NGL linebacker-turned-attorney, Mel Owens, has been making headlines for a long time now. He made headlines with his participation in a reality TV show. He immediately sparked debate before the cameras even started rolling for saying he won’t date women older than 60. However, did you know that before he entered the reality TV world with the Golden Bachelors, he was married for over 20 years to Fabiana Pimentel Owens? The 66-year-old’s divorce after such a long time came as a shock to the entire family.

His statement sparked an online debate, with people questioning his stance, even though he told the host he was just looking for someone who was ‘honest, charming, loving, fit and full of life’. Did you know that his ex-wife and first love, Fabiana Pimentel, had seemingly predicted that it was a bad idea for Owens to participate in the show? So, as Mel Owens continues his journey in the show, let us take a look at everything there is to know about his ex-wife, Fabiana.

Fabiana Pimentel and Mel Owens have an 18-year age gap

Before Mel Owens stepped into the limelight with Golden Bachelor, he was married to Fabiana Pimentel for over two decades. The duo got married in 2002 when she was 23 years old and Owens was 43. They slowly built a life in California, raising two sons, Lucas and Andre, who are 20 and 18 years old, respectively. However, their marital bliss faded after almost two decades, and Pimentel filed for divorce in February 2020, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for their separation.

Mel Owens owed nearly USD 1 million to his ex-wife, Fabiana Pimentel

According to reports, Mel Owens and Fabiana Pimentel’s divorce was not as clean as the former NFL star has portrayed it to be. Before joining the cast of Golden Bachelors, he seemed to have failed to mention that he was in a legal battle with his ex-wife, owing her nearly USD 1 million and at risk of losing his home. The couple’s former home, which is now occupied by Mel, is located in Aliso Viejo, California, and was purchased in 2008 for USD 840,000.

The couple’s shared home, a five-bedroom, three-bathroom home with a pool in the backyard and a built-in barbecue, is now estimated to be worth over USD 2 million. Mel Owens was ordered by the court to pay Fabiana Pimentel an equalisation payment of USD 980,000 on or before February 28, 2025. For the unversed, the court has ordered Owens to pay nearly USD 1 million to cover unpaid child and spousal support, property division and attorney’s fees.

Despite his claims of earning just USD 1,000 per month, Owens retained assets totalling over USD 2.75 million, including the couple’s Orange County home valued at more than USD 2 million. According to Pimentel’s court filing in September 2025, Ownes seemed to have failed to pay the full amount and had only paid USD 40,000. As for their divorce, according to court documents, it was not finalised until December 2024. The couple had been in a legal battle for nearly five years now, as Pimentel filed for divorce in 2020.

Fabiana Pimentel called Mel Owens’ stint with Golden Bachelors a bad decision

Before his debut, Mel Owens’ ex-wife, Fabiana Pimentel, had also reacted to his casting in the show. Talking to the Daily Mail, she wished him luck but also added that she believed it was a bad idea. However, she concluded, stating that she didn’t want to be involved in the drama, keeping her response brief but biting:

“Good luck. I mean, it’s going to be bad. But anyway, I don’t want to be involved in this.”

Who Is Fabiana Pimentel?

Beyond her connection to the Golden Bachelor reality star, Mel Ownes, Fabiana Pimentel has built an impressive life and career for herself. According to her LinkedIn profile, she is currently serving as the Director of Experiences at Preferred Hotels & Resorts in Corona del Mar, California. Pimentel also worked as an Assistant Manager at NBO Law, the firm founded by Owens himself from 2007 to 2016. However, that was not all.

Pimentel also co-founded Final Touch Organising, a holistic home-organisation business she launched with fellow Brazilian entrepreneur, Karine Schaefer. During an interview with Shout Out SoCal in 2021, Fabiana Pimentel was asked about her experience. Explaining her approach, she revealed that the holistic method set them apart from other businesses. She was quoted as saying:

“We take a holistic approach in our business, and that sets us apart. I use Feng Shui to harmonise our clients with their surrounding environment. We believe that keeping positive energy and flow while organising helps our clients alleviate stress.”

Talking about her personal life, Fabiana Pimentel is a proud mother of two. She hails from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, something she proudly shared in interviews and on social media. While much of her content on Facebook and Instagram is now private, she describes herself as a traveller, content creator, Reiki and ThetaHealing practitioner, and devoted mom. Her Instagram bio highlights her passions: baseball with her boys, global travel, crystals, art, photography, and holistic healing.