Justin Bieber and Hailey Bieber are proof that some stories take time to find their shape. What began as a backstage introduction arranged by Hailey’s father grew into a friendship, then a brief romance, then years of distance, and eventually something that neither of them had fully anticipated: a marriage built in public, tested in real time, and chosen again and again. They have never been a couple who made it look easy, and they have never pretended otherwise. Health scares, honest interviews, years of online scrutiny, and the kind of growing pains that come with falling in love young and figuring out who you are at the same time.
Now parents to their son Jack Blues Bieber, the two are settled into a chapter that looks quieter and fuller than anything that came before. Below, we trace their journey from a teenage handshake backstage at The Today Show to one of the most talked-about love stories of their generation.
Photo: Courtesy of Justin Bieber and Hailey Bieber
November 2009: The Handshake That Started It All
Hailey’s father, Stephen Baldwin, introduced her to Justin backstage at The Today Show. Two teenagers, one brief handshake, and the rest, as they say, is history.
February 2011: The Never Say Never Premiere
With her father by her side once again, Hailey attended the New York City premiere of Justin’s documentary Never Say Never. That same month, Justin confirmed his relationship with Selena Gomez at Vanity Fair’s Oscar After-Party.
Photo: New York Daily News Archive//Getty Images
November 2014: Reconnecting at Church
After Justin and Selena called it quits, he and Hailey were photographed together at a Hillsong church service in New York alongside Kendall Jenner. Hailey later told Vogue their friendship quietly blossomed from there.
December 2014: Just Good Friends
Hailey shut down romance rumors in an interview with E!News. “I’ve known him since I was like 13 and we’ve just been good friends over the years,” she said. Justin made his position clear on Instagram, sharing a photo of the two of them and writing: “People are crazy. I’m super single and this is my good friend u would know otherwise.”
Photo: Courtesy of Justin Bieber
December 2015: Anguilla
The holidays brought a new set of rumors. Hailey joined Justin and his family on vacation in Anguilla, and the video Justin posted afterward was hard to explain away as mere friendship. The two looked relaxed and close, and fans who had been watching their dynamic for years felt certain something had shifted. Neither of them said a word about it.
Photo: Courtesy of Justin Bieber
January 2016: Instagram Official
Shortly after New Year’s Day, Justin put any remaining doubt to rest. He shared a photo of the two of them kissing on Instagram, and just like that, it was official. No announcement, no interview, just a single post that sent the internet into a frenzy.
Photo: Courtesy of Justin Bieber
February 2016: Defining the Relationship
In GQ’s March cover story, Justin addressed his relationship with Hailey for the first time in print. He described her as “someone I really love” and someone he spent a lot of time with, but stopped short of calling her his girlfriend. He explained that he already had a lot to commit to, and that adding a relationship to the mix felt like too much. It was honest, if a little complicated, and it set the tone for what was still a very undefined situation.
August 2016: The Split
Some time after the GQ story ran, Hailey and Justin quietly went their separate ways. Justin was soon linked to Sofia Richie, a romance that lasted just six weeks, and the two largely lost touch for nearly two years. In 2020, Hailey reflected on that period with more clarity than most people manage. “Our lives seemed to be going in very different directions,” she told ELLE. “I actually think, now that I look back at it being married, that it was a good thing for the two of us, very healthy.”
Photo: Zoey Grossman for ELLE
June 2018: The Reunion
After Justin’s final split from Selena Gomez in March 2018, and Hailey’s Met Gala appearance with Shawn Mendes, the two found their way back to each other at a religious conference in Miami. What followed happened quickly: nightclub appearances, hand-holding in New York City, and a dynamic that looked very different from the last time they had been photographed together. Two years of distance, and then suddenly none at all.
