Kriti Mehrotra
If there’s one thing Netflix’s ‘The Ultimatum: Queer Love‘ makes evident, it’s that every relationship is incredibly challenging owing to the need for compromise and efforts at every step of the way. After all, while attraction, communication, as well as similar core values are essential, no two individuals can be happy if their lifestyles and future aspirations aren’t flexible enough to be aligned. The prime example of this is actually the involvement between Yoly Rojas (she/her) and Mal Wright (she/her/they) — so now, if you simply wish to learn more about them, here’s what we know.
Yoly and Mal’s The Ultimatum: Queer Love Journey
It was seemingly back in the late 2010s when Yoly came across Mal for the first time during Chicago Pride, only for their brief, unassuming chance encounter to gradually evolve into much more. The truth is, the latter quipped in the original production, “She was a men’s stylist at Barneys at the time. I asked for her Instagram so I could continue asking for discounts at [the luxury store].” Though what started as mere friendship soon blossomed into a full-fledged relationship thanks to similar ideals and values, but then they were at a crossroads by the time mid-2021 rolled around.
Yoly and Mal had already weathered not just a move to Seattle but also a short split within these three years, yet the latter’s hesitation in popping the question was fast becoming their downfall. That’s because while the former was more than ready to settle down, her two years older (then 36-year-old) partner wanted to be in a much better financial position before taking the next step. They didn’t have this irrevocable mindset of never wanting to build a home or have kids; they merely had an image in their head of what it should look like as well as a timeline to match the same.
“It’s not about if I want to marry [Yoly],” Mal candidly elucidated in the series. “I want to marry her, but I don’t necessarily feel like I’m in the place to provide for her like I want to provide.” However, it wasn’t just this monetary aspect (considering their decision to do IVF one day) holding them back; they had a personal reason too — they wanted to know why Yoly chose them. “I knew her as a friend before I knew her as a lover,” they expressed. “Every time she has talked about another lover, it’s been very similar [to how I am and how we are]… So I am just like, ‘Why? Why Me?'”
There’s no denying Mal’s insecurities had a role here, yet it wasn’t helped by the fact Yoly then essentially proved them right by delving right into ‘The Ultimatum’ experiment with Xandar Boger. The latter is precisely the kind of individual the masc often worried was their partner’s type, plus the fact they developed a deep bond almost immediately further played into their personal fears. Yes, they themself built a solid connection with Lexi Goldberg over their incredible three-week trial marriage period, but they never got physical — unlike Yoly and Xander, who truly did everything.
Yoly and Mal Have Parted Ways
While Lexi undeniably helped shatter Mal’s ideas of a timeline and made it clear she’d always be a part of their life one way or another, it was Yoly and Xander’s trial marriage that shocked everyone. The reason? They genuinely fell in love despite only having known one another for less than a month, leaving the latter’s years-long love affair with her original partner shakier than ever before. In other words, Mal’s concerns over her utterly dedicating herself to whomever she was with without any major difference apparently weren’t without foundation, making it hard for them to return.
Nevertheless, by the time decision day rolled around following their trial marriage, Yoly and Mal had managed to air a lot of their differences in the hopes of gradually making things work in the real world. They both knew the former was in love with two people at the same time, yet they tried their best to keep some hope alive, and Mal eventually got down on one knee so as to never have any regrets. Yoly actually, surprisingly, said yes, but it turns out the couple realized they weren’t meant to be and would soon split up for good within two weeks of the experiment being over in late 2021.
As for Yoly and Mal’s current standing, while the professional fashion stylist still primarily resides in Chicago, Illinois, her passionate ex-lover/public figure is now based in Seattle, Washington. Though their interpersonal situation is evidently not as distant since they’ve managed to maintain a good bond despite having determined they had intentions of ever rekindling their intimate romance. There’s actually a sense of respect they both hold for the affinity they once shared, as made evident by their staying in touch through likes, comments, as well as posts on Instagram, seen above.
Read More: Are Lexi and Rae From The Ultimatum: Queer Love Still Together?
