Sam McKinney and Alli Jo Hinkes found paradise in each other.
The Bachelor in Paradise alums officially hard-launched their romance shortly after their individual journeys on the ABC dating series came to an end.
“Sometimes…You just gotta do it your damn self,” Sam and Alli Jo wrote in a joint July 29 Instagram post alongside a series of adorable pics together. “Be a force and #StayRelentless.”
In one photo, the duo can be seen smiling for the camera while cozying up in a restaurant booth. In another, Alli Jo leans back while Sam grabs her face to give her a passionate kiss.
And since the two didn’t have the rosiest time finding love on reality TV, fellow members of Bachelor Nation expressed their excitement in the comments.
“It happened?!?!?,” Bachelor Nation host Jesse Palmer wrote, while The Golden Bachelor’s Kathy Swarts added, “If you want something done the right way, do it yourself.”
Prior to hard-launching his new relationship, Sam, 28, starred in Jenn Tran’s season of The Bachelorette. And though he received the first impression rose early on, he was ultimately eliminated from the show during the season’s sixth episode.
“My time on The Bachelorette is over,” he said in an Instagram video at the time. “I really want to take this time to say thank you. I want to start at the top with Jenn for showing me that I was capable of loving again. After my past, that’s something that I’m extremely grateful for.”
For her part, Alli Jo, 31, entered the franchise as a contestant during Grant Ellis’s season of The Bachelor before she was eliminated during the third rose ceremony. She then decided to try her luck during season 10 of Bachelor in Paradise.
Sam McKinney/Instagram“I’ve always loved to make an entrance,” she wrote on Instagram July 10, before her episodes aired, “so I showed up late.”
And though Sam also appeared in the same season, the two never crossed paths on the beach. In fact, they both went home without finding love.
“My time in paradise was short and sweet—just like me,” Alli Jo wrote on Instagram July 15. “I may not have found love on the beach, but I know my person is out there…and the story is just beginning.”
Ultimately, it seems everything happened for a reason. For more stars that debuted their romance on social media, keep reading…
Instagram/Luke NewtonLuke Newton and Antonia Roumelioti
Luke Newton confirmed his romance with Antonia Roumelioti in a May 9 Instagram post with a snap of him giving him a loving kiss on the cheek. The two, who first sparked romance rumors in June 2024, attended British Vogue and Netflix’s pre-BAFTA TV Awards party together, showing her off as his diamond of the season.
BACKGRIDGigi Hadid and Bradley Cooper
Posting a photo of the two kissing at her 30th birthday party on May 3, Gigi Hadid hard launched her relationship with boyfriend Bradley Cooper a week after the star-studded celebrations.
"I feel so lucky to be 30!" the supermodel captioned the Instagram post. "I feel so lucky for every high and low- for all the lessons and gifts both have brought me. To get to feel it all! I’m so lucky to be a mom, friend, partner, sister, daughter, colleague to some of the most unbelievable humans!!"
The couple first started dating in 2023, but they only recently went public with it when Gigi told Vogue in a March 11 interview that their relationship is “very romantic and happy.”
Instagram/Ice SpiceIce Spice and Sauce Gardner
Ice Spice gave fans a taste of her and Sauce Gardner’s new relationship in a mirror selfie included in a April 29 photo dump.
Relationship rumors between the “Barbie World” rapper and New York Jets player began swirling when Ice Spice attended a Jets game in September. The couple have been spotted out together since then, including at the 2025 Vanity Fair Oscars Party.
Instagram/Lucas BravoLucas Bravo and Shailene Woodley
Lucas Bravo and Shailene Woodley are popping the champère as they celebrate hard launching. The Emily in Paris actor shared a carousel of photos in April 2025 from their trip to Slab City, California, including shots of them holding hands in the desert, posing for a selfie with cowboy hats and smiling for the camera with Sofi Tukker member Sophie Hawley-Weld.
Their getaway comes one month after Lucas confirmed their relationship, telling People that, “I’m really happy.”
The Big Little Lies actress was first suspected to be dating Lucas when photographed on a romantic stroll in Paris, France, his arms wrapped around her while holding hands.
