In this week’s DIVA Dating Digest, we take a look at one of our most beloved queer couples
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE VIA INSTAGRAM (@HAYLEYKIYOKO)
Hayley Kiyoko has been crowned #LesbianJesus ever since she released the sapphic anthem Girls Like Girls in 2015. The American actor, singer, and author has been providing us with queer representation throughout her career, and more bops than we can count. Not only that, Hayley is a true queer fashion icon, serving us looks time and time again.
Becca Tilley is also no stranger to the spotlight and is beloved by fans for her time on the 19th season of The Bachelor in 2015. She soon became an internet sensation on her YouTube channel and other social media platforms.
The pair have been providing us queer joy since they hard-launched in 2022. But how did they meet?
April 2018: The pair meet for the first time
We practically squealed with excitement when Hayley Kiyoko posted this throwback pic in 2022, detailing how the pair met. “This photo is from the first night we met at my Expectations album release party,” the singer wrote in the caption. “We took this picture after 5 minutes. Her shirt said ‘no time for romance’…..it’s been 4 years. I guess she had some time.”
At the time the pair kept their budding romance to themselves, but we’re so happy to see snippets of it now.
Expectations was Hayley’s debut major label album and featured tracks like Curious and Sleepover.
February 2019: Becca supports Hayley on tour
While the couple were still keeping their relationship under wraps, Becca went to support Hayley while she was on her Encore tour. A video circulated on Twitter showing the previous Bachelor contestant singing along to Hayley’s song Curious.
@HayleyKiyoko singing curious at her Encore tour with a cheeky little clip of @beccatilley5 at the end. 😍😍 #encoretour #Birmingham #curious pic.twitter.com/mivVXIr7Ce
— Katie Hooper (@katiehooper14) February 5, 2019
December 2019: Becca says that she’s keeping her relationship private for now
On an episode of Entertainment Tonight’s Roses & Rosé with Lauren Zima, Becca revealed that she wanted to keep her relationship private. “The people who I want to know, know about it…I think there’s something really special that it’s just ours,” she said candidly about her relationship status, which at the time was still not public knowledge.
May 2022: The pair officially hard launch their relationship
In true sapphic style, the pair couldn’t just do a simple Instagram post. When Hayley released her music video for her hit song For The Girls, it became pretty apparent that the Bachelor-style show was actually a reference to her beau. If that wasn’t obvious enough Becca tweeted saying “3rd time’s a charm” in reference to her previous two stints on the dating show.
3rd time’s a charm 🌹
— Becca Tilley (@beccatilley5) May 20, 2022
So so happy 🥰
The night before the video for the bop For The Girls premiered, Hayley hosted a release party where she called Becca on stage to give her the final rose!
Becca also posted an adorable montage to Instagram recounting all their memories over the last four years.
June 2022: Hayley opens up about what it was like to make their relationship public
In an interview with PEOPLE magazine, Hayley revealed that hard launching their relationship was “overwhelming in the best way”.
The singer said: “I mean, we lived a very normal life. It just wasn’t on social media. We lived very open. And we’ve been together for four years, but now it’s on social media. And now we get to share with the world. It’s just been really nice — we’ve had so much love and support.”
“I think people love love. And I think anytime you see a love story that’s been able to last … and I think a lot of people are shocked that we were able to keep it private for four years. But I think people are … it’s really cool that people root for my happiness and our happiness and our relationships. So it’s really humbling and overwhelming in the best way.”
October 2022: The pair dress as Scooby Doo characters for Halloween
We absolutely adore couple’s costumes here at DIVA, and this one might just take the cake. Dressed as Velma, Hayley captioned their picture: “Jinkies!! Lost my glasses, found my girl.”
December 2022: The couple go to the White House to watch President Joe Biden sign the Respect For Marriage Act
In true power couple style, Becca and Hayley were invited to the White House to watch Joe Biden sign the Respect For Marriage Act. This Act protected statutory recognition of interracial and same-sex marriages in the United States.
Posting an adorable snap with Becca to Instagram, Hayley wrote: “I wish I could tell my younger self – a closeted biracial girl searching for acceptance – that one day I could live authentically and choose to legally marry whomever I love regardless of their race or sexual orientation. The Respect for Marriage Act secures the safety of so many unions around the country, and it was an honor to be there today to witness history.”
“Today was an excellent step towards progress. At the same time, my LGBTQIA+ community is still very much under attack both abroad and at home. I look forward to the next steps we will take together to ensure continued justice for the entire queer community.”
March 2023: Hayley adorably reveals that Hungry Heart was about Becca
In a sweet Instagram reel, Hayley revealed that her song Hungry Heart was inspired by her relationship with Becca.
“Remembering when I hung out with this girl one time, and the next day started missing her like crazy and felt like my heart couldn’t go on without her, so I wrote a song about it,” the singer wrote on the video.
“plot twist she is now my gf and the song HUNGRY HEART comes out tonight 😈.”
October 2023: The couple slay at the Eras tour premiere together
We love a couple who continue to slay together, and the Eras tour premiere was no different. Five years after the couple met they are clearly still just as loved up as ever!
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