2025 was the yr Black girls have been beloved out loud.
And sure—we imply that with our full chest. Was the yr itself a dumpster fireplace? With out query. Political turmoil. Layoffs. Financial anxiousness. A timeline affected by chaos and movie star breakups that made doomscrolling really feel like a contact sport. However if you happen to zoomed out—if you happen to actually paid consideration—one other story was unfolding alongside the mess. Throughout industries, platforms, crimson carpets, and even actuality TV, Black girls have been being beloved loudly, publicly, and with out apology.
It began early. Winnie Harlow kicked off 2025 by getting engaged to Kyle Kuzma, who whisked her away to a tropical island and proposed in a second that felt ripped from a shiny romance movie. Megan Thee Stallion stepped out with Klay Thompson on candy, goofy, unmistakably mutual young-love vitality. Sheryl Lee Ralph renewed her vows throughout a gorgeously elegant ceremony. Rihanna welcomed a child lady with a visibly gushing, proudly doting A$AP Rocky. Chilli stayed all smiles alongside boyfriend Matthew Lawrence as they ready to embark on internet hosting a actuality courting sequence collectively—grown, grounded, and glowing.
By fall, headlines have been studying “All of the Black It Women Are In Love.”
“Actual Housewives of Atlanta” star Porsha Williams expanded the dialog fully, debuting her first public queer relationship and reminding everybody that Black girls’s love tales are expansive, fluid, and ever-evolving. The yr additionally got here full circle for Venus Williams—starting with information of her engagement and shutting together with her marriage to Italian movie producer Andrea Preti. Prince Harry popped up on Meghan Markle’s Netflix vacation particular simply lengthy sufficient to share a kiss. Even actuality TV—traditionally a hostile surroundings for Black girls’s romantic dignity—gave us seasons that ended with girls strolling away coupled, chosen, and smiling (even when a number of of these romances later fizzled… you know the way it goes).
This yr merely hit otherwise.
For hundreds of years, Black girls have been framed as undesirable, unlovable, or perpetually unfortunate in love. To look at that narrative get disrupted many times—by means of rings, baecations, new boos, and companions proud to indicate up—felt radical. And since there was a lot of it, we’re rounding up the moments that outlined the yr Black girls have been cherished, and eventually seen in actual time.
Who put a hoop on it?
Along with Winnie Harlow’s headline-making engagement, wedding ceremony bells rang steadily all yr lengthy. R&B star and actress Coco Jones entered her fiancée period. Venus Williams—whose engagement information kicked off the yr—closed it by formally marrying Italian movie producer Andrea Preti. Meagan Good and Jonathan Majors tied the knot after a whirlwind coupling. Zendaya and Tom Holland additionally confirmed their engagement—a lot to the delight of followers of her type. Ryan Future and Keith Powers made it official. Serayah and Joey Bada$$ welcomed a toddler collectively and introduced their engagement this summer time. Monaleo and Stunna 4 Vegas leaned all the way in which in with a pink-themed wedding ceremony streamed stay that felt joyful, maximalist, and unapologetically them
New boos, no stress
New love didn’t all the time include mayhem this yr—and that alone felt noteworthy. Cardi B stepping out with Stefon Diggs all yr has been daring, seen, and enjoyable. Even amid controversy, they managed to blossom publicly as a pair, heads held excessive. Megan Thee Stallion and Klay Thompson introduced gleeful, mutual candy, goofy chemistry that didn’t want explaining. Teyana Taylor going official with Aaron Pierre set the web ablaze. Angel Reese has been heart-eyeing it up courtside for Wendell Carter Jr., as A’ja Wilson has been doing the identical for Bam Adebayo. And after enduring a number of very public heartbreaks by a number of males—together with the daddy of her baby—Porsha Williams revealed she has discovered one thing new and is courting Patrice “Sway” McKinney, increasing the dialog round Black girls’s love tales as soon as once more.
Actuality TV’s actual love
In opposition to all odds, even actuality TV stunned us. Black girls left their reveals partnered, smiling, and intact. “Love Island USA” season six stars Serena and Kordell continued turning heads with their couple type and main strikes collectively. Summer season additionally launched an entire new crop of Islanders to swoon over, together with Nicolandria (Nick and Olandria), who’ve solely ascended since leaving the villa—entrance row at main trend reveals and gracing journal covers collectively. Their fellow Islanders, Chelley and Ace, didn’t final lengthy exterior the villa, however their arc was honest whereas it lasted.
After which there was “Love Is Blind” meets “Excellent Match”: AD Smith and Ollie Sutherland—who didn’t even originate on the identical franchise—discovered one another, fell in love, introduced they’re anticipating their first baby collectively, and tied the knot all with a palpable sense of pleasure and softness.
The mushy life
A few of the loudest love tales weren’t new—they have been sustained. Simone Biles continued glowing in married life. Ciara Wilson leaned absolutely into partnership and motherhood, even defending her “cornball”, family-man husband with delight. Rihanna and A$AP Rocky remained united as they grew their household. Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson Jackson celebrated 45 years collectively. Sheryl Lee Ralph renewed her vows with husband Vincent Hughes throughout an epic summer time soiree. Rapper Eve mirrored on constructing a peaceable life overseas in France together with her husband.
Married or partnered, newly chosen or deeply rooted, Black girls weren’t chasing love in 2025—they have been standing in it.
