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A Timeline of Olivia Rodrigo & Louis Partridge's Relationship
A Timeline of Olivia Rodrigo & Louis Partridge's Relationship

Yahoo

time7 hours ago

  • Entertainment
  • Yahoo

A Timeline of Olivia Rodrigo & Louis Partridge's Relationship

After two albums' worth of breakup songs, fans of Olivia Rodrigo were ready to see their girl find true love — something she finally seemed to do when Louis Partridge entered the picture. More from Billboard Travis Kelce Denies That He & Taylor Swift 'Seek Attention' in Public: 'We're Just Enjoying Life' Demi Lovato & Husband Jutes Enjoy Romantic Beachside Honeymoon in Newly Shared Photos JoJo Siwa Reveals When She Realized She Had Feelings for Chris Hughes: 'I Wasn't Looking to Fall for Him' The public first became aware of the young pop star and Enola Holmes star's romance in late 2023, right after the release of Rodrigo's Billboard 200-topping sophomore album Guts, which was filled with angsty tracks many fans believed to be targeted at ex-boyfriends Adam Faze and Zack Bia. Before that came one of the biggest heartbreak albums of the decade, 2021's Sour — decidedly written about the musician's split from her High School Musical: The Musical: The Series co-star Joshua Bassett — which featured the Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers 'Drivers License' and 'Good 4 U.' But as the Grammy winner sang on 'Enough for You,' someday she'd 'be everything to somebody else' — and that person turned out to be a certain British actor, who was previously linked to his Pistol castmate Sydney Chandler. Though Rodrigo and Partridge have kept things pretty private, the photos and videos that have been captured of them together show that the 'Deja Vu' artist rarely goes long without smiling or laughing when she's in her partner's presence, and vice versa. And fans can't get enough, with some dubbing them 'Gen Z royalty' and others comparing them to Twilight's Bella Swan and Edward Cullen. From cute date nights to supporting each other at big events, Rodrigo and Partridge have kept fans obsessed with their romance. Keep reading to see a timeline of their big moments below, and check back here for updates. The story of Rodrigo and Partridge might date back to an August interview the 'Traitor' artist gave ahead of the release of Guts, where she was challenged to read aloud her most recent DM exchange. 'My best friend Conan texted me a picture of this guy that I think is cute and I said, 'Wow, he's everything,'' Rodrigo hesitantly revealed, blushing. Rodrigo and Partridge first sparked dating rumors in October 2023, when fans saw them together in public for the first time ever. In blurry pictures snapped by one onlooker, the singer — wearing festive Halloween cat ears on her head — wraps her arms around the actor, both of them dating rumors surrounding Rodrigo and Partridge only solidified when the Brit showed up to the 2023 Jingle Ball to support the Bizaardvark alum's performance. While there, he was spotted hanging out with Rodrigo's best friends Conan Gray and Maddie Hsu and singing and dancing along to 'All-American B-tch,' after which the group all appeared to leave in the same car. One day after Jingle Ball, Rodrigo performed on Saturday Night Live and took Partridge along with her to the show's afterparty that night. Afterwards, the couple left the party venue together. Rodrigo and Partridge all but confirmed their romance by engaging in a steamy makeout sesh while making a pit stop at gas station in New York City. Other pictures from the outing capture them giggling together outside of their car, the Argylle star snapping photos of the 'Deja Vu' singer on his phone. The next day, there were reports of the couple exploring Tannersville in upstate New York. Not that fans needed it after photos of their gas-station PDA circulated online, but Rodrigo soft-launched her romance with Partridge on Instagram by sharing a photo of her playing darts with an opponent whose initials — 'L.P.' — were visibly written in chalk on a scoreboard. When Rodrigo kicked off her first-ever arena tour, of course Partridge was in the audience at Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs, Calif., to support her. Fan videos captured the actor walking around the venue with the singer's best friend Iris Apatow and holding his cup with his teeth in order to free up his hands to snap a video, and afterward, he posted a picture of his girlfriend performing on Instagram Stories and wrote, 'So so so good.' In an interview with British Vogue, Partridge opened up about his relationship with Rodrigo for the first time. 