90 Day Fiancé’s current season features the story of Stevi Nichole and Mahdi Al-Saadi, a cross-cultural couple who met online. Stevi hails from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, while Mahdi comes from Iran, which aretwo vastly different worlds.Mahdi and Stevi metwhile Stevi was teaching online English classes. Mahdi was one of her students, and love bloomed virtually.
Against all odds, Stevi was determined to bring Mahdi to the U.S. to become her husband. They not only come from different cultures, but they come from different generations, with Mahdi being 26 and Stevi being 37 at the time of filming. On90 Day Fiancéseason 11, Stevi brings Mahdi to Mississippi, whereMahdi is overwhelmedby the differences in culture. Hattiesburg isn’t the most progressive city, and Stevi has to help Mahdi acclimate, including winning over her tough-as-nails dad who believes people from Iran hate the U.S.
Mahdi Is Uncomfortable With Stevie’s Art
Stevie Paints Nude Portraits
Stevi teaches English online to pay the bills, but art is her passion. In episode 1, Stevi explained that she loves painting abstract art, including the human body. Stevi enjoys painting nudes because she said it helps normalize different body types. Her work is colorful and feminine, and yes, includes nude images.
Stevi’s house was filled with her work, and when Mahdi arrived to her home after arriving in the U.S.,he was put off by all of her art. Mahdi comes from a very strict, conservative culture, so seeing nude paintings in Stevi’s house was a shock for him. Stevi had told Mahdi about her interest in nude portraits, but he was still shocked to see them all on display.
“I see b**bs everywhere… Too many, I don’t know why.”
In Mahdi’s country, possession of nude images can result in arrest, so it’s a major adjustment for him.He looked visibly uncomfortableupon seeing Stevi’s art. For Mahdi, Stevi’s openness about nudity and sexuality is a foreign concept.
Mahdi Keeps Questioning Stevie’s Sexuality
Mahdi Is Uncomfortable With Stevi’s Openness
Stevi’s preference for painting nudes, in particular, nude women, is a red flag for Mahdi. He’s concerned thatStevi might actually be attracted to women. Mahdi said he had always wondered if Stevi was interested in women, and seeing her art reaffirmed his suspicions.
Mahdi started questioning Stevi’s sexuality early on, and he continued for many episodes.
When Mahdi met Stevi’s best friend, Claire, when they were looking at wedding venues, he discovered thatStevi had even painted her friend nude, and it made him extremely uncomfortable. He asked Stevi why she hadn’t told him that she’d painted her friend nude, but Stevi didn’t think it was a big deal. Claire and Stevi both assured Mahdi that there was nothing inappropriate going on between them. It was an awkward conversation, and Claire seemed worried that Mahdi was so put off by it.
“She has never mentioned that she has painted girls naked in person. Stevi has never kept anything from me, and knowing that she was with her friend, naked, it just blows my mind. To be honest, she’s giving me bisexual vibes again. Women being together is totally wrong in my culture, and I’m not okay with it.”
It’s a big deal for Mahdi, and it made him take Stevi aside to ask her if she might be more interested in women. Stevi was rightfully offended by Mahdi’s line of questioning, and she got irritated with him for continuing to ask her if she’s bisexual.Stevi defended herselfby saying she’s never given Mahdi any reason to doubt her.
Mahdi Is Dealing With Culture Shock In The U.S.
Mahdi Is Experiencing Many Firsts
Mahdi’s arrival in the U.S. had implications for him back home. Because of tense international relations between the U.S. and Iran,there’s a good chance he won’t be able to return to his country. Mahdi is homesick, especially on his first night in the U.S., and he shared with Stevi that he might want to go home.
Mahdi’s experiencing everything in the U.S. for the first time, so he’s a bit overwhelmed with all of the freedom and change. In a telling moment, Mahdi saw an American flag and told Stevi thatit was the first time he’d ever seen one that wasn’t on fire. Mahdi is trying new foods, like beignets, and living in Stevi’s home with a cat, which would be unheard of in Iran. It’s all a lot for Mahdi to absorb.
It’s clear thatMahdi and Stevi have big cultural differences, the most concerning of which is Mahdi’s obsession with questioning Stevi’s sexuality. He’s concerned that Stevi is hiding who she really is from him, and he’s culturally against bisexuality, which is a problem if he’s living in the U.S., where people have the freedom to be who they are. If Mahdi and Stevi aren’t able to work their issues out, the future of their relationship doesn’t bode well.
