Justin grew up in Waterloo, Illinois, inspired by a family friend who served in the Coast Guard. Following that example, he decided to join the Coast Guard himself. After completing Recruit Training, he arrived in Biloxi, Mississippi in 2022 to begin this new chapter. Emily, from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, also moved to Biloxi in 2022, starting fresh in a new city. They met online and quickly felt a connection, but what truly made their story memorable was their first date — on Christmas Day. Emily invited Justin out because she didn’t want him to spend the holiday alone, and that simple act of kindness blossomed into something more. Just days later, on New Year’s Eve, Justin asked Emily to be his girlfriend, sealing the start of their journey together. From two paths that began miles apart, they found each other in Biloxi — proving that sometimes love finds you when you least expect it.