Izzy Reveals How His New Girlfriend Won Him Over with a Unique Dinner Experience (Exclusive)

In a candid conversation with PEOPLE, the former participant of ‘Love Is Blind’ opened up about his close connection with his ex, Stacy Snyder, and shed light on how his current girlfriend handles the somewhat uncomfortable circumstances surrounding their friendship. He emphasized that his new partner is remarkably confident and unruffled despite finding herself in such an awkward situation.

Izzy Zapata from Love Is Blind recently revealed the moment he realized that his new girlfriend was his perfect match. Following his unsuccessful relationship with Stacy Synder, the 31-year-old reality star spoke to PEOPLE about the valuable lesson he learned from his past. “The most significant thing I’ve learned from Stacy is to avoid using paper plates,” he jokingly remarked, before sharing the moment that confirmed his girlfriend’s compatibility. “We now use proper plates. However, on one occasion, she surprised me by serving our meal on paper plates,” he recalled. “In that instant, I knew she was a keeper,” added the sales employee, who has chosen to keep his new partner’s identity private for now.

In the fifth season of Love Is Blind, viewers may recall that one of the points of contention between the reality star and Stacy was their disagreement over the use of paper plates. Initially, Izzy and Stacy’s relationship seemed promising, but things took a turn when Stacy visited Izzy’s apartment in Houston. She criticized his living arrangements, which included what she deemed a messy apartment, a drawer filled with random women’s belongings, and his preference for using paper plates.

During a conversation with the cameras, Stacy expressed her surprise at Izzy’s use of disposable tableware, mentioning that she had never used red Solo cups or plastic cutlery before. She also brought up the topic when discussing their plans of cooking for each other, questioning why Izzy would opt for plasticware. In response, Izzy reassured her that he would use plasticware for their dates and asked if it would bother her. Stacy declared that she would bring her own silverware instead, and bluntly stated, “I would judge the f— out of you.”

Ultimately, on their wedding day, Stacy confessed to Izzy at the altar that she wanted to say yes and marry him. However, she acknowledged that it would be a disservice to both of them to commit when she felt that there were many issues they needed to address, primarily the need for more time.

In the aftermath of Stacy’s rejection at the altar, it seemed like Izzy and her were still on good terms. However, Izzy later opened up about his true feelings and expressed his frustrations towards his ex-fiancée while being filmed. During the reunion special, it was revealed that the duo did attempt to reconcile a week after the wedding, but they ended up not speaking to each other for a whole year.

Despite the ups and downs in their relationship, Izzy shared with PEOPLE that they are currently on good terms and have even formed a strong bond while dealing with the online criticism they faced during their time on the show. He mentioned that they talk every day, supporting and uplifting each other through their conversations. The dynamic between them is similar to that of best friends, where they take turns in boosting each other’s spirits, especially during difficult moments.

The reality star also acknowledged that their relationship has caused some discomfort for their respective partners due to their shared history. However, the star expressed gratitude for his girlfriend’s understanding and support, noting that she has been amazing throughout the situation. He emphasized that his girlfriend is secure in herself and understands that there is no potential for romantic involvement between him and his friend. He also credited his girlfriend for helping him cope with the challenges, stating that he wouldn’t be able to navigate through it without her calm and indifferent reaction. The star also mentioned that Love Is Blind season 5 can be streamed in its entirety on Netflix.