The Cast of ‘Love Is Blind’ Season 5: Who’s Who, Instagrams

Johnie Maraist, Erica Anthony, Mayra Cardenas, Aaliyah Cosby, Maris Prakonekham, Paige Tillman, Linda Obi, Miriam Amah in season 5 of Love is Blind — (Image credit: Monty Brinton/Netflix)

Grab your opaque golden goblets, Love Is Blind is back. The reality series and pop culture phenomenon returned for season 5 today, five months after its buzzy fourth season, the semi-live reunion, and an exposé where past contestants accused the series' production company of gross mistreatment. A quick warning: If you thought the show would maybe tone down the drama after such an eventful few months, then you thought wrong, as season 5 begins with maybe the most eventful pod episodes of the franchise so far.

So, who are the Houston-based singles who are entering the pods for a chance at a genuine, emotional connection (and possibly a social media boost)? Below, meet the cast of Love Is Blind season 5.

Warning: Spoilers for episodes 1-10 ahead.

Aaliyah, 29

Occupation: ICU travel nurse

Instagram: @aalove4_

Looking For: a "pure and gentle" relationship

Dream Guy: an intellectual foodie who can feed her stomach and her mind

Gets Engaged?: No

Carter, 30

Occupation: Construction

Instagram: @carterdaleyall

Why He Joined LIB: he’s the "perfection combination of naive and spontaneous" to get the very most out of the experiment

Dating Pet Peeve: "bad cell phone etiquette"

Gets Engaged?: Yes, to Renee (She confirmed in an interview.)

Gets Married?: No

Christopher, 28

Christopher in Season 05 of Love is Blind

Occupation: Project manager

Instagram: @chrisfoxxy

Looking For: honestly, selflessness, and humor

Past Dating Issues: Bottling up emotions and communication issues

Gets Engaged?: No, but he dates Johnie after the pods

Connor, 31

Occupation: Geoscientist

Instagram: @connor_t_moore

Looking For: the person to "share [his] dreams and aspirations with and make the most out of every moment [they] have together"

Ideal Type: smart, independent, and preferably bilingual women who love the outdoors

Gets Engaged?: No

Efrain, 27

Occupation: Software sales

Instagram: @eefffyy03

Looking For: an outgoing, funny, and athletic woman who can join him on walks with his dog and swing by dinners with his family every Sunday

Worst Habit: thinking he’s "right a majority of the time"

Gets Engaged?: No

Enoch, 27

Occupation: Financial advisor

Instagram: @enoch_culliver

Looking For: a "loyal, passionate, and confident" person who can match his energy

Gets Engaged?: No

Erica, 27

Occupation: Marketing manager

Instagram: @ericaanthony; TikTok: @ericaanthony24

Looking For: a marriage as strong as her parents’

Turnoff: cocky guys who "only talk about themselves"

Gets Engaged?: No

Ernesto, 32

Occupation: Supply chain manager

Instagram: @esj_28

Why He Joined LIB: to "keep the physical out and learn a person’s mind first"

Looking For: an intellectual woman who "can hold a good conversation" and appreciate his "chill, lighthearted personality"

Gets Engaged?: No

Estefania, 30

Occupation: High school teacher

Instagram: @estefbaila; TikTok: @estefgarcan

Hobbies: teaches dance in her free time

Dating Pet Peeve: men who are "controlling or dirty"

Gets Engaged?: No

Izzy, 31

Occupation: Sales

Instagram: @izzyzapata_; TikTok: @izzyzapata2

Looking For: an "open-minded, good communicator" who can "love [him] unconditionally"

Ideal Type: an athletic woman with blonde hair and beautifully colored eyes

Gets Engaged?: Yes, to Stacy

Gets Married?: No, she says no at the altar.

Jared "JP", 32

Occupation: Firefighter

Instagram: @instalessjared

Why He Joined LIB: apps and meeting women out at bars aren’t geared toward long-term commitment

Best Trait: his "big heart"

Gets Engaged?: Yes, to Taylor

Gets Married?: No, they break up in Mexico.

Jarred, 34

Occupation: University director

Instagram: @jarredinpictures; TikTok: @jarredgibson4

Looking For: a more balanced connection with a woman who loves him just as much as he loves her, because he’s done "compromising when [he] should not"

Worst Habit: his "lack of detail in cleaning"

Gets Engaged?: No

Johnie, 32

Occupation: Lawyer

Instagram: @johniemaraist

Usual Type: "slightly younger, pretty boys"

Worst Habit: being indecisive

Gets Engaged?: No, but she dates Chris after the pods

Josh, 32

Occupation: Sales rep

Instagram: @jsimmons1818

Why He Joined LIB: "all [he’s] ever wanted in life is a wife and family"

Best Quality: "being open and honest"

Gets Engaged?: Yes, to Paige (They confirmed on Instagram.)

