Survivor’s Parvati Shallow Calls Relationship with Comedian Mae Martin 'an In Flux Situation' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

‘Survivor’ winner Parvati Shallow (left) and comedian Mae Martin.Photo:Leon Bennett/Variety via Getty; Jeremy Chan/Getty

Leon Bennett/Variety via Getty; Jeremy Chan/Getty

Parvati Shallowmay want to make some changes in her love life.

TheDeal or No Deal Islandseason 2 contestant, 42, tells PEOPLE that she considers her relationship with comedian Mae Martin to be “an in flux situation."

“I’ve been through trying to fit myself into the structures of society and the definitions of dating and the definitions of relationships, and I’m like, do I want to do that? Or do I want to just take a big ball of clay and make it into what I want?” Shallow says. “I’m traveling so much and having these really fun, amazing adventures, so I’m in this place of asking myself, what do I really want?”

Shallow and Martin, 37,began dating in March 2023, and the reality star made the relationshipInstagram official later that year. Shallow been previously been married to fellowSurvivoralum John Fincher, with whom she welcomed daughter Ama in June 2018, for five years before theydivorced in 2021.

“Getting divorced and going through that experience that I went through was really challenging,” Shallow says. “And then meeting Mae, that is a very different relationship than one that I’ve ever had.”

Parvati Shallow (left), her daughter Alma Fincher and Mae Martin.Mae Martin/Instagram

Mae Martin/Instagram

“We don’t have life figured out, it’s a little messy and chaotic,” Shallow says. “But we are going to be having interviews with people who do have it figured out  — or have it figured out in certain areas of life — so we can pull from their expertise.”

As Shallow attempts to figure it all out, she says dating has been “the most challenging area of my life.”

“It’s been really tricky,” she adds. “I feel like I can succeed everywhere else, but dating is always throwing little wrenches in my plans.”

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Having the reputation asSurvivor’s Black Widow, who leveraged relationships with male contestants to further her game, doesn’t help.

Parvati Shallow (left), John Fischer and their daughter Ama on ‘Survivor: Winners at War’.Robert Voets/CBS via Getty

She continues, “I’ve met very few people who are confident enough to allow me to be my full self because I’m like, oh no, I’m pretty big. I like to flirt. I really connect with people very easily. So I think it’s a big ask for the people that I date.”

“I was watching David’s season ofAustraliabefore I startedDeal or No Deal, and I saw how he played — he aligns with the girls,” Shallow says. “He thinks he can control the women. So I was like, perfect. I’ll play that game, which is easy for me to play, like [a] flirty connection game. I’ll let this guy think he can control me. But also, I had a lot of respect for David as anAustralianSurvivorwinner, because that game is hardcore. We both had this mutual understanding that we were going to protect each other because we needed each other.”

Parvati Shallow on ‘Deal or No Deal Island’ season 2.Monty Brinton/NBC

Monty Brinton/NBC

Beyond gaming and dating, Shallow calls her daughter “my No. 1 priority.”

“She’s at this point in time where she’s like, ‘You’re famous. I want to be famous.’ I’m like, ‘Oh God. I’m not that famous. It’s just certain circles of people who really like this reality show,’" Shallow says. “Sometimes people want to take my picture, and she’s like, ‘What about me?’"

Parvati Shallow on ‘The Traitors’ season 2.Euan Cherry/PEACOCK via Getty

Euan Cherry/PEACOCK via Getty

Ama has seen a few episodes of Shallowon Deal or No Deal Island, as well as season 2 ofThe Traitors, where Shallow “murdered” her costars alongside fellow TraitorsDan GheeslingandPhaedra Parks.

Still, Shallow thinks Ama may be suited to follow in her footsteps.

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Deal or No Deal Islandairs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.

source: people.com