Creative Crushin’: This Founder is Saying YES to the Diversity of Motherhood by Saying NO to Retouched Photos


Creative Crushin’: This Founder Is Saying YES to the Diversity of Motherhood by Saying NO to Retouched Photos

Did you know that many of the maternity clothing photos you see involve a faux baby bump? Ugh. And even when real pregnant ladies are involved, you best believe you won’t be seeing any linea nigra, stretch marks, or anything else but a perfectly smooth bump. That’s why maternity line founder Courtney Klein and her partner Grace Kapin decided to take a stand against retouching.

In her company Storq’s newest campaign, they cast real expecting and post-partum mothers and teamed up with photographer Nicki Sebastian to show mothers, babies, and Storq products in raw, natural, un-retouched light. The result is a gorgeous collection of photos that allow newly pregnant mamas to actually see themselves, not just model-size women that happen to be pregnant.

For this week's installment of Creative Crushin’, we sat down with Storq founder and CEO Courtney Klein to learn more about what inspired her to start a maternity clothing and parenthood essentials company, how motherhood has changed her approach to work, and how to build a small but mighty team that’s scattered across the country.


P.S. She is also the founder of internet fan favorite CuteRoulette.com, a now-defunct website that served up cute animal videos by the hundreds ;)

Anjelika Temple here, Founding Partner + Chief Creative Officer at Brit + Co, and longtime (like legit 20 years) friend and confidante of our inspiring subject at hand, Courtney Klein. Courtney and I went to high school together in Salt Lake City and shared a love of existentialist poetry and baby tees, we subsequently overlapped in NY for a few years, and then both ended up in San Francisco. As you'll see, Klein has a refreshingly realistic point of view on and sense of humor about motherhood and entrepreneurship, and I’m beyond thrilled to share her story with you.

Brit + Co: First off, tell us a little more about your background.

Courtney Klein: I grew up in Salt Lake City, UT, nuclear family, angsty teen, lover of the Delia*s catalog and JNCO’s. I’ve always had a combo of right brain and left brain, I majored in Dance and Political Science. After college I was set on working at the State Department, but on the day of the exam I woke up the sickest I have ever been in my entire life. So I took that as a sign and haven’t looked back.

B+C: Before you founded Storq, what did your career path look like?

CK: My background is actually in branding and strategy. I started my career in Strategy and Account Planning at Razorfish, and I went on to become a partner at an agency called Hard Candy Shell where I worked with clients like Disney, eBay, Discovery Channel, and Rent the Runway. My strengths are in building and growing brands by listening to people and solving problems. This perspective has really informed my own approach to creating a business where the emphasis has been on solving real problems and incorporating feedback from our customers from the get-go.

B+C: Tell us about the turning point when you knew you just *had* to take the plunge and start your own biz.

CK: I had just moved across the country for my husband’s work and was faced with a choice about whether I wanted to continue with my current career or try something new. I was eager to start my own business, but I wanted to take my time and make sure I was creating a company that was genuinely useful and would become something I’d be excited to work on every day. It took some time and a lot of research to settle on a concept but eventually I felt comfortable talking about the idea out loud. Talking about it sparked interest and led to lots of questions, which was great because it helped (read: forced) me to work through my ideas and define my vision for it. The feedback was unexpectedly impassioned and it seemed like I was hitting on a nerve so I decided that it was now or never.

B+C: What inspired you to start Storq?

CK: Well, I had recently turned 30, and I was at the life stage where lots of friends and family were becoming pregnant. I just kept hearing the same complaint from all of these different women in my life that all they wanted was a way to maintain their identity and style throughout pregnancy and into motherhood, but there weren’t any companies out there that spoke to them. Most of the maternity clothing out there felt like a compromise in some way.

So I started looking into the market, and I found the demographics of motherhood are actually shifting in the US. More babies than ever are now born to women over 30 and first-time mothers are increasingly more educated, in the workplace, and have disposable income to spend. We’re having babies at this totally different time in our lives, but maternity wear was strangely stuck in a bygone era.

To me, it looked like this growing group of women out there wasn’t being addressed, so that is who I had in mind when I started working on Storq. We focused on comfort, fit, ease, styling, and efficiency. And above all else, treating pregnant ladies like people.

B+C: How did you team up with your partner Grace?

CK: I like to say that I tricked Grace into joining Storq. We were good friends and I knew she was between jobs and looking for her next thing, and I was looking for someone with experience in fashion to help bring the basics collection to life. Grace has worked her way around the fashion industry from publishing to styling to merchandising to trend forecasting and immediately understood the vision for the company. We worked well as a team and could play to our individual strengths. Neither of us had kids at the time and we had never worked together before. It was a grand experiment but luckily it worked out.

B+C: Aside from making maternity clothes high-quality, versatile, and v. cozy (first-hand experience, y’all!), what is your company’s driving force?

CK: Our goal is to make women’s lives easier during an incredibly transformative and challenging time. Even if that’s just a bra or pants that fit and make you feel like yourself, that’s something any woman will tell you that you can’t take for granted during pregnancy and nursing.

B+C: How has your take on Storq (and work in general) changed with the birth of your two amazing kiddos?

CK: At first I wasn’t sure how becoming a parent would affect my work ethic. My mom worked throughout my childhood and I always looked up to her and knew I wanted to be the same kind of role model for my kids. It turns out that having kids, and a business that supports women as they become mothers, has made me more determined than ever to build a business that will make my son and daughter proud.