GAMR/Khrome / BACKGRIDChanning Tatum and Inka Williams
Two months after confirming their relationship at an after-party for the 2025 Oscars, Inka Williams made her and Channing Tatum’s relationship Instagram official. The Magic Mike star planted a kiss on her forehead as she wished him happy birthday in the caption of the April 2025 post.
“Happy life to the handsomest, kindest, funniest, stoopidest most gorgeous human ever,” she captioned the Instagram story. “Merci for making life more beautiful.”
Instagram/Madelaine PetschMadelaine Petsch and Tyga
Madelaine Petsch and Tyga went Instagram official in an April 21 photo dump from the Riverdale alum. She shared a look into their romance, posting a picture of her and the “Faded” rapper together at Coachella as she rests her head on Tyga’s shoulder as well as another of the duo hugging while staring into the night sky.
The duo first sparked romance rumors in February when they sat courtside at the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Charlotte Hornets basketball game on Feb. 19. Later that month, they also attended Vanity Fair’s Instagram Young Hollywood party together.
Mike Marsland/WireImageNicola Coughlan and Jake Dunn
In true Lady Whistledown fashion, Nicola Coughlan confirmed romance rumors between her and Jake Dunn circling the town in an Instagram post in February. Wishing the Renegade Nell actor a “Happy Birthday,” she shared a photo of him to her Instagram Stories.
The duo sparked romance rumors during the All Points East music festival last summer, with speculating fueling months later following an outing in London.
Instagram/Sam AsghariSam Asghari and Brooke Irvine
One month after he was legally separated from ex-wife Britney Spears, Sam Asghari made his relationship with Brooke Irvine official, sharing a sweet series of photos to ring in the new year.
Katie Maloney / InstagramKatie Maloney and Nick Martin
The Vanderpump Rules alum went Instagram official with Nick Martin with a sweet birthday tribute in December, alongside a snap of her looking into his eyes. The rocker reposted the photo, writing “Our Casa Vega Xmas Card.”
Despite keeping his identity hidden before the celebratory Instagram story, she previously shared with fans that she was in love.
“I have a boyfriend,” Katie revealed in an October episode of her costar Dana Kathan’s podcast Disrespectfully. “He just makes me feel really special, and he’s really special.”
InstagramJoe Manganiello and Caitlin O’Connor
The Magic Mike actor made his relationship with Caitlin O’Connor official in February 2024 after making their red carpet debut two months prior. The hard launch came seven months after Joe and Sofia Vergara announced their divorce after seven years married.
In a photo dump captioned his “week in review,” Joe shared some photos from his celebration with the Winning Time actress, including a sweet selfie of her standing in front of flowers and a heart-shaped box of candy.
Kevork Djansezian/Getty ImagesHalsey and Avan Jogia
Halsey and Avan Jogia spooked fans with a Halloween post in 2023, confirming rumors of their romance. In the photo carousel, Halsey is seen holding the Victorious alum’s hand while her back is turned away from the camera.
The two were first spotted kissing on a date one month earlier in Hollywood, and now, the two are engaged. She confirmed as much in September by responding to a post on X that read, “Halsey says she hopes to marry boyfriend Avan Jogia.”
As for her edits, she simply wrote, “***fiancé Avan Jogia.”
InstagramJana Kramer and Allan Russell
Hard launching on Instagram, Jana Kramer shared a photo of her laughing with her soccer star Allan Russell as he wrapped his arms around her. She captioned the January 2023 post, “Back where is all started.”
More than a year later, the duo, who share son Roman Russell, tied the knot in a July 2024 ceremony in Scotland, though she later revealed they had legally married earlier that year in January.
“Just to have that little something for us,” Jana, mom to Jolie Caussin and Jace Caussin with ex Mike Caussin, explained in a March 2025 episode of her Whine Down podcast, “that was special to us, that we didn't announce to everybody.”
InstagramCharlie Puth and Brooke Sansone
Charlie Puth announced in October 2022 he was dating someone on The Howard Stern Show, revealing he was “definitely” in love. However, it was not until one month later in December when he shared who that special someone was in an Instagram post.
The ”We Don’t Talk Anymore” singer posted a picture with Brooke Sansone for his 31st birthday. “Ohhhhh I’m NOT a loser… ‘cause I didn’t lose her!!!”, he wrote under the pictures of the duo kissing in a photobooth. “(Happy birthday to me.)”
The duo went on to tie the knot in September 2024.
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