A Complete Timeline of Actress Nina Dobrev And Olympian Shaun White’s Relationship

Despite being talented stars, both Nina and Shaun seem very humble, kind, and relatable. We didn’t think either of them could become more likable, but they achieved it by becoming one of the most adorable couples in Hollywood. Here’s a rundown of their romance so far.

Late 2019: Nina Dobrev and Shaun White Have Their First Date

Nina and Shaun met in 2019 at a Tony Robbins Speaking event in Florida, and the two ended up having their first date after the event. However, this wasn’t the very first time they had ever met. Back in 2012, Shaun presented at the Teen Choice Awards, where Nina and the cast of The Vampire Diaries took home the award for Choice Sci-Fi/Fantasy series.

Despite meeting briefly before, Shaun told People that he "actually didn't know anything about her" when they decided to grab dinner on a whim. He didn’t realize how famous she was until fans in the restaurant asked her for pictures. The two connected on their first date and started to keep in touch.

February 2020: Dating Rumors Begin 

The first rumors of their relationship began in February 2020, when they both posted very similar pictures of a South African hike. Shaun later confirmed that this was the start of their relationship – Nina had invited him to visit her while she was filming Redeeming Love. He told Us Weekly, "That was actually how we kind of started our relationship. She [thought], 'Oh, this guy, he came to play. He's serious.' So that's a thing that we share together. We both enjoy traveling."

When asked why they clicked, he said, “I wish I could sum it up into one or two things,” but “It’s such a mix of everything. Like our dogs get along, you know? We have common interests. The way in which we met really kind of strengthened our relationship. And the problems that we do face, they kind of fall away through communication. It’s just been great.”

April/May 2020: Relationship Confirmed 

The coronavirus pandemic changed all of our lives, but Nina and Shaun didn’t let it stop their budding romance. In April 2020, a source confirmed their relationship and revealed to Us Weekly that they were living together during quarantine. The source said, “Shaun and Nina have really been enjoying quarantining and living together…They’re super compatible and both free-spirited people. They’re very comfortable around each other, and both supportive of one another in their fields.”

The source continued, “Nina really likes Shaun, and they both laugh a lot together and think each other is funny.”

They both made their relationship Instagram official in May 2020 by sharing a photo of Nina cutting Shaun’s hair. Nina wrote, “Adding to resume: hairdresser,” and Shaun wrote, “My hairstylist said he wouldn’t do it, so she did #quarantinecuts.”

Fall/Winter 2020: First Holiday Season Together

A first holiday season together can be both fun and stressful for any couple, but Nina and Shaun clearly enjoyed spending their first Thanksgiving and Christmas as a pair.

Shaun took to Instagram to post a Thanksgiving photo collection that featured pictures of Nina celebrating with his family and playing with his niece and nephew. He wrote, "I'm so thankful to be surrounded by so much love!! Getting older and watching my family continue to grow has been incredible. Hope everyone out there had an amazing thanksgiving!" 

Shaun posted a similar photo collection for Christmas, simply captioned, “Happy holidays everyone!”

February 2021: Double Date with Paul Wesley

Nina is mainly remembered for being in The Vampire Diaries, and she still keeps in touch with some of her castmates, including Paul Wesley. Fans freaked out when Nina and Shaun went on a double date with Paul and his wife, Ines de Ramon. 

On her Instagram post, Nina wrote, “sometimes you gotta double up to double down.” Shaun won the caption game, however, by throwing in a TVD reference, writing, “So fun taking these guys riding! Must have had their daylight rings on…”

June 2021: Shaun Reveals That He’s Watched The Vampire Diaries

Though Shaun publicly referenced The Vampire Diaries a few months before, it took until June 2021 for him to finally admit that he started watching the iconic show. In an interview with Us Weekly, he said, “As we were getting to know each other, I was like, ‘Oh, I should check this show out’...There’s a lot of episodes. Not that I was mad about it, but I didn’t realize, like, how deep I was going to go. Because seasons now are, like, oh, 10 episodes. These are, like, 23 episodes a season. And I was in it!”

Now that Shaun is getting into the show, we can’t help but wonder if he’s Team Stefan or Team Damon.

October 2021: Nina Reveals Shaun Helped Her Remodel Her Home 

Nina went viral in October 2021 after she shared her home with Architectural Digest. Like Nina herself, the home is both beautiful and eclectic, and her charming personality can be seen throughout the tour. Even though her home is lavish, she’s not throwing designer names around to look fancy, and we can’t help but love how humble she is.

During the tour, she not only revealed that she began remodeling during quarantine, but that Shaun helped her out. She said, "I always wanted to paint it white and for the first time I found myself having no excuse, and my boyfriend and I painted the whole exterior of the house ourselves, and it took forever." 

Just imagine two glamorous celebrities renovating a mansion themselves – #relatable without being cringey.

February 2022: Shaun’s Final Olympics

Shaun competed in his final Olympics earlier this year, finishing fourth in his final race. It was a bittersweet day for many, and Nina took to Instagram to praise Shaun for all of his hard work.

Alongside a picture of him with an American flag draped over his shoulders, she wrote, “I am in awe of you. Today we are celebrating you. Your hard work. Your passion. Your determination. Your talent. Your class. Your fearlessness. Your courage. Your soul. Your heart. YOUR LEGACY. I couldn’t be more proud. Of everything you have accomplished over the last 20+ years as a competitor and the man you have become. You are one of a kind. You are a true hero and you inspire me daily. The end of one chapter, means the beginning of an exciting new one with endless possibilities. You will forever be the G.O.A.T. of snowboarding. Not to mention you are also the G.(B).O.A.T. = Greatest Boyfriend Of All Time.”

We’re sure Nina’s support was a highlight of Shaun’s Olympic experience, even if it was from afar. Shaun was certainly appreciative of her support during his training leading up the 2022 Winter Olympics, telling US Weekly, “She’s just been so incredibly supportive. She’s like, ‘Hey, I’m here to help you...how do I help you?’ It’s not about her. She’s just been so giving in that sense.”

Shaun admires Nina's "overwhelming kindness and care for people,” saying, “She wants to elevate the people around her. It’s such a beautiful thing, especially in today’s world...To have that kind of a caring quality still is really special.”

May 2022: Red Carpet Debut and Cannes Film Festival

After dating for a little over two years, Nina and Shaun finally made their red carpet debut at the Top Gun: Maverick premiere in London on May 19. Nina stole the show in an ivory gown with a stunning red lip, and Shaun wore a blazer that matched Nina’s dress with black pants and a matching bow tie. They were perfection.

They didn’t stop at stunning their fans on the red carpet in London though – they’ve also made an appearance at the Cannes Film Festival. While we’re convinced that they’d both still look amazing if they wore garbage bags, the pair’s impeccable taste gives us one more reason to adore them together.

Closing Thoughts

From meeting in late 2019 and becoming #quarantinecouplegoals early in the pandemic to turning heads on the red carpet in present day, Nina Dobrev and Shaun White’s love story is both romantic and wholesome. We can’t wait to see how their relationship grows in the future.

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