B+C: As I mentioned above, your company has recently made a point to say buh-bye to retouched images, faux baby bumps, and overly aspirational (read: unrelatable) images of motherhood. What inspired this change?

CK: We’ve always had the goal of wanting to help women to dress an unfamiliar body with as little stress as possible. When we first started, we did that by treating pregnant women like any other fashion customer. We showed things styled in different ways, mixed with non-maternity clothes, to emphasize versatility and provide outfit inspo. We never used fake bumps, but we mostly used real models who happened to be pregnant. Over the years our customers have let us know that seeing things worn by exclusively model-size women can be intimidating, and they wanted to see how things fit on a greater variety of body types and sizes. This campaign, along with expanding our size range up to size 2X/22 (going up to 3X/26 in the fall) has been a response to that feedback.

We wanted to create a shopping experience that felt like a welcoming space for expecting mamas, new parents, and anyone else who finds their way to our site. There is so much beauty and diversity in the experience of motherhood, and we wanted to find a way to celebrate that and make that a central part of who we are as a brand.

B+C: What do you hope this shift communicates to your customers?

CK: Our message is inclusive, regardless of how or when you found us, we want to be a welcoming point of entry for everyone on this journey. It’s hard enough bringing kids into this world, we want to make looking and feeling good something anyone can achieve.

B+C: I imagine that casting models and hiring the right creative collaborators for this project was a big piece of the puzzle. Tell us more about how it all came together.

CK: We set our sights on working with the photographer Nicki Sebastian, who has such a special talent and passion for shooting mothers and families. It was the first time we shot with someone who had experience in this realm and it was such a game-changer for us. She brought out the most beautiful moments and put everyone at ease, particularly for our models who weren’t used to being photographed like this. Shooting with an all-woman team felt absolutely amazing. In addition to the casting, we think these are the things that really come through from this shoot and have been resonating with our audience.

B+C: Who makes up team Storq? What tips can you share for working with a small bi-coastal team?

CK: We are a small but mighty team of five women. Two in SF, two in Brooklyn, and one working remotely from the DC area. Communicating, putting in literal FaceTime, and setting expectations so that everyone can work efficiently and independently have been key to making it work coast to coast.

B+C: What does your support system look like? Do you have mentors, community groups, etc that help you thrive?

CK: My partner and Storq CD Grace! My husband Zach. Other women business owners, particularly my friend Emily Sugihara who started Baggu. We have a standing Friday lunch that’s one of the best things on my calendar each week. I belong to a couple internet mom groups that can provide support and, if not that, at least a little comic relief.

B+C: On that note, we’re all about cheerleading. Who are some innovative women working in the mama space we should know about?

CK: Erica Chidi Cohen of LOOM, Cara Delzer of Moxxly, artist Carmen Winant, and author Angela Garbes.

Favorite Quote: "When you’re a twerking mother, balance is really important because you don’t want to go too low and blow out your butt and bust your knee." - Amy Poehler


Trivia About You: I wore an eye patch for two years as a kid.


Go-To Karaoke Song: Ace of Base "I Saw the Sign"


Fave Mom Gadget: Storq Kit Bag


Late Night Snack: Popcorn


Currently Reading: Circe by Madeline Miller

B+C: Back to that whole you-were-a-dance-major thing, how do you bring dance or any other creative practice into your life now?

CK: Despite days where I am doing literally zero of the things I love most, Storq is definitely a creative endeavor. It’s collaborative and, when I am not chest deep in forecasting spreadsheets, incredibly fulfilling (that’s a 3PL pun for my ecomm friends out there!). My other predominant creative outlet comes only once a year, but I really pour my all into it, and that is Halloween and the Klein family Halloween costume.

B+C: When you’re feeling burnt out or overextended, how do you reset and recharge?

CK: Hm, that depends what I’m recharging from. After work, I spend time with my family and refocus my attention on being at home with them, in the garden, cooking together, and playing. Then, after a good dose of family time, I need to reset again and we break out the cocktails and popsicles. Some people meditate, I do popsicles and cocktails.

B+C: What advice do you have for entrepreneurial women just starting out? What do you wish someone told you when you started out on your own?

CK: Just put something out there. It doesn’t need to be perfect. If you want all the answers before you start, you’re never going to do it. Give yourself a date to start talking about what you’re working on. Once you start saying it out loud, it becomes more and more real.

B+C: What’s up next for Storq that we should be on the lookout for?

CK: We want to be the MUJI for pregnancy and parenthood — get all your simple, well-designed essentials in one place.

For more from this fierce female founder (how’s that for alliteration?), follow Klein on Instagram @courtklein_, ooh and ahh over all things Storq @storq, and head to storq.com to shop maternity and parenthood essentials for yourself and the mamas in your life. And with that, Imma go ahead and curate a few of my favorite pieces that kept me outfitted during my pregnancy and beyond.

As an avid fan and wearer of Storq garments during my pregnancy (def wore the leggings + caftan for a full 12 months after my daughter Anokhi was born), I’d like to put in a vote for some more non-prego Storq apparel in the near future ;)

Got a creative crush of your own who we should know about? Send us the deets. DM us @britandco and be sure to check back on Creative Crushin’ next week for a brand new story about a brilliant creative or two ;)

Author: Anjelika Temple (Photography by Nicki Sebastian, Sabrina Bot Photography, courtesy of Courtney Klein; Design by Sarah Tate)

There are some celebrity couples that feel like a match made in Heaven. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, and more recently, Shaun White and Nina Dobrev. Not only are they both gorgeous, talented, and incredibly driven people, but they're also one of the funniest celeb couples to follow along with on social media.

