Actress Shantel VanSanten is best known for her role as Special Agent Nina Chase on CBS’ hit crime drama FBI: International. The Luverne, Minnesota native was a late addition to the cast in Season 1, stepping in to fill the space left by series regular Maggie Bell’s temporary absence. Clearly, she had an impact on viewers, seeing as she signed on for FBI: International Season 2 as a full-time cast member. Before joining the cast, Shantel had already worked on other films and TV shows, including One Tree Hill, The Flash, and The Boys. While continuing to take on new projects, she unexpectedly met her true love. Let’s take a look at who Shantel is with now!
Is Shantel VanSanten dating or married?
Shantel started acting in 1999, with her first gig being a voice acting role in the series Steel Angel Kurumi. The former Teen Vogue model continued booking roles well into the 2010s, and in 2016 she signed on to star in the Hallmark film Love Blossoms. When she accepted the role, she temporarily moved to Belgium to shoot the movie. It was there that she met her on-screen love interest, Victor Webster. Victor is an actor and photographer with credits on Workin’ Moms and Freeform’s Everything’s Trash.
Shantel and Victor instantly had a connection while shooting Love Blossoms, though it wasn’t romantic at first. According to the American Murderer actress, they bonded as friends before producers created the passionate backdrop for their on-screen romance. Shantel recalled: While it felt like it was set up to create pure love—from filming in a foreign country to staying in a castle while shooting to the name of the film, Love Blossoms—we were just friends. I actually helped him with his dating life! After we wrapped production, we stayed friends. One year later, Victor decided to take his relationship with Shantel to the next level by proposing to her. People described this as the most perfect, wonderful day of my entire life for her. She also said that he is her best friend and that she looked forward to having more adventures with her leading man; he’s the head and I’m the heart. They balance each other out when it comes to making decisions and can be fire and fire when arguing about things but then coming together at the end with different perspectives on life.
Shantel VanSanten had three weddings
Shantel and Victor have been planning their wedding since they got engaged. But the couple originally planned on having two ceremonies: one in the California area they currently reside in, and one in Shantel’s hometown in Minnesota. Amid a family tragedy, the actress opted for her and Victor to elope in August 2021. I was heartbroken when my grandfather unexpectedly passed away on Father’s Day. Shantel explained that she had planned on him walking me down the aisle in Minnesota. In the midst of grief, she looked at Victor and said she wanted to do a spontaneous civil ceremony on her grandparents’ anniversary date, August 9. Having the ceremony on her grandparents’ anniversary made her even more secure in their marriage. They had been married for 63 years and had a such deep and special love. It was an example to me of how love is a choice and takes effort. Even though it wasn’t perfect, their love was always pure. For the civil ceremony, Shantel dazzled in Danielle Frankel’s Charlotte gown. In October 2021, the couple had another Pasadena ceremony where the bride wore multiple dresses by Galia Lahav. Victor and Shantel’s third wedding took place near her hometown; it was less glamorous and more grounded, with only close family and friends attending. Since their weddings, they seem like they’ve adjusted well to married life!
