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Peg Munson says she ended her relationship with Mel Owens, whom she met on The Golden Bachelor<\/em>. She announced the split in an Instagram video on October 21.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m really sorry that I haven\u2019t spoken out sooner but it\u2019s been a really difficult 30 days for me,\u201d Munson, 63, said, according to Us Weekly<\/a>.<\/p>\n Both had arrived on the ABC dating show\u2019s second season after divorces. Owens, 67, has two sons, while Munson has a daughter from her previous marriage.<\/p>\n Munson did not disclose a specific cause or an exact separation date. Owens had not publicly responded when Just Jared<\/a> published its report on October 22.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Munson said she was concentrating on her emotional recovery and health. In the announcement, also covered by Bachelor Nation<\/a>, she wished Owens well and expressed gratitude for their time together.<\/p>\n She thanked followers for the supportive private messages she had received. The caption accompanying her video read, in part, \u201cSometimes love is real, but the outcome isn\u2019t what you hoped for.\u201d<\/p>\n In the season finale, filmed in Antigua and aired November 12, 2025<\/a>, fellow finalist Cindy Cullers decided to leave. As Entertainment Weekly<\/a> recounted, Owens had told her he didn\u2019t expect to marry anyone for at least two years, a wait she was unwilling to accept.<\/p>\n Owens subsequently presented Munson with a 3.5-carat Neil Lane diamond commitment ring rather than proposing. She accepted, and both declared their love during the live After the Final Rose<\/em> special.<\/p>\n In a Swooon interview<\/a> the next day, they explained that their private Fantasy Suite conversation had covered proposals, children and how to combine their families. Owens said the time away from cameras allowed them to speak candidly about matters they preferred to keep confidential.<\/p>\n They had no immediate plans to move in together. Owens was living in California and Munson in Las Vegas, an arrangement she said allowed them to enjoy the independence they had worked for. Their children had begun meeting at the live finale, although one of Owens\u2019 sons was absent because of a college baseball commitment.<\/p>\n During a December appearance on She\u2019s All Bach<\/em>, covered in a December 29 report<\/a>, Munson described a possible small beach wedding with friends and family. She imagined wearing a linen dress and going barefoot, and said she would keep the existing ring and potentially add a wedding band.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n On August 13, 2026, Munson posted a video marking one year since their overnight date. Sitting together, they raised their glasses to \u201chappiness, health, and fun\u201d and shared a kiss, as Swooon documented in its anniversary coverage<\/a>.<\/p>\n Owens recalled revealing his private thoughts during that date. Munson teased him that he hadn\u2019t had any, then praised the way he had listened to the women during filming. He explained that he had kept some feelings to himself because he wanted to be fair to everyone taking part.<\/p>\n She acknowledged that he had needed to get to know the other contestants. \u201cI knew it was you, though,\u201d Owens told her. Munson closed their exchange by saying, \u201cWe\u2019re here, we\u2019re happy, it\u2019s real.\u201d<\/p>\n During a late-September appearance on Bachelor Happy Hour: Golden Hour<\/em>, Munson was asked about getting engaged. \u201cRelationships take time, and we\u2019re still getting to know each other,\u201d she said, in comments quoted by TV Insider<\/a>.<\/p>\n She joined fellow contestant Terri Alani for the conversation with Kathy Swarts and Susan Noles. Swarts asked why Munson had blocked her on social media while leaving Noles unblocked, according to the franchise\u2019s September 25 account<\/a>.<\/p>\n Munson explained that years as a firefighter had exposed her to trauma, and she wanted to avoid negativity in retirement. Alani described the decision as a broad block rather than a grievance aimed specifically at Swarts.<\/p>\n Comparing her social media account to her home, Munson said, \u201cIt\u2019s okay; it\u2019s just who I choose to allow on my platform.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nPeg Says She Is Focusing on Her Health and Healing<\/h2>\n
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Their Finale Ended With a Commitment Ring<\/h2>\n
They Toasted a Year Since Their Fantasy Suite Date<\/h2>\n
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Peg Discussed Marriage and Online Criticism in September<\/h2>\n