Shaun White and Nina Dobrev: A timeline of their relationship
Shaun White and Nina Dobrev announced their engagement Oct. 30 after more than four years of dating.
The retired Olympic snowboarder and the former “Vampire Diaries” star went Instagram official with their romance in May 2020 when Dobrev shared a snap of her cutting White’s hair during the pandemic.
The two showed how serious they were about each other when they spent Thanksgiving with White’s family, according to pics and videos the three-time Olympic gold medalist shared on Instagram.
The playful couple, who frequently shared pics of one another on social media, have charmed fans over the years with their sweet remarks, like when White gushed to People in October 2021 that Dobrev was “incredible” and had a positive “influence” on his life.
In October 2024, White proposed to Dobrev in New York using a fake invitation to a dinner with Anna Wintour to lure Dobrev to the Golden Swan restaurant in the West Village, the couple told Vogue. Dobrev found White there waiting with a 5-carat diamond ring under an arch of white roses.
Read on to learn more about White and Dobrev’s sweet love story.
May 2020: White and Dobrev go Instagram official with their romance
White and Dobrev, who had sparked dating rumors months before, went Instagram official with their romance when Dobrev shared before-and-after pics of herself giving White a haircut during the pandemic.
“Adding to resume: hairdresser,” she captioned the post.
November 2020: The couple spend Thanksgiving with White’s family
Months later, White took the Bulgarian-born Dobrev home with home to celebrate Thanksgiving with his family.
“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!” White wrote next to images from the holiday that he posted on Instagram.
February 2021: They celebrate Valentine’s Day as a couple
Dobrev shared a cute pic on Instagram that showed her licking White’s face in honor of Valentine’s Day in 2021. “my favorite snow cone flavor is White,” she joked in her caption. “happy we got ‘stuck together’ last year and stuck it out 😉 happy valentine’s day to my quarantini in crime… “
October 2021: White gushes about Dobrev’s ‘influence’ on his life
White opened up to People in October 2021 about the impact Dobrev had on his life and snowboarding career.
“Nina’s incredible. What an influence on my life,” said White. “Not only does she run her own show, her own world, companies she’s involved in, things she’s producing, all this stuff going on. She holds me to this same high standard which is so wonderful to have in a partner.”
January 2022: White playfully calls Dobrev a ‘hot mess’ in a birthday tribute
White playfully called Dobrev a “hot mess” when he honored her on Instagram on her 33rd birthday in January 2022.
Next to a series of hilarious pics and videos of Dobrev, including one that showed her eating sloppily and another of her getting her teeth cleaned at a dentist’s office, he wrote, “Happy Birthday you hot mess @nina.”
February 2022: Dobrev calls White ‘the G.O.A.T. of snowboarding’
In February 2022, Dobrev honored the end of White’s professional snowboarding career in a touching Instagram tribute.
“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,” wrote the devoted girlfriend.
“I couldn’t be more proud,” Dobrev continued. “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.”
She added, “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.”
March 2022: Dobrev throws a retirement party for White
The following month, the “Degrassi: The Next Generation” alum threw White a festive retirement party, where she invited guests to wear long red wigs in honor of White’s red hair.
May 2022: The couple makes their red carpet debut
The couple made their red carpet debut when they attended the London premiere of “Top Gun: Maverick” in May 2022.
September 2022: Dobrev calls White her ‘weirdo’ in a birthday tribute
In September 2022, Dobrev celebrated White’s 36th birthday with a goofy pic on Instagram that showed him sticking one of his fingers up her nose as she laughed.
“I really picked a winner (and he really picked a booger),” she joked. “Happy belated Birthday you weirdo. My weirdo. @shaunwhite.”
December 2022: They spend the holidays with their families in Mexico
Both White and Dobrev shared photos from their Mexican vacation with family members in December 2022 on Instagram.
Joining the couple on the trip were White’s parents Roger and Cathy White, and Dobrev’s parents, Michaela and Kamen Dobrev, according to People. White’s siblings Kari White Bodman and Jesse White and their spouses and children also joined the fun.
January 2024: White surprises Dobrev with a birthday trip to Disneyland
In January 2024, White treated his girlfriend to a surprise group trip to Disneyland in honor of her 34th birthday.
Dobrev shared a carousel on Instagram showing pics and videos of the couple and their friends on her special day, writing, “Happiest surprise on the happiest day at the happiest place on earth.”
She added, “Huge thank you to my love @shaunwhite for orchestrating the whole thing! You sneaky lil devil.”
October 2024: White proposes to Dobrev
White popped the question to Dobrev October 2024 in New York.
The couple detailed White’s elaborate proposal to Vogue, revealing that he sent a fake invitation to a dinner with Anna Wintour to her to lure her to the Golden Dragon restaurant where he waited to present her with a 5-carat diamond ring.
White even went so far to arrange for Dobrev to meet with a stylist, which she believed Vogue had arranged.
White posted pics from the proposal Oct. 30 on Instagram. “She said YES,” he wrote, adding an emoji of a diamond ring and an eternity symbol.
Dobrev also shared pics, writing, “RIP boyfriend, hello fiancé,” while sharing the same emoji.