'Dating probably shouldn't be done in the public eye,' he told the publication. 'There's enough going on between two people. You don't need the voices of thousands of others in your head. I think she's got it a lot worse than I have … She's got tons and tons of eyes on her case.' 'If there's a load of people nattering in a room about you, you can choose to put your ear to the door to hear what they say or not,' he added. 'I think you're probably better off not letting curiosity get the better of you.' Partridge could barely wait for Rodrigo to get off stage to wrap her in an adorable bear hug at her March 19 concert in Chicago, something one fan caught on video. The arrival of the deluxe edition of Guts marked a huge milestone for Rodrigo, as it featured the very first proper love song she'd ever released in her career thus far: 'So American.' Fans were instantly positive the gushy track is all about the star's British boyfriend, with lyrics like, 'He laughs at all my jokes/ And he says I'm so American' and 'God, I'm gonna marry him/ If he keeps this sh– up.' 'GUTS (spilled) is out!!!!!' Rodrigo wrote on Instagram after dropping the song alongside four other new deluxe tracks. 'especialllyyy excited about so american.' Rodrigo and Partridge stepped out for a casual dinner date in Los Angeles, as captured in photos that circulated on social media. While the Enola Holmes star sported a simple flannel and jeans, the 'Get Him Back!' singer wore a red sundress, coat and cherry handbag. Partridge joined Rodrigo in supporting one of her besties, Tate McRae, at the 'Greedy' singer's concert in London. Sitting in the middle of the mezzanine section of the venue, the couple cuddled up while enjoying the music as if they were just two random fans in a crowd. Fans went wild when Rodrigo appeared to subtly confirm that she and Partridge have gotten serious by slightly altering the lyrics of 'So American' at one of her Guts World Tour shows in Europe. Instead of singing 'think I'm in love' as normal after the song's bridge, she belted out 'I'm so in love' — a small but eyebrow-raising change. Partridge helped his girlfriend promote the Asia and Australia legs of her Guts World Tour in a TikTok posted by Rodrigo. Listen for his voice behind the camera: Rodrigo had the sweetest comment for her boyfriend on his 21st-birthday post on Instagram: 'welcome to the 21 club angel boy!!!! 💓💓💓💓' she wrote. Rodrigo and Partridge again packed on the PDA on the streets of New York City while taking a summer stroll together. The pair linked arms, held hands and stopped to share a kiss, with the 'Vampire' artist wearing a Yankees cap and black spaghetti-strap blouse and Partridge sporting a plain white many months of dating, Rodrigo and Partridge made their first couple's appearance at an industry event by hitting the Venice International Film Festival together. Though they didn't pose on the red carpet, the singer did accompany her boyfriend to the screening of his new series Disclaimer, where she took an adorable video of the actor soaking in his applause. Plus, the pair attended a cocktail reception at the Hotel Excelsior, as a well as a post-screening reception at Palazzina Grassi. Partridge was Rodrigo's No. 1 fan at Glastonbury 2025, which the singer closed out with her headlining set on the last day of the festival. After giving his superstar girlfriend a boost on his shoulders while they watched Pulp perform earlier in the day, the actor snapped videos of Rodrigo performing from backstage and later wrote on Instagram, 'A truly special performance on such a huge scale.' 'She worked her a– off for it and couldn't be more deserving of all her success and for the great crowd that was watching,' Partridge added in his post. 'What a moment.' Best of Billboard Kelly Clarkson, Michael Buble, Pentatonix & Train Will Bring Their Holiday Hits to iHeart Christmas Concert Fox Plans NFT Debut With $20 'Masked Singer' Collectibles 14 Things That Changed (or Didn't) at Farm Aid 2021