Here's everything you need to know about their relationship!


A Timeline Of Nina Dobrev And Shaun White's Relationship

Image via Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Dior Men

End Of 2019 — Shaun White And Nina Dobrev Are Introduced

Nina Dobrev and Shaun White officially met when they both spoke at a Tony Robbins workshop in Florida. Even though Shaun didn't know about anything about Nina at the time, he told People he realized she was a big deal when a bunch of people asked for pictures with her!

Image via Nina Dobrev/Instagram

February 2020 — Shaun White And Nina Dobrev Spend Time In South Africa

In 2020, when Nina Dobrev was filming Redeeming Love, fans started noticing that her Instagram photos and Shaun White's were taken in the same locations, even though they were making separate posts. Turns out, Nina had gotten Shaun to come visit her!

Image via Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Fresh Vine Wine

April 18, 2020 — Nina Dobrev And Shaun White Make Their Relationship Instagram Official

In true 21st century dating fashion, Nina Dobrev and Shaun White took their relationship to the next level when they made it Instagram official. It's a pretty big step for any couple, but especially celebrities. If it's nerve-wracking telling your friends and acquaintances, imagine telling millions of fans! Instead of a regular photo, Nina posted a video that features a glimpse of Shaun's tattoo.

Image via Nina Dobrev/Instagram

May 29, 2020 — Shaun White And Nina Dobrev Quarantine Together

Like so many of us, Nina Dobrev and Shaun White had to take haircuts into their own hands during quarantine. "Adding to resume: hairdresser ✂️," Nina captioned an Instagram post of her giving Shaun an at-home haircut.

Image via Nina Dobrev/Instagram

September 3, 2020 — Shaun White Turns 34

To celebrate Shaun White's 34th birthday, Nina Dobrev made a hilarious Instagram tribute to honor the snowboarder. "To the most untalented, humorless, least athletic, least coordinated, least gifted and my least favorite person.... happy birthday @shaunwhite," she says in the caption. "Hang in there. one day you will accomplish something. #dontgiveup"

Nina Dobrev and Shaun White's age difference is two years — Shaun was born in 1986 and Nina was born in 1989!

Image via Shaun White/Instagram

Late 2020 — Shaun White And Nina Dobrev Celebrate The Holidays For The First Time As A Couple

The holidays looked different for Nina Dobrev and Shaun White at the end of 2020, but they didn't let that stop them from celebrating. "I’m so thankful to be surrounded by so much love!!" Shaun says in his Thanksgiving Instagram post. "Getting older and watching my family continue to grow has been incredible. Hope everyone out there had an amazing thanksgiving!" The couple also celebrated Christmas together, with plenty of Santa hats and gifts to go around!

Image via Shaun White/Instagram

January 9, 2021 — Nina Dobrev Turns 32

Nina Dobrev and Shaun White chose wacky '80s getup to celebrate the actress' 32nd birthday. "Too bad we never have any fun together," Shaun says in his birthday Instagram post. "Happy birthday baby!"

Image via Nina Dobrev/Instagram

February 8, 2021 — Nina Dobrev And Shaun White Hang Out With Her Vampire Diaries Costar

Nina Dobrev and Shaun White took to the slopes alongside Paul Wesley (who starred opposite Nina in The Vampire Diaries) and his wife Ines de Ramon. "Sometimes you gotta double up to double down," Nina captioned her post of the quartet at Wyoming's Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.

Image via Shaun White/Instagram

February 14, 2021 — Shaun White And Nina Dobrev Share Their First Valentine's Day

Both Nina Dobrev and Shaun White made tributes to each other on the 'gram in honor of their first V-Day as a couple. "My favorite snow cone flavor is White," Nina says in her Instagram post. "Happy we got “stuck together” last year and stuck it out ;) happy valentine’s day to my quarantini in crime..."

"Happy Valentine’s Day ❤️," Shaun says in his caption. "I never knew I was so lickable till we met 😂... Thank you for keeping a smile on my face and being the beautiful person you are!"

Image via Shaun White/Instagram

October 31, 2021 — Shaun White And Nina Dobrev Wear An Iconic Couple's Halloween Costume

Nina Dobrev and Shaun White knocked Halloween out of the park with a hilarious, gender-swapped couple's costume inspired by The Queen's Gambit. Nina dressed as Thomas Brodie Sangster's Benny and Shaun went with Anya Taylor Joy's Beth. "Your move @anyataylorjoy ♟👑," Shaun says on Instagram.

Image via Clive Rose/Getty Images

February 2022 — Shaun White Competes In The Bejing Winter Olympics

In October of 2021, ahead of his involvement in the Beijing Olympics, Shaun White told People just how supportive Nina Dobrev had been for him. "Nina's incredible," he says in the interview. "What an influence on my life. 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."

“We’ll be anxiously watching [Shaun compete] from home and cheering him on,” Nina Dobrev tells Us Weekly in early 2022. “I’m very, very excited for him. I can’t wait.”

Image via Nina Dobrev/Instagram

March 5, 2022 — Nina Dobrev Throws Shaun White An On-Brand Retirement Party

Shaun White might have cut off his iconic red hair, but that didn't stop Nina Dobrev from using it as inspo for his retirement party! The get together was complete with red wigs, family reunions, and lots of selfies. "Celebrating the 🐐 and bringing back the 👩🦰 one last time…#RetirementPartyAt35," Nina captioned her Instagram post. Then they followed the party up with a tropical getaway!

