Grant cheated on Ashley with her. Then he cheated on her with Ashley. Now she’s moving on — in the “Perfect Match” villa.
Natalie Cruz‘s “Temptation Island” arc was a lot. A connection that turned into a post-show relationship that ended in betrayal — not by the man she went in with, but by the man she left with. Now she is walking into a completely different kind of show with something to prove.
Here’s everything you need to know about Natalie Cruz ahead of the premiere.
Who Is Natalie Cruz?
Natalie Cruz is a Miami-based model and content creator with 55,000 Instagram followers. Her bio lists her “Temptation Island” and “Perfect Match” credits alongside her Ford Models affiliation — a legitimate modeling agency that signals she has been working professionally in that space for some time. Her management is handled by Maxx Management, and her IMDB credits include a guest appearance on “The Viall Files,” Nick Viall’s podcast, where she spoke about her “Temptation Island” experience after the season aired.
Outside of reality TV, her Instagram content sits in the fashion and lifestyle lane, which fits the Ford Models profile cleanly.
The ‘Temptation Island’ Chapter
Natalie appeared on “Temptation Island” Season 9 as a temptress, which meant her role was to spend time with the men whose relationships were being tested. The man she connected with was Grant Larsen — one half of the season’s most dramatic couple. Grant had come onto the show with his girlfriend Ashley Moore, a relationship already carrying the weight of his prior infidelity. Testing it on national television was, in retrospect, an interesting choice.
Grant pursued Natalie aggressively. Their connection included multiple intimate encounters, a trip to the temptation haven, and enough bonfire footage to make Ashley declare herself single mid-season. At the final bonfire, Ashley walked away and eventually left the island with Danny Spongberg. Grant left alone — not choosing to pursue things further with Natalie on screen, despite everything that had happened between them.
What Happened After
Here’s where it gets messier. About a week after filming ended, Grant called Natalie and invited her on a work trip. By the time they landed, he was asking for exclusivity. She said yes. It didn’t last long.
Ashley later claimed Grant had cheated on Natalie with her after the show. Natalie confirmed the relationship was over. Her response was admirably unbothered: “I haven’t even shed a tear over this. I’m not distraught whatsoever.” The quote says a lot about who Natalie is — someone who can process a betrayal, recognize she deserves better, and move forward without making it her entire personality.
Grant and Natalie no longer speak. She is still single. Walking into a villa that also contains Danny Spongberg — the man Grant’s ex-girlfriend left the island with — is going to make for an interesting first few days of filming.
The Pre-existing Connections
Three of Natalie’s “Temptation Island” Season 9 castmates are in the “Perfect Match” villa: Yamen Sanders, Hashim Moore, and Danny Spongberg. Hashim specifically named her in his Netflix Tudum bio as someone he is excited to see.
The dynamic between her and Danny will be one of the more quietly loaded ones in the house, given that their “Temptation Island” arcs were directly connected through Grant and Ashley.
Why Natalie Cruz Is One to Watch
Natalie Cruz went on “Temptation Island,” developed a genuine connection, got cheated on by the man she developed it with, and walked away without drama. That kind of composure is useful in a reality TV competition. So is the fact that she is entering “Perfect Match” with three people she already trusts in the house, a clear sense of what she doesn’t want, and enough perspective on the Grant situation to know exactly what a red flag looks like up close.
“Perfect Match” Season 4 premieres May 13 on Netflix.
More ‘Perfect Match’ Season 4 Cast Breakdowns:
- Full Cast List
- DeMari Davis
- Katherine LaPrell
- Brianna Balram
- Yamen Sanders
- Danny Spongberg
- Hashim Moore
‘Perfect Match’ Season 4 Related Articles:
- Yamen Sanders’ Relationship Timeline Gets Complicated Ahead of ‘Perfect Match’
- Does the ‘Perfect Match’ Season 4 Cast Have History?
Read next:
- Full Cast List of ‘Perfect Match’ Season 4
- Which ‘Perfect Match’ Season 4 Couples Survived the First Major Test?
- The Most Shocking Moments on ‘Perfect Match’ Season 4 So Far
- ‘Perfect Match’ Season 4 Villains, Heroes & Chaos Agents: Where Every Cast Member Falls
- Where Every Couple Stands Before ‘Perfect Match’ Episode 6
For more “Perfect Match,” click here.
Want the daily reality TV drama — no spam, just the good stuff?
Subscribe