July 2018: The Proposal
The news broke fast. Justin had proposed to Hailey during a romantic dinner in the Bahamas, and he confirmed it on Instagram with two portraits of his new fiancée and a caption that left nothing to the imagination. “Hailey I am soooo in love with everything about you,” he wrote. “So committed to spending my life getting to know every single part of you. My heart is COMPLETELY and FULLY YOURS and I will ALWAYS put you first! You are the love of my life Hailey Baldwin and I wouldn’t want to spend it with anybody else. You make me so much better and we compliment each other so well!!”
Hailey responded on Twitter: “Not sure what I did in life to deserve such happiness but I am so utterly grateful to God for giving me such an incredible person to share my life with.”
Photo: Courtesy of Justin Bieber
November 2018: My Wife Is Awesome
Two months after quietly tying the knot, the couple finally confirmed their marriage status to the world. Justin shared a photo on Instagram with the caption “My wife is awesome,” and the following day, Hailey changed her last name across all of her social media accounts. Hailey Rhode Baldwin was now, officially, Hailey Rhode Baldwin Bieber.
Photo: Courtesy of Justin Bieber
February 2019: The Vogue Cover
The newlyweds posed together for their first joint photoshoot, covering Vogue and opening up in a wide-ranging interview that covered everything from their 2016 split to the personal journey Justin went through before finding his way back to Hailey to the realities of navigating marriage in your early twenties. It was candid, considered, and set a precedent for how openly the two would continue to share their story with the world.
March 2019: Putting the Wedding on Hold
With Justin prioritizing his mental health, the couple made the decision to pause plans for their official wedding ceremony. A source told People at the time: “They will still have a wedding eventually, but this is not their focus right now. They haven’t sent out any new Save the Dates. They will wait until Justin feels better and is excited about planning their wedding again.” A quiet and very human moment in a very public relationship.
September 2019: The Real Wedding
Mr. and Mrs. Bieber said their vows officially at Somerset Chapel in Bluffton, South Carolina, as the sun set. Tiffany & Co. wedding bands, a star-studded guest list including Kendall Jenner and Jaden Smith, and an Off-White gown by Virgil Abloh with a train that read “’till death do us part.” Justin wore Celine.
A day later, he shared photos from the reception, giving the world its first proper look at the celebration, captioning them: “Looking forward to forever with you @haileybieber.”
Photo: Jose Villa, Courtesy of Justin Bieber
December 2019: First Christmas as the Biebers
The newlyweds celebrated their first Christmas together as a married couple, marking the occasion with Polaroids and the kind of quiet joy that comes with finally being exactly where you are supposed to be.
Photo: Courtesy of Hailey Bieber
September 2021: Their First Met Gala Together
The Biebers made their Met Gala debut as husband and wife, and they did not disappoint. Hailey arrived in a Saint Laurent column gown with matching wayfarer sunglasses, cool and completely deliberate from head to toe. Justin arrived in a suit with customized Nike sneakers, because of course he did.
Photo: Courtesy of Hailey Bieber
November 2021: The Hard First Year
The Biebers appeared on the In Good Faith podcast and spoke honestly about the challenges of their first year of marriage, including Justin’s severe depression. Hailey didn’t hold back. “There were days where I literally was like, ‘I don’t know if he’s going to be okay,'” she said. “Something really deep down inside of me was like, ‘He’s going to get through it.’ I just didn’t know how long it was going to take. That’s what I think was the hardest thing.” And through all of it, she stayed. “Imagine abandoning somebody in the middle of the worst time of their life, potentially. I’m not that type of a person. So I was going to stick it out no matter what the outcome was going to be.”
March 2022: A Health Scare
Hailey was hospitalized after experiencing stroke-like symptoms but made a full recovery. Justin addressed it at a Denver concert, telling the crowd, “I know for a fact that God has her in the palms of his hands.”
April 2022: The Grammys
Hailey accompanied Justin to the Grammys, and her appearance sparked immediate speculation that she was hiding a baby bump. After RadarOnline published an Instagram post about the rumors, Hailey shut them down swiftly and directly in the comments: “I’m not pregnant; leave me alone.”
