Manti Te’o was undoubtedly grateful to learn that Jovi Nicole Engbino, the woman he was dating, was real. And who could blame him? Just two years before he started dating Engbino, he had discovered that the lady he had grown to love was only a catfish.
The former NFL player tied the knot with Jovi Nicole Engbino in August 2020. The couple first began dating in 2015, and she has become his greatest supporter. Keep reading to learn more about her.
Who Is Jovi Nicole Engbino, Manti Te’o’s Wife?
Jovi Nicole Te’o Engbino has been the wife of Manti Te’o since 2020. Fans were interested in learning about her, curious to see if she was also a catfish.
Te’o made headlines in 2013 after discovering that he had been catfished. It was a scandal that rocked his life and left those around him worried he would never trust anyone the same.
So when he met and started dating Engbino, everyone took notice. She turned out to be the woman of his dreams, and after dating for about five years, he popped the big question.
The loved-up Te’o planned it to happen while playing a game called The Whisper Challenge with friends in February 2020. In a video posted to Jovi’s Instagram, Manti asks Jovi, “Will you marry me?” while she attempts to make out what he’s saying with headphones on.
She correctly guessed the first word as “will,” after which Te’o dropped to one knee—causing Jovi to immediately shout the complete phrase while watching Te’o pull a ring from his pocket before he asked her again.
Engbino’s joy was boundless. “We’re ENGAGED,” she captioned the video.
What Does Jovi Nicole Engbino Do for a Living?
Between May 2021 and January 2023, Engbino completed an accelerated nursing program. After graduation, Engbino took to Instagram to share a celebratory post. It included photos from her graduation and, in the captions, saw her reminisce on her time as a full-time mom and nursing student.
Engbino wrote: “The past 20 months have been crazy, to say the least. We moved from San Diego to Utah, where I immediately started an accelerated RN program while pregnant with our firstborn, Hiromi.”
She also revealed that she had her second-semester finals in the hospital the day after she gave birth.
Engbino continued: “Met some amazing friends along the way. Sacrificed lots of vacations and family time to study for exams and pass-offs. Gave birth to my second child Kyro a week before graduation. What a wild ride!”
Earlier this year, Jovi revealed on Instagram that she joined Salt Lake City’s LUXX Medical Spa & Wellness team as a cosmetic injector. It is her professional debut in the beauty cosmetic world, and fans look forward to what she will achieve in the coming years.
Jovi Nicole Engbino and Manti Te’o’s Marriage
The gorgeous couple married in August 2020 during a lovely oceanside ceremony in La Jolla, California. After the event, the former NFL star took to his Instagram page with a montage of photos celebrating the big day.
He captioned the post: “I couldn’t give you the world, but I think I did better … I gave you my last name, and it looks good on you, Mrs. Te’o.
In a different post, Engbino said: “Yesterday, I got to marry my best friend and the love of my life in an intimate beach ceremony. Although this was not how we envisioned our ceremony, it was perfect.”
She continued: “We will be having our reception and celebration when Temples and venues open back up so we can share this special occasion with our families, and I couldn’t be more excited.”
Jovi Nicole Engbino Children
Engbino shared two kids with her husband, Manti Te’o. The pair became first-time parents with the arrival of their first child together, daughter Hiromi “Hiro” Te’o. She was born on August 12, 2021. Their second child, a son, Kyro Aumua Te’o, was born on January 16, 2023.
Who Catfished Manti Te’o’?
The person who catfished Manti Te’o was formerly known as Ronaiah Tuiasosopo. However, she now identifies as a transgender woman who goes by the name Naya.
She used photos of a woman (her friend) named Diane O’Meara to create Lennay Kekua, the online girlfriend of Te’o’ who reportedly died during the 2012 Notre Dame football season, ending their relationship.
The ordeal hurt him deeply and gave him anxiety, but Naya has said that she only ended things the way she did because she fell in love with him, too. When Te’o discovered the truth, he revealed it to move forward.
Details of the whole affair were explored in the Netflix documentary “Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn’t Exist.” The documentary ended with Te’o admitting he had forgiven Naya and hoped she and her family were okay.
Other famous faces catfishers have targeted include Johnny Depp, Brad Paisley, and his wife Kimberly and Kate Gosselin.