One of Hollywood’s most beloved couples has officially called it quits. Nina Dobrev, the Bulgarian-Canadian actress best known for her iconic dual role as Elena Gilbert and Katherine Pierce in “The Vampire Diaries,” and Shaun White, the legendary three-time Olympic gold medalist snowboarder, have ended their engagement after five years together.
The Love Story That Captivated Fans Worldwide
How It All Began: A Tony Robbins Workshop Changes Everything
While Dobrev and White had briefly encountered each other at an awards show in 2012, their real love story began seven years later at an unlikely venue – a motivational workshop led by Tony Robbins in Florida in late 2019. Both were speakers at the event, and what started as a professional engagement turned into something much more personal.
White later admitted to PEOPLE magazine that he “actually didn’t know anything about her” when they first sat down for dinner after the workshop. The Olympic champion got a reality check when restaurant staff approached their table – not for photos with him, but to meet the “Vampire Diaries” star. “And I was like, ‘What’s happening? What’s going on?’ It was actually really funny,” White recalled.
From Casual Connection to Quarantine Romance
Their relationship took a significant turn during the COVID-19 pandemic. What began as casual dating evolved into something deeper when lockdown restrictions allowed them to spend uninterrupted time together. As Dobrev later revealed, they took their relationship slowly initially, but “things really intensified during this period of social distancing”.
The couple’s romance became public somewhat accidentally in March 2020 when they were photographed together during a bike ride in Malibu. From there, they embraced their relationship publicly, sharing their spring “#QuaranTrip” adventures across Utah, Nevada, and Arizona on social media.
Nina Dobrev: From Vampire Diaries to Hollywood Struggles
The Fight for Equal Pay That Changed Her Career
Born Nikolina Kamenova Dobreva in Sofia, Bulgaria, and raised in Toronto, Canada, Dobrev has built an impressive career spanning television and film. However, her recent revelations about her time on “The Vampire Diaries” have shed new light on the challenges she faced behind the scenes.
In Entertainment Weekly’s new oral history “I Was Feeling Epic: An Oral History of The Vampire Diaries,” Dobrev revealed she quit the show after six seasons due to significant pay disparities with her male co-stars Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley. Despite playing multiple characters – Elena Gilbert and her doppelgänger Katherine Pierce – which required double the screen time and memorizing twice as many lines, Dobrev was earning less than her male counterparts.
“It was somewhat of a complicated scenario because my contract only specified that I would portray Elena, yet I was taking on multiple roles, which increased my workload significantly,” Dobrev explained. The studio even instructed writers to exclude Katherine from scenes to avoid paying Dobrev for both characters.
Post-Vampire Diaries Career and Recent Projects
Since leaving “The Vampire Diaries” in 2015, Dobrev has appeared in numerous films including “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” (2012), “Let’s Be Cops” (2014), “XXX: Return of Xander Cage” (2017), and romantic comedies like “Love Hard” (2021). Her most recent appearance was at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival for the premiere of “Eternity”.
Shaun White: The Flying Tomato’s Legendary Career
Olympic Glory and Record-Breaking Achievements
Shaun Roger White, born September 3, 1986, in San Diego, California, is widely considered the greatest snowboarder of all time. Known by his nickname “The Flying Tomato” due to his signature red hair, White overcame significant early health challenges to become a sporting legend.
Born with a congenital heart defect that required two operations as an infant, White didn’t let his early health struggles define him. He took up snowboarding at age six, won his first competition at seven, and turned professional at just 13 years old.
Unprecedented Olympic Success
White’s Olympic career is the stuff of legends:
- 2006 Turin Olympics: First gold medal in halfpipe at age 19
- 2010 Vancouver Olympics: Scored a record 48.4 with his signature “Double McTwist 1260” move called “The Tomahawk”
- 2014 Sochi Olympics: Finished fourth, breaking his winning streak
- 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics: Dramatic comeback gold with back-to-back 1440s, trailing by one point going into his final run
- 2022 Beijing Olympics: Fourth place finish in his final Olympic competition
Beyond the Olympics, White dominated the X Games with 15 gold medals and holds the record for most X Games gold medals in history. In 2012, he became the first person to score a perfect 100 in the men’s Snowboard SuperPipe at Winter X Games.
The Fairytale Engagement and Recent Warning Signs
A New York City Proposal
White proposed to Dobrev in October 2024 with a carefully orchestrated surprise at The Golden Swan restaurant in New York City. He told Dobrev they were attending a CFDA/Vogue event hosted by Anna Wintour, but instead surprised her with a 5-carat Lorraine Schwartz diamond ring.