Image via Lia Toby/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures

May 19, 2022 — Shaun White And Nina Dobrev Make Their Red Carpet Debut

Nina Dobrev and Shaun White attended the London premiere of Top Gun: Maverick in the summer of 2022. It marked their first red carpet appearance since becoming a couple *and* gave them the chance to support their friend Miles Teller!

Image via Nina Dobrev/Instagram

June 2022 — Shaun White And Nina Dobrev Take A Vacation

Nina and Shaun went on another vacation in the summer of 2022, complete with lots of beach time and plenty of beverages. Some of Nina's Instagram captions include "When it’s so blue outside it’s impossible to feel blue on the inside" and "Coconut or cocktail? There are two types of people in the world" and the photos are so cute I could cry.

Image via Shaun White/Instagram

October 1, 2022 — Shaun White Makes An SNL Appearance

During Miles Teller's run as SNL host, Shaun White joined his friend onstage. "Live from New York it’s Saturday Night!
Congrats to my buddy #MilesTeller on hosting @nbcsnl," Shaun wrote on Instagram. "Not surprised that you killed it. But I was very surprised when I arrived to support you…and they pulled me on stage to be part of a sketch 😂 Stoked to be a part of your big moment!!

"I loved being an emotional support animal 🐆 @nbcsnl," Nina captioned her post.

Image via Nina Dobrev/Instagram

October 31, 2022 — Shaun White And Nina Dobrev Dress Up As Stranger Things 4 Characters For Halloween

In another iconic Halloween couple's costume, Nina and Shaun dressed up as Max and Vecna from the acclaimed fourth episode of Stranger Things 4 — with Nina as Vecna and Shaun as Max, of course. "Stranger things have happened," Nina said in her post, while Shaun admitted in his post, "not gonna lie I’ve miss the long hair."

Image via Shaun White/Instagram

January 9, 2020 — Nina Dobrev Turns 34

"What planet are you from and will you take me with you?!" Shaun asks in his birthday photo featuring Nina Dobrev in a pink wig. "Thanks for making life incredible! Happy birthday my love."

Image via Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

June 26, 2023 — Shaun White Joins Nina Dobrev At The Out-Laws Premiere

Nina Dobrev and Shaun White stunned on the red carpet for Nina's movie The Out-Laws.

Image via Shaun White/Instagram

December 31, 2023 — Shaun White And Nina Dobrev Spend New Year's Eve In St. Barth's

If you ask me, Nina Dobrev and Shaun White have one of the most iconic friend groups ever. Miles and Keleigh Teller, as well as Chace Crawford, joined the couple in St. Barth's for New Year's. Can I come next time?!

Image via Nina Dobrev/Instagram

January 9, 2024 — Shaun White Surprises Nina Dobrev With A Trip To Disneyland

I love a good surprise, especially when the surprise goes off without a hitch. For Nina's 35th birthday, Shaun (as well as a bunch of their friends like Julianne Hough) surprised Nina with a Disney trip and judging by Nina's reaction, it was just about the best present she could have asked for. The day consisted of a custom Mickey jacket, taking a party bus, roller coasters, and more!

"Happiest surprise on the happiest day at the happiest place on earth," Nina says in her Instagram post. "I have to say I am HARD to SURPRISE. I always know what’s up. But they got me good. I’m still in shock to be honest. Feeling incredibly lucky, celebrated, loved, grateful and appreciative of all the wonderful souls I am fortunate to surround myself with."

Screenshots via Shaun White/TikTok

February 1, 2024 — Shaun White Calls Nina Dobrev His "Perfect Score"

At the beginning of February, Shaun White posted a TikTok of him and Nina Dobrev snowboarding together. Rather than snowboarding side by side, they're almost on top of one another as Shaun literally lifts Nina off the ground to spin them around. It's literally the cutest moment, and it makes *me* want to go snowboarding — if I have someone to snowboard with ;).

Screenshot via Nina Dobrev/Instagram Stories

February 11, 2024 — Shaun White And Nina Dobrev Attend The Super Bowl

Shaun and Nina shared a few flicks from their adventures before, during, and after Super Bowl LVIII on Instagram. The couple watched the game, flew over Las Vegas, together, and even sipped some Don Julio tequila to celebrate after the fact.

My favorite moments that the duo documented on social were definitely Nina chowing down on a hot dog in the stands (that's so me), Shaun dancing along to Usher's halftime show, and them sharing a kiss after the big Chiefs win!

The two just look *so* happy together, and that makes me happy.

"Can you propose to this women yet? Beautiful couple!!!😍🔥," one commenter wrote on Instagram... and I'm wondering the exact same thing!

Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for Vanity Fair

March 10, 2024 — Shaun White And Nina Dobrev Do Date Night At Oscars Afterparty

The stars always show out for the Vanity Fair Oscars afterparty, and Shaun and Nina were no exception to that rule! Our fave fiery couple looked amazing on the red carpet, but their best look? These two were smitten and all smiles on Nina's Instagram! Major heart eyes moment to say the least!

Screenshots via Shaun White/TikTok

April 3, 2024 — Shaun White And Nina Dobrev Go Snowboarding (Again)

Snowboarding might not be a new thing for this "it" couple, but they still find a way to make it more fun every time they go. "Nina dropped her snowboard, so we had to go rescue it," Shaun says in a recent TikTok. In the video, he's carrying Nina while they snowboard and I am more than impressed! "Not all heroes wear capes," the caption reads.

