Natalie Joy

Natalie Joy left high school at 15 to pursue modeling in New York City. She spent two years in the city before returning home and earning her diploma.

She later received a degree in surgical technology from Savannah Technical College. Before moving to Los Angeles, she worked as a surgical technologist for a reconstructive surgeon at the Georgia Institute for Plastic Surgery and specialized in ocular procedures for Dr. Mehryar Ray Taban in Beverly Hills.

Joy grew up on a 300-acre farm near Savannah, Georgia, with six siblings and numerous farm animals. The farm remained important in her adult life and later became the setting for her wedding to Nick Viall.

She moved to Los Angeles in November 2020 to be with Viall. Her background in Georgia has remained part of the couple's public story, particularly through their wedding and discussions of her family farm.

Joy met Nick Viall after sending him a direct message on Instagram in September 2019. Her opening message was, “You’re unreal.” After more than a year of non-exclusive dating, they made their relationship official in July 2020 and made their awards-show debut at the Golden Globes in 2021.

Viall proposed in 2023, and the couple married on April 27, 2024, at Joy's family's farm near Savannah. The wedding included 170 guests, homing pigeons released after the vows, and The Bachelor's Sharleen Joynt as officiant.

Joy and Viall welcomed their daughter, River Rose, on February 2, 2024, several months before their wedding. The child's name honors Joy's great-grandmother and niece.

The couple announced in February 2026 that they were expecting twin girls. Joy and Viall have also spoken publicly about experiencing three miscarriages in 2025, including Joy's reflections on grief and recovery.

Joy first appeared as a guest on Viall's podcast, The Viall Files, in 2021 and later became a permanent co-host. The podcast focuses on dating and reality television, with Joy contributing perspectives alongside Viall.

Joy and Viall also co-host Netflix's Age of Attraction. The dating series matches contestants without initially revealing their ages, a premise that connects with the couple's own 18-year age gap. IMDb credits Joy as an actor in the series and as herself on The Kelly Clarkson Show.