Dobrev shared the magical moment on Instagram, writing “RIP boyfriend, hello fiancé,” while White posted simply “She said YES 💍♾️”. The couple also attended the Earthshot Prize Awards in Cape Town together in November 2024, appearing blissfully happy.
The Beginning of the End
However, cracks in their relationship became apparent in early September 2025. The first major red flag came when Dobrev attended the Toronto International Film Festival premiere of “Eternity” on September 7 without her engagement ring. Observant fans also noticed she had unpinned her engagement announcement from the top of her Instagram profile.
The couple was last photographed together holding hands in Los Angeles on August 31, 2025, giving no public indication of any problems. This makes their sudden split announcement just 11 days later all the more shocking to fans who had followed their love story closely.
The Mutual Decision to Part Ways
An Amicable End to a Beautiful Chapter
On September 11, 2025, representatives for both Dobrev and White confirmed exclusively to PEOPLE magazine that the couple had decided to end their engagement. The statement emphasized that it was a “mutual decision made with love and respect” for one another.
Sources close to the couple revealed that “it wasn’t an easy decision, but it was made with affection and profound respect for each other”. This mature approach to their separation reflects the character both have shown throughout their public relationship.
What Went Wrong?
While neither Dobrev nor White has publicly detailed the reasons for their split, relationship experts point to several potential factors:
Career Demands: Both maintained incredibly busy professional schedules, with Dobrev’s acting commitments and White’s business ventures keeping them apart frequently.
Different Life Stages: At 36 and 39 respectively, both were at critical junctures in their careers, with Dobrev fighting for better roles post-“Vampire Diaries” and White transitioning from competitive sports to business.
Wedding Planning Pressure: In recent interviews, Dobrev had mentioned enjoying the “fiancée” phase and being in no rush to actually get married, which may have created tension about their future timeline.
Their Shared Adventures and Public Support
A Relationship Built on Adventure
One of the defining characteristics of Dobrev and White’s relationship was their shared love of adventure and travel. From their early South Africa trip in February 2020 – where fans first suspected they were dating after noticing matching social media posts – to snowboarding adventures and festival appearances, they seemed perfectly matched.
White particularly appreciated Dobrev’s athletic abilities, telling E! News in 2021: “She’s really skilled on the board. She grew up in Canada, which is great because that can be a make-or-break factor in a relationship”.
Supporting Each Other’s Careers
Despite not being able to attend White’s final Olympics in Beijing due to COVID-19 restrictions, Dobrev showed her support by creating a heartfelt video featuring messages from his friends and family. “She created an incredible video featuring my friends and family. It was truly amazing,” White shared on Today.
Similarly, White was a constant presence at Dobrev’s red carpet events and film premieres, showing public support for her career endeavors.
What’s Next for Both Stars
Nina Dobrev’s Future
With the recent revelation of her pay equity struggles on “The Vampire Diaries,” Dobrev has positioned herself as an advocate for equal pay in Hollywood. Her recent film appearances suggest she’s carefully selecting projects that showcase her range beyond the supernatural drama that made her famous.
At 36, Dobrev remains one of Hollywood’s most recognizable faces, with a dedicated fanbase eager to support her future endeavors.
Shaun White’s Post-Competition Life
Since retiring from competitive snowboarding after the 2022 Beijing Olympics, White has focused on business ventures and brand partnerships. At 39, he’s successfully transitioned from athlete to entrepreneur, leveraging his legendary status in the snowboarding world.
White’s business acumen and cultural influence extend far beyond sports, making him a sought-after speaker and brand ambassador.
A Love Story That Inspired Millions
While their romantic relationship has ended, the five-year love story between Nina Dobrev and Shaun White represented something special in the celebrity world. Their genuine affection for each other, shared adventures, and mutual support of each other’s careers made them a couple that fans genuinely rooted for.
Their relationship demonstrated that love can bloom unexpectedly – from a chance meeting at a motivational seminar to a whirlwind romance that captivated Hollywood. Even as they go their separate ways, both Dobrev and White have handled their split with the same grace and maturity that characterized their relationship.
As both stars enter new chapters of their lives, their fans will undoubtedly continue supporting them individually while cherishing the memories of one of Hollywood’s most authentic and adventurous love stories. Sometimes the most beautiful relationships aren’t measured by their duration, but by the joy and inspiration they bring while they last.