Image via Shaun White/Instagram

April 6, 2024 — Shaun White And Nina Dobrev Celebrate Spring

Shaun White recently posted a recap of the sweetest spring date with Nina Dobrev and it's got me dreaming of warm afternoons and sunshine! "Lil’ bit of life lately 🍑," he says on Instagram. In addition to a video of the couple singing along to the radio, my favorite photo is Shaun and Nina in their bright orange jackets with the city in the background. I cannot wait for spring!

Shaun White/Instagram

July 2024 — Shaun White and Nina Dobrev Head To The Olympics

Shaun White and Nina Dobrev are currently in Paris, France for the 2024 Olympics...along with Zac Efron apparently. The couple partied it up, but when they got back to their hotel and realized the elevator was out, Shaun climbed more than three flights of stairs with Nina on his back!

The Vampire Diaries actress is still recovering from a dirt bike accident in May, and has recently moved from crutches to a cane. We're wishing Nina a speedy recovery!

Nina Dobrev/Instagram

August 28, 2024 — Shaun White & Nina Dobrev Attend A Gossip Girl Star's Wedding, And Look Good Doing It

Shaun White and Nina Dobrev turned up in style to Jessica Szohr's (who you'll recognize as Vanessa from GG) wedding to Brad Richardson. Nina served as Jessica's Maid of Honor, and their Instagram posts have me emotional!!

"Almost two decades of friendship, there’s almost nothing we haven’t been through together," Nina says in her caption. "It makes me so happy to see you glowing with such a huge smile on your face. It’s an indescribable feeling to see your best friend marry the man of her dreams and create a beautiful (arguably the most beautiful) family together. It’s just the beginning, your life starts now. Congratulations you two lovebirds 🤍🤍🤍 i love you both so much!!!"

"You have been there with me through thick and thin for almost 2 decades… so thank you… thank you Nina for all you’ve done throughout our friendship- but especially for all the wedding events;)," Jessica's post says. "You outdid yourself … going through a surgery, had a movie coming out, redoing a house, and being such an amazing friend through everything. For real- love you more than you will ever know!"

October 30, 2024 — Nina Dobrev And Shaun White Announce Their Engagement

Nina and Shaun announced that they're engaged at the end of October, and in Julianne Hough's words, "made all our dreams come true!" The couple posted separate Instagram posts celebrating the news, and Nina's definitely made me laugh: "RIP boyfriend, hello fiancé."

Shaun popped the question in front of a beautiful arch decorated in white roses (with a 5-carat Lorraine Schwartz diamond ring, no biggie), and literally swept Nina off her feet. "I went into shock. I just froze and stared at him,” Nina tells Vogue. And even though she says she blacked out and doesn't remember the actual proposal, she does know "he said all the right things.” I could cry!

The proposal came after Shaun had had to reschedule a few times (once after her dirt bike accident and once after she suspected it on their Cape Town vacation) — and to make sure Nina wasn't suspicious, he sent her a fake invitation to a dinner with Anna Wintour! "He made the invite look so legitimate,” Nina says.

Check back here for the latest update on Shaun White and Nina Dobrev, and read up on Gigi Hadid And Bradley Cooper’s Full Relationship Timeline.

This post has been updated.

Looks like our Chuck Bass has found his happily ever after. 😌 Ed Westwick, 36, who upholds the Bass namesake inGossip Girl, is now married to actress Amy Jackson. He originally popped the question on a couples-ski-trip-turned-romantic-getaway to Gstaad, Switzerland.

Jackson, 31, posted the news on Instagram, sharing a photo of the duo covered in ski gear, adding an enthused caption: “Hell YES 💍. ”Westwick soon relayed the engagement via an Instagram story of the post, saying “I hit the jackpot xxx.”

And now the couple's family is about to get bigger! Here’s to a lifetime full of love! ❤️ If you’re curious about the pair’s history, read on for a timeline of their sweet relationship.

Ed Westwick + Amy Jackson's Relationship Timeline

Tim P. Whitby / Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival

2021

Westwick and Jackson initially met at Silverstone race track through a mutual friend. The three of them chatted during the racing event and Westwick casually (and so cutely) asked Jackson on a date after the fact.

Westwick asked if Jackson and her poodle, Herbert, were up to meet for coffee with him and his Frenchie, Humphrey. Okay, puppy love!

“He knew how to win me over from the get-go… coffee and dogs,” Jackson told Lifestyle Asiafor a cover story last year.

Tristan Fewings / Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival

2022

Westwick and Jackson were spotted in public more frequently as their relationship started to grow, adventurously attending red carpets, events, and vacations hand-in-hand.

The duo shared some wholesome pics of one another on social media, too, and began commenting on each other’s posts more often to put their feelings on display.

The pair made things officially official in July 2022 and made their first debut as a couple at the Red Sea International Film Festival the following winter, according to India Today.

Commenting on the duo’s ability to keep calm and cool in the wake of fame, Westwick told Lifestyle Asia that “I embrace my public life and it’s always great to meet people and take pictures as long as people are polite, which most of the time they are. I also like to, you know, be away at home, walk my dogs, be with my family and enjoy my privacy. Balance is always good.”

Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images

2023

One of the biggest happenings between Westwick and Jackson in 2023 was their couples’ trip to Mumbai in India, where Jackson had briefly lived in 2012 to 2015 to work on a few films.