Gets Married?: No

Justice, 28

Occupation: Personal trainer

Instagram: @thattrainerjustice

Most Important Trait in a Partner: ambition

Best Habit: "drinking water"

Gets Engaged?: No

Linda, 32

Occupation: Talent acquisition recruiter

Instagram: @lindachi__; TikTok: @lindachi__

Looking For: a "respectful, loving, and family-oriented" life partner

Worst Habit: can "shut down at times if [she’s] not feeling heard"

Gets Engaged?: No

Lydia, 32

Occupation: Geologist

Instagram: @lavg; TikTok: @lydiaarleen

Looking For: a tall, dark, and handsome guy with a big personality who feels the same way

Key to Her Heart: "transparency and emotional maturity"

Gets Engaged?: Yes, to Milton

Gets Married?: Yes

Maris, 30

Occupation: HR specialist

Instagram: @maris_tx

Looking For: a guy who can "deal with [her] strong will" and won’t make a fuss about her hair getting everywhere

Best Quality: remembering to "bring food home, even if you didn’t ask"

Gets Engaged?: No

Mayra, 25

Occupation: Minister

Instagram: @mayraaa_c; TikTok: @mayraaaac

Looking For: a Ryan Reynolds lookalike who loves God just as much as she does

Her Perfect Match: "the guy who ends up sacrificing comfortability to make it work"

Gets Engaged?: No

Milton, 25

Occupation: Petroleum engineer

Instagram: @jamesmiltonj4

Turnoff: people who have "no ambition"

Worst Habit: self sabotage and "never [letting] people inside"

Gets Engaged?: Yes, to Lydia

Gets Married?: Yes

Miriam, 32

Occupation: Scientist

Instagram: @mimah_

Looking For: a "sincere, driven, and successful" person, who will put in a "genuine effort"

Why She Joined LIB: seeking "emotional connection before developing much stronger feelings"

Gets Engaged?: No

Paige, 32

Occupation: Stylist

Instagram: @paigetilly; TikTok: @paigetilly1

Turnoff: people who are "mean to waiters or staff" while out to dinner

How She Loves: leading with a big heart, having genuine respect, and making a true commitment to each other

Gets Engaged?: Yes, to Josh (They confirmed on Instagram.)

Gets Married?: No

Renee, 32

Occupation: Veterinarian

Instagram: @missreneepoche

Looking For: " a "very manly" guy (beard preferred), who can live with her homebody lifestyle and menagerie of pets

Worst Habit: forgetting people’s names

Gets Engaged?: Yes, to Carter (She confirmed in an interview.)

Gets Married?: No

Robert, 30

Occupation: Special education teacher

Instagram: @rockwithrob; TikTok: @rockwithrob

Looking For: an "honest, loyal, and loving" person, with a good smile

Turnoff: "someone who nitpicks when things are grand"

Gets Engaged?: No

Shondra, 32

Occupation: Flight attendant

Instagram: @shonlaaa; TikTok: @shonverox

Looking For: a guy who "gives [her] that spark"

Dating Pet Peeve: guys who "cannot admit when they are wrong"

Gets Engaged?: No

Stacy, 34

Occupation: Director of operations

Instagram: @stacyrenae926

Looking For: a "family-oriented, outgoing, and driven" individual

Hobbies: teaching Pilates on the side

Turnoffs: "one-uppers" who "don’t have an awareness of other people"

Gets Engaged?: Yes, to Izzy

Gets Married?: No, she says no at the altar.

Taylor, 26

Occupation: Teacher

Instagram: @taylormrue

Looking For: someone honest to a fault, and at least slightly taller than her

Ultimate Deal-Breaker: lying

Gets Engaged?: Yes, to JP

Gets Married?: No, she and JP break up in Mexico.

Uche, 34

Occupation: Lawyer, entrepreneur

Instagram: @imabovethelaw; TikTok: @imabovethelaw

Looking For: an ambitious woman with a good sense of humor who’ll join him to create an "us against the world" way of life

Gets Engaged?: No

Quinci LeGardye is a Culture Writer at Marie Claire. She currently lives in her hometown of Los Angeles after periods living in NYC and Albuquerque, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in English and Psychology from The University of New Mexico. In 2021, she joined Marie Claire as a contributor, becoming a full-time writer for the brand in 2024. She contributes day-to-day-content covering television, movies, books, and pop culture in general. She has also written features, profiles, recaps, personal essays, and cultural criticism for outlets including Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, HuffPost, Teen Vogue, Vulture, The A.V. Club, Catapult, and others. When she isn't writing or checking Twitter way too often, you can find her watching the latest K-drama, or giving a concert performance in her car.