After months in the spotlight following her messy April split from The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys star Steven McBee Jr., Allie Eklund has figured out exactly what she won’t settle for anymore—and it’s refreshingly specific.
The 29-year-old reality TV personality isn’t rushing back into dating, and when she does, she’s done taking chances on men who talk a big game. Speaking exclusively to Us Weekly on Friday, July 10, Eklund laid out her new relationship blueprint: someone already embedded in her life who has a proven track record of actually supporting her ambitions, not resenting them. That’s the opposite of what she’s seen play out repeatedly.“With men, it’s really easy—in my experience—for them to say that they love all the things that I’m doing and admire it, but then they end up resenting me for it and wanting to change me,”she explained to Us. It’s a pattern she knows cold. Someone new on a first date? That’s a tall order when you have to catch them up on everything. Someone from her past who already gets it? That’s the ticket.
Her split from McBee Jr., 33, exploded in April when he publicly accused her of cheating after she attended Stagecoach. He later issued a public apology and committed to seeking mental health care at a wellness retreat, but the damage was done. What fans will see unfold on season 3 of The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys on Bravo reveals deeper fractures: Eklund wanted to move back to Texas (where her family is based and her business, Triple E Mercantile, operates), while Steven wanted to anchor things in Missouri where his family lives. He pushed for a faster commitment; she wanted to take time. Geography and life vision didn’t align—and neither did the support she needed.
Going forward, Eklund is clear about her priorities. She’d love to find someone in Texas, ideally someone who shares her long-term vision of raising a family in the Texas Hill Country the way she was raised.“A lot of Texas boys are cowboys. So they are not off the table for me,”she noted. The beauty of her new approach is that it cuts through the noise. No more guessing games. No more betting on potential. Just a partner who already knows her, believes in her, and wants her to succeed—not change.
The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys airs on Bravo Mondays at 9 p.m. ET, so fans will get a ringside seat to the relationship tensions that led to the breakup.
About the Author
Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.