Jackson reportedly took Westwick on a tour of the city, stopping at famous landmarks like the Taj Mahal and enjoying local fares from nearby restaurants.

The two of them were featured in acover story for Lifestyle Asia in 2023, where they dished more on their relationship and respective careers in acting.

Westwick told Lifestyle Asia that his love shared with Jackson is similar to what his parents had.

“There was something beautiful. They could always count on each other and had the utmost respect for one other and I think that is the most important thing,” he said.

2023 was also the year that they bought a house together in the countryside. Things were getting more serious!

Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images

2024

That brings us to 2024! Ed Westwick and Amy Jackson got engaged during a ski trip to Switzerland mid-January.

Westwick asked Jackson to marry him on top of the Peak Walk by Tissot, a popular scenic hanging mountain bridge.

Jackson was happily surprised, as the picture of the exact moment shows her with her hands over her mouth. We love!

The couple got married in August and are now prepping for the arrival of their baby, according to People. They shared the sweetest announcement photos on Instagram and were met with tons of congratulatory comments.

Who is Ed Westwick?

Ed Westwick is an English actor best known for his role as Chuck Bass on Gossip Girl, which aired from 2007 to 2012. People named him one of 2008’s Sexiest Men Alive, he won Best TV Villain at the 2008 and 2009 Teen Choice Awards after the show’s success. He’s also in a band called For You, which dropped a single in 2023.

Who is Amy Jackson?

Amy Jackson is an award-winning English model and actress well-known for her acting within Indian cinema. She made her US acting debut with DC Comics’ Supergirl in 2017. Her modeling career was kickstarted after winning the Miss Teen World title in 2009.

Jackson is a mom to a 4-year-old child that she shares with her ex, George Panayiotou.

How long have Ed Westwick and Amy Jackson been together?

Joe Maher / Getty Images

Ed Westwick and Amy Jackson have been together for almost 2 years. They met in 2021, but didn’t make things official until the summer of 2022.

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This post has been updated.

It's clear that celebrity breakups aren't slowing down anytime soon, and Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner's has been a heartbreaker for sure. Rumors about the couple's split began when TMZ reported that they were "heading" for divorce, and even though Joe posted a picture to his Instagram with his wedding band in full view on September 4, the couple later announced they're getting divorced. Here's everything we know about their relationship timeline from when they met to how they're both handling the post-divorce life.

From their red carpet debut to their engagement, the couple has chosen exactly what they wanted to announce — and what they want to keep private. "I’m in a relationship, but it’s a very private relationship," Sophie told The Sunday Times.

"I'm very protective of the life we've built...You never want to market yourself as a celebrity couple. It's not that cool," she tellsElle UK. "And my daughter never asked for any of this. I know what it can do to your mental health to be in this industry, and to be photographed every day and have the comments. It's not something I want her to deal with unless she says, 'This is what I want to do.' We're quite strict about that."

"When we started dating, I realized that I didn't have a ton of stuff that was just for me," Joe told MR PORTER. "And in the end, it makes me a better person to have something for myself."

However, the singer's privacy is more about about his loved ones than himself. “You’re protecting your family, your friends and those around you,” Joe told Entertainment Tonight. “You wanna be really protective over how much you wanna share in your personal life, and I feel like as artists, we get the opportunity to express our heart through our music, and so that’s where I’m personal and honest as I can be.”

A Timeline Of Joe Jonas And Sophie Turner's Relationship

2016 — Joe Jonas Slid Into Sophie Turner's DMs

"We had a lot of mutual friends, and they’d been trying to introduce us for a long time," Sophie told Harper's Bazaar in 2019. "We were following each other on Instagram and he direct-messaged me one fine day, out of the blue."

This is actually super similar to how Nick Jonas made the first move on his wife Priyanka Chopra Jonas! After finally meeting IRL and realizing they liked each other, Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner became exclusive in private before deciding to take their relationship public.

Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

January 1, 2017 — Joe Jonas & Sophie Turner Go Instagram Official

Sophie posted a photo of Joe smoking a cigar on a boat to Instagram on January 1, 2017, with "Miami daze" as the caption.

"You do feel like you’re living in a fishbowl," she told Marie Claire UK about celebrity life later that summer. "It’s frustrating [that] it’s the most mundane things that make the news – how boring! There are really no other headlines?"

October 2017 — Joe Jonas & Sophie Turner Get Engaged

By the time fall 2017 rolled around, the couple was madly in love and announced that they were engaged with matching Instagram posts (his reads "She said yes," and hers reads, "I said yes.")

"I think once you’ve found the right person, you just know," she told Rolling Stonein 2019.

Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for Vanity Fair

May 2019 — Joe Jonas & Sophie Turner Get Married

Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner got married in Las Vegas in May 2019. "We had to get legally married in the states, so we thought it'd be really fun to get all of our friends, invite them out, and do an impromptu wedding," Joe told GQ. "It kind of blew up in our faces because my parents called me the next morning and they were like, 'Did you just get married?' And I realized I told everybody, but I forgot to tell my parents."

June 2019 — Joe Jonas & Sophie Turner Get Married...Again!

However, it seems like Mr. and Mrs. Jonas were able to see the second round of nuptials, a more-private ceremony at the end of June 2019. The official ceremony took place at Le Château de Tourreau in Sarrians, France. Kevin and Nick Jonas were Joe's groomsmen, while Sophie's Game of Thrones costar (and BFF) Maisie Williams was her maid of honor.

