Austen Kroll Gives His Honest Opinion of Craig Conover Dating Paige DeSorbo
Austen Kroll reveals what it was really like living with the pair on Winter House.
Austen Kroll and Craig Conover have been there for each other during all of their romantic ups and downs over the years on Southern Charm. Now that Craig is officially dating his Winter House castmate Paige DeSorbo, Austen is showing his support for his best bud's new relationship.
Austen recently told E! News that he "a thousand percent" sees "why they get along." "It's something that I thought was going to happen in the house but Craig had a girlfriend. You'll see some different things happen there," he explained. "I for sure saw this happening."
As Austen noted, Craig was dating girlfriend Natalie Hegnauer at the beginning of the new season of Winter House. Fans followed the beginning of Craig's relationship with Natalie in Season 7 of Southern Charm.
Paige was also previously in a relationship with Perry Rahbar, which she opened up about on Summer House. The couple broke up in 2020.
Paige described how she and Craig started off as just friends during a recent interview with Us Weekly. “I met Craig, actually, three years ago and he was single. I had a boyfriend and I absolutely respected that I was in a relationship,” she recalled. “And then when we got to Vermont, I didn’t know he had a girlfriend. So, I was a little bummed when I first got there. But, of course, he was absolutely respectful to his girlfriend. And I’m so happy now looking back that he had a girlfriend because we built just a very platonic friendship, which is, like, the base of our relationship now. Everything really does happen for a reason.”
Austen also told E! News that while vacationing with everyone in Stowe, Vermont this season of Winter House, he could definitely tell that Craig and Paige had chemistry. "They vibe with each other well. Like Craig is so more up her alley than other people in the house I think," Austen said. "And [the way] that they laugh and banter and vibe, that's what I think makes them [work]."
You can totally see what Austen means as Craig and Paige give you a tour of the Winter House in the Bravo Insider exclusive, below.
As far as how these two will make their relationship work with Craig living in Charleston and Paige based in New York City, Austen said that they are "both flexible to travel," something that Paige echoed in her interview with Us Weekly. “We actually love long-distance. We’re two people that are very independent and have so much going on during the week,” she shared. “When we get, like, Monday through Friday to get all of our things done and then I hop on a plane Friday morning, it’s fun. I feel like we’re more present with each other when we are together. We’re not on our phones and we plan and do fun things.”
Could love also be in the cards for Austen this season of Winter House? In the below sneak peek at the season premiere, Austen reveals how this snowy getaway could help him get over his breakup with Madison LeCroy, which was featured in Season 7 of Southern Charm. "This vacation could not have come at a more perfect time for me. I've been newly single for three months now," Austen says in an interview in the below clip. "So, when Kyle [Cooke] was like, 'Let's go to Vermont for two-and-a-half weeks,' I'm like, 'Kyle, say less. Let's find some pretty girls, let's go snowboarding, and let's drink our faces off.'"
By the looks of all the drama teased in the below preview of the season, you may want to be careful what you wish for, Austen.
Winter House premieres with a supersized episode on Wednesday, October 20 at 9/8c.
