90 Day Fiancé stars Nicole Sherbiny and Mahmoud El Sherbiny have been through many ups and downs over the years. After relocating from Egypt to the United States and dealing with some legal issues, have the TLC stars been able to make it work?
How Did ‘90 Day Fiance’ Stars Nicole and Mahmoud Meet?
Nicole is originally from Idaho but now lives in Los Angeles as a delivery driver and clothing reseller. On a “magical” trip to Egypt, she wandered into a fabric store and was immediately smitten upon meeting Mahmoud.
“I was shopping and there was this super cute boy, with these big brown eyes and these big sexy muscles. He said, ‘You should stay in Egypt and be my wife,’” she explained before laughing off his question during their February 2023 debut. “He asked me if I really would marry him, so I said, ‘Yes, of course, yeah.’”
Following her initial trip, the Idaho native returned to Egypt to marry Mahmoud twice — once at the Justice Department and once with a full wedding party. However, just two months later, she decided that she wanted to return to America.
Citing culture shock and her husband’s strict modesty rules, the couple often fought and 11 months after getting married, Nicole told the Egypt native she wanted a divorce.
What Problems Have ‘90 Day Fiance’ Stars Nicole and Mahmoud Faced In Their Relationship?
Despite Nicole asking Mahmoud for a legal split, she “missed him” and decided that she wanted to return to Egypt and get back together.
During season 4 of the spinoff, the series documented Nicole as she decided to move back to the African country, noting that it was “awful” being away from her husband. While there were lingering romantic feelings, all the arguments she ran away from would continue to be a problem in the international marriage.
Fans watched Nicole return to Egypt and reunite with Mahmoud during the February 19, 2023, episode. While they greeted each other with a warm embrace, the pair quickly began to fight when Mahmoud told his wife that her shirt was too small. She then hit back by calling him “rude.”
Their tension continued to grow when Mahmoud admitted he was worried that she would leave him again. “You love to change your mind a lot,” he added.
Fans continued to watch Nicole’s first night back in Egypt during the February 26, 2023, episode. Following their argument at the airport, the couple arrived at Mahmoud and his mom’s apartment and were greeted by a family party.
“Sometimes it sounds like there are 700 people in your apartment,” she told Mahmoud, noting that life with him means daily interactions with his large extended family.
While reflecting on her husband’s family, Nicole continued in a confessional,”They’re all so kind and loving and wonderful, but I just need a little more space where I can be myself.”
As the party continued, Nicole admitted that she would rather be alone after a day of traveling. “It can be extremely overwhelming for me — a person who is very introverted and used to living alone and in a quiet environment — to have really loud all of the time. The kids are talking, the adults are talking, they’re all just talking,” she told Mahmoud. “I’m happy we’re trying to make this work and everything, but you know that Egypt is super overwhelming for me.”
He replied, “I know it’s too much for you, but I need you to handle that more.” Nicole then suggested that they find their own apartment, though Mahmoud disagreed. “You just need [to] live here,” he said, adding that the living arrangement would help her “see what life [is really] like here.”
During the March 12, 2023, episode, their relationship seemed to hit a breaking point when Nicole and Mahmoud couldn’t agree on whether or not she should dress more conservatively. As they argued, Mahmoud walked out and told cameras that he’s “not the right person” for her.
“He said he didn’t want to be with me anymore,” she said while packing her bags. “I feel like Mahmoud doesn’t want me, he wants some ideal version of a wife and he wants me to go, so that’s what I’m gonna do.”
When Mahmoud eventually returned, he explained that he left because he needed to calm down. After he asked Nicole what she wanted to do, she angrily replied that she’s “done” with him. “You say you don’t want me anymore because I won’t wear the f–king clothes you want,” she said. “F–k you.”
They continued to bicker until Nicole called Mahmoud an “a–hole” and he stormed out.
“I hate it when he does this, just not talk about the things that make us fight,” Nicole said about her husband. “He doesn’t know how to handle it because he’s so full of emotion and he just takes all the power and leaves. I’ve had enough.”
The couple faced more conflict during the March 19, 2023, episode. While meeting with Mahmoud’s uncle to discuss his clothing line, Nicole became uncomfortable when he questioned why she wasn’t wearing a hijab. As fans know, the topic is something that she and Mahmoud have struggled to compromise on in their relationship.
Nicole later explained why she chose not to respond to Mahmoud’s uncle’s comment. “I don’t answer because what I really want to tell them is that religion is very personal, and it’s nobody’s business why I’m not wearing the veil anymore,” she said during a confessional. “So, I don’t want to be rude.”
“Beyond that, I’m mad and Mahmoud, and I don’t even want to be here right now,” she noted.
During the March 26, 2023, episode, a fight between the duo turned physical when Nicole shoved Mahmoud.
She claimed that the argument began when he made a rude comment to her off camera. “I walked up to Mahmoud and he was acting funny, and I just — I’d had enough,” Nicole explained during a confessional. “I don’t know why he said it, but I think it was totally uncalled for.”
After he made the comment, Mahmoud followed Nicole as she insisted she wanted to be left alone. He continuously grabbed her arm, though she responded by pushing him off of her.
“If I had an Egyptian wife, if she did that to me, no way,” he told cameras following the fight. “No way she[‘s] yelling at me around people.”
By the time the eighth episode of the 90 Day spinoff came around, Nicole and Mahmoud’s relationship was at an all-time low. After a fight regarding a full-body swimsuit, worn on Nicole’s part, she claimed that all she tries to do is make her husband happy despite his “passive aggressive” comments. Things escalated to the point where Nicole told Mahmoud to leave her alone, to which he responded that he was done with their relationship.