July 2020 — Sophie Turner Gives Birth To Baby Willa

The internet was over the moon when Sophie was seen with a baby bump, and TMZ reported that the couple gave birth on July 22, 2020, before later revealing the baby's name is Willa.

"[They] are over the moon," a source told Entertainment Tonight at the end of July 2020. "The couple is already obsessed and can't stop gloating about their new addition. The couple is taking time to enjoy this special moment and have only shared the news and updates with family and friends."

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

July 2022 — Joe Jonas & Sophie Turner Have Baby No. 2

It's been a busy few years for both Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner. The Jonas Brothers released Happiness Begins in 2019, followed by this year's The Album, while Sophie starred in X-Men: Dark Phoenix, The Staircase, and Do Revenge. But unknown to the rest of the world, they were also getting ready for baby number two!

Sophie showed up to the May 2022 Met Gala cradling a baby bump, and then made her official pregnancy announcement in an Elle UK feature the next day. "The greatest thing in life is seeing my daughter go from strength to strength," she says in the interview. "We're so excited to be expanding the family. It's the best blessing ever."

In July 2022, PEOPLE confirmed that the couple had welcomed their second daughter!

September 2023 — Joe Jonas & Sophie Turner Announce Their Divorce

TODAY received an exclusive petition saying Joe Jonas has filed for divorce from Sophie Turner, and that their marriage is "irretrievably broken." He also states that the divorce is in the best interest of their daughters, and that the couple will "have shared parental responsibility" moving forward.

On September 6, the couple shared joint statements to their Instagram accounts. "After four wonderful years of marriage we have mutually decided to amicably end our marriage," the statements read. "There are many speculative narratives as to why, but truly this is a united decision and we sincerely hope that everyone can respect our wishes for privacy for us and our children."

Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner came to a new (temporary) agreement on where their kids would live after Sophie sued Joe for "wrongful retention" of their children in New York. According to new documentation, the two children will stay in New York, which both Joe and Sophie have consented to.

"After a productive and successful mediation, we have agreed that the children will spend time equally in loving homes in both the U.S. and the UK," Joe and Sophie said in a statement the week of October 11. Since the agreement legally lasts until January 7, the former couple will "jointly submit a status report letter" before December 23, according to the agreement.

On January 11, a new UK custody plan for Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner was approved, leading Sophie to drop last fall's wrongful retention claims on January 17 "with prejudice, and without attorneys’ fees, expenses, costs and/or disbursements awarded to either party."

Sophie Turner/Instagram

September 2024 — Sophie Turner Gets Real About Motherhood Following Joe Jonas Divorce

Sophie Turner opened up about her role as the titular character in Joan, a new TV series, and shared how art is imitating life. "If I hadn’t been a mother, I don’t know if I would have been able to bring the same energy that I did into it," she said (via The Sunday Times). Though she mentioned it's not easy being a "single mother," some people took what she said out of context.

She wasn't talking about herself, but her character Joan's efforts to do the unseemly to have her child back in her life. Still, she clarified her comments via her Instagram stories so there's no confusion about her words. IMO, I don't think she needed to do that because being a mother is hard. Caring for children isn't just about candid Paparazzi or social media posts. When you're doing it by yourself or with a support village, it takes time, effort, consistency, repetition, and so much more!

Luckily she and Joe Jonas are able to have a situation where they're co-parenting so they can alternate between working and caring for them.

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October 2024 — Sophie Turner Celebrates New Beau's Birthday...

There have been PLENTY of rumors about Sophie Turner and Peregrine Pearson lately, but she's been understandably tight-lipped about it all. It seems like she's ready to be more forward about her new boyfriend, though! On October 27, 2024, Sophie posted a birthday celebration for Peregrine on Instagram. She wrote, "Happy Birthday my angel pie 🥧🎉 30, flirty and thriving 🎈" alongside a carousel of adorable snaps throughout their relationship.

...And Makes Rare Comments On Divorce From Joe Jonas

On October 30, 2024, Sophie opened up to Harpers Bazaar about her divorce from Joe Jonas. “I’m going through a legal process right now where I can’t really say much, but it was incredibly sad," she said. "We had a beautiful relationship, and it was hard.”

Even though she described the relationship as "beautiful," she also explained that she felt like her life was "on pause" when she wasn't in England. She explained, "I just never really feel like myself when I’m not in London, with my friends and family. I was away for so long – six years – and it was when my friends were getting engaged, and when I got pregnant."

Now, after missing out on "key experiences" with her people, it's clear Sophie is more than happy to be back in London.

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Nothing says reality TV like drama, intrigue, and betrayal. At least, according to The Traitors! The hit TV show is back for season 3 and the star-studded cast is so good, I'm sure this will be the best season yet. Host Alan Cumming returns, along with 21 reality TV stars who will be competing for up to $250 thousand.

But according to the official synopsis, "hidden amongst the Faithful contestants are the Traitors, whose goal is to eliminate the Faithful and claim the prize for themselves. Under the cover of darkness, the Traitors ‘murder’ contestants one by one, but if the Faithful can banish all the Traitors before the end of the game, they’ll split the incredible prize." Here's everything you need to know about The Traitors season 3.

  • The Traitors season 3 coming back to Peacock with Alan Cumming as host.
  • The show will premiere in January 2025.
  • The Traitors cast includes Dylan Efron, Dorinda Medley, Chrishell Stause, Tom Sandoval, and Gabby Windey.