Photo: David Fisher/Shutterstock
June 2022: Justin's Turn
Just months after Hailey’s hospitalization, Justin experienced a health scare of his own. Hailey updated fans during a Good Morning America appearance, reassuring them he was going to be “totally okay.”
September 2022: Setting the Record Straight
For years, Hailey had been at the center of one of the internet’s most persistent narratives: that she had pursued Justin while he was still with Selena Gomez, the singer he had dated on and off for nearly a decade before their final split in March 2018. The speculation had followed her since the engagement, fueling years of online commentary, fan theories, and relentless comparisons between the two women.
On the Call Her Daddy podcast, Hailey finally addressed it head-on. “I can say, period, point blank, I was never with him when he was in a relationship with anybody,” she said. “That’s the end of it.” She also confirmed that she and Gomez had since spoken privately and cleared the air. “I respect her. There’s no drama, personally,” she said.
October 2022: The Photo That Said Everything
Hailey and Selena Gomez posed together at the Academy Museum Gala, Gomez’s hand resting on Hailey’s leg. No statement needed.
Photo: Tyrell Hampton/Academy Museum Gala
February 2023: You Are My Best Friend
Justin interviewed Hailey for Vogue Australia, turning the tables and asking her the questions for once. When he asked her what her favorite part of being married is, her answer was simple and completely sincere. “My favorite thing about being married is honestly the companionship I feel we have,” she said. “Genuinely, you are my best friend in the entire world. There’s nobody I would rather spend more time with or do anything with.” Fourteen years after that backstage handshake, and it still came down to that.
March 2023: Happy Birthday
Hailey celebrated Justin’s birthday on Instagram with words that felt completely from the heart. “29 never looked so good,” she wrote. “Happy Birthday to you best friend! Words couldn’t possibly sum up all that you embody. So here’s to more joy, more travel, yummy food, adventures, more peace, fun, and most of all more love.” Justin shared his own tribute to Hailey in return.
Photo: Courtesy of Hailey Bieber
May 2023: Wanting a Family
Hailey opened up to The Sunday Times about her desire to start a family, and the fear that comes with it. “I literally cry about this all the time,” she said. “I want kids so bad, but I get scared. It’s enough that people say things about my husband or my friends. I can’t imagine having to confront people saying things about a child.”
August 2023: The Sweatpants Moment
The couple was regularly photographed together during summer 2023, but it was one particular outing that went viral. Justin showed up in sweatpants while Hailey arrived in a red minidress at an event for her Rhode Beauty and Krispy Kreme collaboration. The internet had a field day.
Photo: Gotham/Getty Images
November 2023: Happy Birthday, Baby
Justin celebrated Hailey’s 27th birthday with a romantic Instagram post, sharing a black and white clip of himself leaning down to kiss her as she lay in his lap. “Happy birthday baby. You make life wonderful. And I’m the lucky one that gets all of you,” he wrote.
May 2024: Baby on the Way
Hailey announced her pregnancy through a vow renewal photoshoot shared on Instagram, her lace dress and veil showing off her growing belly. Justin placed his hands around her bump. A few days later she posted, “little cherry blossoms on my nails, little cherry blossom in my belly.”
Photo: Courtesy of Hailey Bieber
August 2024: Jack Blues Bieber
Justin announced the arrival of their son with a photo of a tiny foot and the caption: “WELCOME HOME JACK BLUES BIEBER 🐻”
Photo: Courtesy of Hailey Bieber & Justin Bieber
November 2024
For Halloween, the Bieber family went all in on a group costume. Hailey dressed as Kim Possible, Justin as her best friend Ron, and baby Jack, in a pink onesie, as Ron’s pet naked mole rat Rufus. They shared the photos the morning after, and the internet, predictably, could not get enough.
