Some couples just look like they’re meant to be. For years, Shaun White and Nina Dobrev gave off that vibe: playful, romantic, and always supportive of each other. But now, after five years together and less than a year since their engagement, it’s over.
The news has stunned fans who had watched their relationship bloom since lockdown to the picture-perfect engagement. They always seemed the kind of couple who made love look effortless. So if they had it all, why couldn’t it last?
Shaun White and Nina Dobrev’s Breakup
Shaun White and Nina Dobrev had brushed past each other a couple of times, but their official relationship started in 2019 when they met at a Tony Robbins event in Florida that brought them together. A dinner after the talks turned into a connection, and before long, they were seeing more of each other. Then came 2020 and the lockdowns. A lot of couples struggled at that time, but Shaun and Nina moved in together and actually flourished. In fact, Shaun later called her his “lifesaver” during that period.
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Even after that, they turned up hand in hand at Coachella, posed together at film premieres, and travelled the world. Nina was right there for Shaun’s emotional final run at the Winter Olympics in 2022, cheering him on from the stands. Shaun, in turn, showed up for her career highlights in the Hollywood events. By 2024, everyone was waiting for Shaun to propose. And in October, he did just that!
Shaun tricked Nina into thinking they were heading to a Vogue event in New York, but instead, he led her into The Golden Swan, decorated with white roses. There, he got down on one knee with a 5-carat Lorraine Schwartz diamond ring. Nina admitted she was shocked, but of course, she said yes.
Still, Nina made it clear she wasn’t in a rush to plan a wedding. She told People she wanted to enjoy the engagement period instead of racing to the aisle. “The fiancé period is so short, you should really enjoy it,” she said at the time. And, just when we were waiting to hear wedding bells, our dreams crashed.
The Silent Split
As recently as June, Shaun was saying how excited he was to plan a life with Nina now that he was retired from snowboarding. Everything seemed fine. But then came the little signs. Nina unpinned her engagement post from Instagram. She walked the Toronto Film Festival red carpet without her ring in early September.
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And when Shaun turned 39, she didn’t post a birthday tribute. Last year, she’d posted 11 photos of him, calling him the love of her life. This time, nothing. Something seemed off, but nobody was ready for a breakup. Because just days earlier, they’d been spotted hand in hand at a farmers market in Los Angeles, with Shaun carrying flowers.
Finally, on September 11, the news came out: Shaun and Nina had ended their engagement. Even though the couple didn’t say anything, sources stressed that the decision was mutual and full of respect, but also wasn’t easy. After five years together, it’s simply time to go their separate ways.