Mahmoud left Nicole sitting in a café at the end of the episode, telling her that he’d wait five minutes for her to leave with him, otherwise they’d head down the path to divorce. That specific saga came to an end when Mahmoud walked away, later texting his wife telling her that he hopes she finds someone right for her. As he texts her one more time to come with him otherwise they’d be getting divorced, Nicole stayed put at the café.
During the April 9, 2023, episode, the couple faced even more conflict when Mahmoud’s brother said he shouldn’t marry Nicole. While Mahmoud insisted he still wanted to be with her, Nicole said that things in their relationship needed to change in order to work.
After arguing over their problems, Mahmoud eventually apologized to Nicole and she agreed to “call a truce.”
Later in the episode, the couple told Mahmoud’s brother that “the fighting is over.” Nicole appeared hopeful for their relationship when she added that she still loves him despite their issues.
During the season 4 tell-all, which aired in May 2023, the couple discussed moving to the United States together. Nicole admitted that there were instances during the couple’s major blowups where she considered giving up the idea of living together and booking a plane ticket home for herself. She then turned to her husband and asked him what he does when he felt that way.
While he guessed “leaving the room,” she replied, “Or go have little chats with girls in other countries.” In a confessional, Nicole told producers about a recent fight where she unlocked Mahmoud’s phone and found “some chats from some girls.”
“It had started as there were some TVs and she was clearly trying to sell these TVs to Mahmoud. And Mahmoud thought that she was being nice or something and so he decides he’s going to chat her up,” she explained. “He shouldn’t be asking somebody who’s selling TVs to him their age and, like, what they’re doing and sending cute little emojis. I think that’s weird.”
Mahmoud agreed the exchange was stupid and the pair agreed to move forward in their relationship.
Does 90 Day Fiance Star Mahmoud Live in the United States?
Nicole was still living in Giza, Egypt, as of March 4, 2023, confirming her location by sharing an update via Instagram.
However, by late May 2023, speculation that Mahmoud moved to the United States ignited after Nicole seemingly was spotted at Los Angeles International Airport greeting him as he arrived in the States. “Welcome home Mahmoud,” Nicole’s sign read. “My love.”
Mahmoud wasn’t shy about showing off his new California lifestyle, sharing a video of him skateboarding seemingly in the Golden State on February 19, 2024. That March, his move to Los Angeles was documented on season 8 of 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After? They revealed that Mahmoud’s decision to uproot his life came after Nicole urged him to “try things [her] way” since she had previously given life in Egypt a chance.
By April 2024, clues pointed to Mahmoud relocating back to Egypt, as he was seen celebrating Eid-al-Fitr with his family.
Are 90 Day Fiance’s Nicole and Mahmoud Still Together?
Although Nicole and Mahmoud have not confirmed their relationship status, many signs point to them no longer being together. Months after Mahmoud moved to the United States, In Touch confirmed he was arrested in Los Angeles and charged with domestic violence after an altercation with Nicole on February 20, 2024. Months later, In Touch confirmed on July 28, 2024, that no charges were brought against the TLC star, with a rep for the L.A. City Attorney explaining in a statement, “We rejected/declined to prosecute.”
Plus, the pair’s struggles were documented on season 8 of 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After? in the months that followed. Nicole and Mahmoud only appeared in half of the season, with their last episode airing on May 19, 2024. They also weren’t present for the tell-all special, which was filmed right before Mahmoud’s arrest and aired during summer 2024. Host Shaun Robinson revealed that the duo would not be participating in the special and said that everyone “wish[ed] them the best.”
After part 3 of the 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After? season 8 tell-all aired, Mahmoud broke his silence for the first time after headlines broke about his arrest.
He shared a collage of photos of him posing at different sites via Instagram on August 11, 2024. Mahmoud was seen in front of a palm tree-lined freeway — appearing to possibly be in California. Another snap pictured the reality TV personality smiling on a boat, while a third selfie showed off a desert background.
Mahmoud gave no context to his post, other than simply adding a sticker that said, “Moments.”
The following month, he gave a rare post-arrest update when he posted a video with a voiceover that said, “Allah has a plan for you. You are exactly where he wants you to be. Don’t carry the anxieties for the future because it isn’t a lost power. Trust that Allah’s plan is the best plan. Do your part and leave the rest to Allah. Even when you don’t understand. Just keep trusting him.”
In October 2024, Mahmoud posted an Instagram photo of himself standing in front of a “Welcome to Nevada” sign, hinting that he was still in the United States, despite previously being spotted in Egypt in April 2024. However, on November 9, 2024, he seemingly returned to Egypt once again, as he filmed an Instagram Live video from a market that appeared to be in his native country. It’s unclear if he was there permanently or just visiting.
Meanwhile, Nicole continued to remain absent from social media following Mahmoud’s arrest, aside from one post promoting her online clothing boutique in July 2024.
Prior to their apparent exit from the series, Nicole and Mahmoud had an explosive fight on the show, during which Mahmoud told his wife that he wanted a divorce. “Our relationship is over and I’m leaving here,” he said. “I can’t take this anymore. I have no plan, I have no phone and I don’t have any idea where I go now. And somehow, I will [go] back to Egypt. I never felt so alone in my life.”
It’s unclear when the episode was filmed, but just weeks before Mahmoud’s domestic violence arrest, the pair were still going as of January 31, 2024, when Mahmoud took to Instagram to celebrate their five-year anniversary. “Happy 5th anniversary to the love of my life! Words can’t express how grateful I am to have you by my side. You bring joy, love, and laughter to my days, and I cherish every moment we spend together,” Mahmoud wrote. “Thank you for being my rock, my confidant, and my best friend. Here’s to many more years of love and happiness together. I love you endlessly, my beautiful wife.”