasn't a smart financial decision on my part!'"

Years after this revelation, the realtor went through another divorce. Ultimately, it is through her own life experiences that Holmes formed the opinion that real estate is a much wiser investment — and the statistics on her side. "Given the state of affairs these days — no pun intended with the affairs — 60 percent of marriages end in divorce," she told TODAY. "You can't make money on a wedding; it's barely 12 hours of a party. Invest in your future. You can always have a smaller wedding later."

Will couples be persuaded by her words of wisdom? Or will they be blinded by floral arrangements and dazzling designer wedding dresses (or what some may call love)?