Later, Hailey shared a candid family photo of the three of them bundled up for an outdoor walk. Justin in a gray and black camo fleece, Hailey in a fuzzy coat, and Jack in a gray hoodie lined with white shearling. She captioned it simply: “November aka the best month of the year.”
Photo: Amber Asaly, Courtesy of Hailey Bieber
January 2025: The Hacker Incident
For a brief and chaotic moment, the internet convinced itself that Justin and Hailey were headed for a split after fans noticed he had unfollowed her on Instagram. Justin shut it down quickly on his Stories, writing in all caps: “SOMEONE WENT ON MY ACCOUNT AND UNFOLLOWED MY WIFE. S–T IS GETTING SUSS OUT HERE.” Crisis averted, drama dissolved, the Biebers were fine.
February 2025: Valentine's Day
Justin shared a carousel of photos to celebrate Hailey on Valentine’s Day, captioning it simply: “HAPPY VALENTINES DAY FROM THE BIEBERS.”
Photo: Courtesy of Justin Bieber
July 2025: Italy and Swag
While speculation about their marriage circulated online, the couple told a different story entirely, sharing photos from a trip to Italy and other places, looking happy and very much together. The kissing-on-camera shots did the rest.
Photo: Courtesy of Justin Bieber
By the end of the month, any remaining doubt was put to rest at the Swag listening party, where the two were photographed together, happier than ever. Justin’s seventh studio album referenced Hailey throughout, perhaps most directly in “Walking Away”: “Baby, I ain’t walking away / You were my diamond / Gave you a ring / I made you a promise.” The album said everything the couple hadn’t.
August 2025: Yukon
Justin dropped the music video for “Yukon,” and it was filled with precious family moments featuring Hailey and baby Jack. Intimate, warm, and completely unguarded, it felt like a rare and genuine glimpse into the life they have built together.
August 2025: Jack's First Birthday
Jack Blues Bieber turned one, and Hailey marked the occasion on Instagram with photos of the two of them together, all hugs and smiles. One year of parenthood, and it looks good on them.
Photo: Courtesy of Hailey Bieber
September 2025: Swag II
Justin surprised fans with a follow-up album, and Hailey was the first to celebrate it on her Stories. “Happy Swag II day,” she posted, highlighting her favorite tracks.
November 2025: The Incredibles
The Bieber family dressed as The Incredibles for Halloween. Justin as Mr. Incredible, Hailey as Elastigirl, and baby Jack as Jack-Jack. The internet loved every second of it.
Later that month, Justin posted a photo from Kendall Jenner’s 30th birthday celebration showing Hailey kissing him at the private beachside party.
Photo: Courtesy of Justin Bieber
April 2026: Rhode x The Biebers
Just before Coachella, Hailey and Justin launched a collaboration nobody saw coming but everyone wanted immediately. The Rhode x The Biebers set brought together three go-to essentials, Spotwear, Peptide Eye Prep in Banana Peel, and Peptide Lip Treatment in Caramelized Banana, designed together as a couple. Business and love, in the most Bieber way possible.
Photo: Courtesy of Hailey Bieber
April 2026: Coachella
Justin headlined Coachella and gave a shoutout to his family mid-set: “Mom and Dad, hallelujah. Hailey babe, hallelujah. Baby Jack, hallelujah.” The camera cut to Hailey in the crowd. She blew him a kiss and waved.
Hailey and baby Jack were his biggest supporters all weekend, and the photo dump Hailey posted afterward said it all. “Such a special weekend,” she wrote. “Nobody will ever know even an ounce of what it’s taken to get here. So grateful for this beautiful life. SO proud. Let’s do it all again!!!!”
And in one of the most talked-about moments of the second weekend, Hailey and Billie Eilish were standing side by side in the crowd when Hailey turned to her and pushed her onstage, making a longtime dream come true for the singer in front of tens of thousands of people. The moment went viral almost instantly, and for many, it marked a turning point in how the public sees Hailey. The girl who had spent years being defined by someone else’s love story was finally being seen for who she actually is.
