The term “true love” is something implanted into the psyche of many of us from an early age. We watch our favorite characters from books or television find their “soulmate” and live their “happily ever after,” and we begin to believe that we can have that, too. However, as we mature, we will probably all experience (or have already experienced) a time in our lives where we become disillusioned with the idea of true love. Perhaps we start to lose hope that we can ever find something so idyllic. It seems too good to be true. So, how do we reconcile the desire for true love while living with the reality of those disheartening moments in our lives? We look to other real-life people who seem to have it figured out. Below are my top three picks for celebrity couples whose love lives give us a glimmer of hope that true love is still possible.
1. Tom Holland and Zendaya
What started as a cute, on-screen romance that left fans speculating has become one of the sweetest and most iconic celebrity partnerships of our generation. Tom and Zendaya continuously exhibit what it means to show up for your significant other and support them in all of their endeavors. Their respect for each other is so apparent in the way that they are each other’s biggest cheerleader, unapologetically demonstrating how much they value their relationship. Namely, they chose to keep their relationship private for some time, and still try to maintain a level of opacity regarding their love life. Their solid foundation of friendship is likely a big reason for the mutual respect within their relationship and their recognition of their invaluable connection.
Tom and Zendaya’s relationship was probably the first celebrity relationship I ever paid any attention to, and their authentic love and care for each other is the reason why; as much as they value their relationship’s privacy, they are not afraid to celebrate and support the other person. When they are together, it is impossible to miss their happiness and comfortability. The joy they hold is truly something to aspire to; if they can figure it out in the unique complexity of their lives, maybe we can, too.
2. Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift
Speaking of love stories, of course I have to include the “Love Story” writer herself: Taylor Swift. With her recent engagement to Travis Kelce, dedicated fans—and even more neutral supporters of her music—don’t have to look too hard to see the positive impact her relationship with Travis has had on her life. One of the most important things this couple seems to do is consistently show up for each other, starting with the fact that some of the earliest public indications of their partnership was Taylor’s attendance at a Chiefs game and Travis’s presence at an Eras Tour concert. They unfailingly support each other’s ambitions and the work they each put into their chosen field. Perhaps it isn’t in vain that we believe the fairy tales that tell us we can find someone who loves us and accepts us for who we are.
Taylor’s recently-released album, The Life of a Showgirl, was the clearest demonstration of the power of their love. In contrast to the raw descriptions of heartbreak in The Tortured Poets Department, Taylor’s newest album shows how much joy fills her life now. I couldn’t miss the sentiments of salvation and transformation in The Life of a Showgirl, of having your eyes opened to the blissful ecstasy of being in a relationship where you can trust the love that your partner has for you. Upon first listening to the album, I noticed that there was a spark of hope in Taylor that was fanned into a flame with each song. Travis and Taylor are truly so happy with each other—how much more hope do we need? It seems their nurturing “Love Story” has saved her from both “The Fate of Ophelia” and Juliet.
3. Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky
To round off the list—though certainly not because their relationship is any less inspiring—is a celebrity couple who tied the knot almost fifteen years ago. Chris Hemsworth and his wife, model Elsa Pataky, have been navigating the highs and lows of love (and in the public eye, no less) since 2010. This celebrity couple undoubtedly provides hope that love can last. Both have openly discussed how much work has gone into making their marriage successful. Elsa notes how the adrenaline-rush love that characterizes the early stages of a relationship will fade, but love can remain present and strong while its character changes.
Chris and Elsa’s decade-and-a-half of marriage has brought its fair share of challenges as they had to navigate their public careers and parenthood. Chris’s advice to his fans is to make time for the relationship, even as things as important and wonderful as children come into the picture. Reflecting on the impact of parenthood on their marriage, he warns that children will understandably start to guide all of your actions, but that ends up meaning that “You’ve got nothing for each other.” He encourages couples to “make sure you have date night, even if it’s once in a blue moon.” Chris and Elsa’s commitment to each other through the imperfections and the messiness of life is hope we can undeniably hold onto. Even a “love at first sight” story like Chris and Elsa’s will face troubles and challenges, but a willingness to be gracious when mistakes happen and allow love to evolve naturally is what strengthens and preserves a relationship.
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These are just a few of the celebrity couples who give me hope as I navigate love and life—and the intertwining of the two. Would you have chosen the same celebrity couples? Whose love life seems so real that it makes you think true love might just be possible?