When can I watch The Traitors season 3?

Chris Haston/NBC

The Traitors Season 3 Release Date

The Traitors season 3 premieres on Peacock on January 9, 2025. Season 1 premiered in January 2023, while season 2 premiered in January 2024, so the timeline makes sense!

Who is on Traitors season 3?

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The Traitors | Season 3 Cast Reveal | Peacock Original

The Traitors Season 3 Cast

The Traitors season 3 cast includes Bachelor in Paradise's Wells Adams, actor Sam Asghari,The Real Housewives of Dubai's Chanel Ayan, RuPaul's Drag Race's Bob the Drag Queen, Real Housewives of New Jersey's Dolores Catania, Survivor's Jeremy Collins, Real Housewives of Potomac's Robyn Dixon, Dylan Efron, Total Divas' Nikki Garcia, The Biggest Loser's Bob Harper, Big Brother's Britney Haynes, Survivor's "Boston" Rob Mariano,Real Housewives of New York City's Dorinda Medley, Summer House's Ciara Miller, Royal Lord Ivar Mountbatten, Big Brother's Danielle Reyes, Vanderpump Rules' Tom Sandoval, Selling Sunset's Chrishell Stause, Survivor's Tony Vlachos, Survivor's Carolyn Wiger and The Bachelorette's Gabby Windey.

What is The Traitors about?

Peacock

The Traitors Season 3 Plot

The Traitors is all about who can out-trick their components in the dreamiest murder mystery game. A variety of celebs gather in a Scottish castle, along with host Alan Cumming, to complete a series of missions and have the chance to win up to $250 thousand. While the Traitors are trying to "murder" the Faithful one by one, the Faithful work to unmask and banish the Traitors. Only one team can win!

How many seasons of Traitors are there?

Chris Haston/NBC

There are currently two seasons of The Traitors available to stream on Peacock now. You can stream season 3 starting January 9!

Let us know your thoughts and hopes for The Traitors season 3 on Facebook and check out The Best Reality TV Shows To Watch Right Now!

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Out of all the celebrity breakups I wasn't expecting, Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes definitely tops the list. They were clearly very close, and Shawn even admitted that all of his songs are about Camila, even the ones he released before they dated! (Okay, cute). The couple split at the end of 2021, but after a very buzzy summer following rumors that Sabrina Carpenter's Short 'n Sweet references their love triangle, Shawn Mendes revealed Camila is still one of his closest friends.

  • Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes dated from 2019-2021, then reportedly reconnected in 2023.
  • Shawn recently opened up about how Camila is "one of my closest best friends."
  • He also reveals she's still the first person he would call in an emergency.

What does Shawn Mendes say about Camila Cabello?

Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for MTV

In a new interview with The New York Times, Shawn Mendes reveals just how much Camila Cabello means to him, and that it “bugs” him that the internet thinks they're “against each other in a weird way.”

"[She's] one of my closest best friends...I have nerves just even speaking about it, just what people would say," he reveals. “But honestly, if something was to happen in my family and if something was to happen to me, she’d probably be the first person I call, to this day...Our relationship is teaching me what love means, in a big way.”

The interview comes after Shawn Mendes spoke on his sexuality (something that, for some reason, has been a topic of conversation on the internet for years), and after the duo was in the spotlight following the release of Sabrina Carpenter's Short 'n Sweet, which seems to reference a love triangle between the three of them. Fans analyzed lyrics like "Oh I leave quite an impression" in "Taste" after Camila Cabello dyed her hair blonde, and "Your car drove itself from L.A. to her thighs" in "Coincidence" when Camila teased a lyric from "June Gloom" that says "If she's so amazing, why are you on this side of town?"

Have Shawn Mendes and Camila broken up?

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This isn't the first time the pair has broken the internet, and one of my favorite moments was when they performed "Señorita" at the AMAs in 2019. The chemistry! The vocals! The audience reactions!

And in November of 2021, the pair made a joint statement (which was posted to their individual Instagram stories) announcing their breakup.

"Hey guys, we’ve decided to end our romantic relationship but our love for one another as humans is stronger than ever,” the statement said. “We started our relationship as best friends and will continue to be best friends. We so appreciate your support from the beginning and moving forward. Camila and Shawn.”

Are Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello together again?

Theo Wargo/Getty Images

Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes might have broken up, but they're definitely still in each other's lives. And there were rumors in 2023 that they had romantically reconnected. “They’ve practically moved in with each other,” an US Weekly sourcesaid last summer. “They each have their own places, but they’re spending every day they can together and traveling together.”

The pair has been spotted together more and more frequently, at Coachella, then at Taylor Swift's Eras Tour, and even in the middle of New York City. The Us Weekly source also mentions that “it feels like a new relationship.”

However, according to a new source, the pair has broken up again — this time for good. “Shawn and Camila have a lot of history and they tested the waters again after coming back into each other’s lives," the source told The Sun. "In reality, both of them know they aren’t right for each other romantically and now they just want to move on.”

Despite the will-they-won't-they of it all, it seems like Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello will always be in each other's lives!

When did Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello date?

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After being friends for years (and that steamy VMAs performance), Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello dated from 2019-2021.

How old are Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello?

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Shawn Mendes is 26 years old and was born on August 8, 1998, while 27-year-old Camila Cabello was born on March 3, 1997. There's just a one-year age gap between them!

What do you think about Shawn's comments on his relationship with Camila? Let us know in the comments and follow us on Facebook for more breaking celebrity news.

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