Olivia Rodrigo and Louis Partridge Bring Their Best Preppy Style to Wimbledon
Olivia Rodrigo and Louis Partridge Bring Their Best Preppy Style to Wimbledon

Vogue

time8 hours ago

  • Entertainment
  • Vogue

Olivia Rodrigo and Louis Partridge Bring Their Best Preppy Style to Wimbledon

This week, the 2025 Wimbledon tournament kicked off in London. Just a few days in, a number of celebrity tennis enthusiasts are already sitting courtside in their VIP seats while taking in the matches—including Cate Blanchett, David Beckham, Priyanka Chopra, and Nick Jonas, to name a few. This morning, A-list couple Olivia Rodrigo and Louis Partridge were also spotted at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. While the American singer and English actor typically have a grungier style sensibility, they both played into the signature preppy Wimbledon aesthetic for the outing. (For attendees, dressing up in a country club vibe is half the fun, after all.) Rodrigo traded in her love of mini lace and slip dresses—which she loves pairing with combat boots—in favor of a buttoned-up gingham shirt dress. She added itty-bitty shades. Partridge, meanwhile—who can often be spotted off-duty in baggy trousers or athleisure—went the snazzy route in a navy blazer, khaki trousers, and striped shirt-and-tie combo. While there is no official Wimbledon dress code that is enforced, it goes without saying that attendees are encouraged to wear smart-casual pieces—including elegant dresses and smart tailoring. Clearly, Rodrigo and Partridge did their homework before attending the event. While it proved to be a total style-180 for them, their complementary preppy outfits totally work for them. Should this be their new summer fashion mood? Something tells us they will be going back to their downtown-cool wardrobes very soon. But, for now, it's fun to see them cosplay as posh tennis lovers.

How Olivia Rodrigo and Louis Partridge Hard-Launched Their Romance on Instagram After Glastonbury
How Olivia Rodrigo and Louis Partridge Hard-Launched Their Romance on Instagram After Glastonbury

Elle

timea day ago

  • Entertainment
  • Elle

How Olivia Rodrigo and Louis Partridge Hard-Launched Their Romance on Instagram After Glastonbury

THE RUNDOWN Gracie Abrams isn't the only Glastonbury performer to make things very Instagram official with her partner after the British music festival. Olivia Rodrigo and Louis Partridge also hard-launched their relationship on the social media platform with some photos, videos, and a little flirting in the comments. Rodrigo shared multiple clips of them together in a Glastonbury recap carousel—and Partridge liked the post: While Rodrigo has previously shared photos of Partridge on Instagram, she never showed his face. But in the eighth slide of her Glastonbury post, she appears on his shoulders, watching another set. He also is part of the group spraying her with champagne in the second slide: Partridge, for his part, was less subtle. He posted an Instagram tribute to Rodrigo after her performance, marking his first grid post about her. He wrote, 'I hope you caught Olivia's show last night. A truly special performance on such a huge scale. She worked her ass off for it and couldn't be more deserving of all her success and for the great crowd that was watching. What a moment #glastonberry🍓❤️❤️❤️' Rodrigo replied, 'glastonBERRY ilysm😭😭😭' Partridge was just as adoring on Rodrigo's Instagram. In a post she shared yesterday about Glastonbury, he commented, 'Ur the best ❤️🍓' Rodrigo and Partridge were first romantically linked in October 2023. They went to this year's Grammys together in one of their biggest red carpet appearances to date. Last fall, Partridge spoke to ELLE about being a Golden Retriever boyfriend. 'I think in past relationships my mind worked at a different speed to the women I've known,' he admitted. 'A bit slower. The way I would characterize it is like a Golden Retriever and a black cat. I can imagine being happy sitting and catching a Frisbee.' He also credited Rodrigo for expanding his music taste: 'My girlfriend has been trying to get me into more pop recently—Chappell Roan has been on repeat,' he said.

Olivia Rodrigo And Louis Partridge Join Iris Apatow On Summer Getaway
Olivia Rodrigo And Louis Partridge Join Iris Apatow On Summer Getaway

Elle

time3 days ago

  • Entertainment
  • Elle

Olivia Rodrigo And Louis Partridge Join Iris Apatow On Summer Getaway

Olivia Rodrigo is in the midst of a thriving romance. In October 2023, The Sun reported that Rodrigo is dating actor Louis Partridge. Neither Rodrigo nor Partridge confirmed the news, but, months later in December, they were photographed making out in New York City. (That's all the proof we need.) Back in October, fans suspected they could be dating the week before Halloween, as the two were photographed out together in London. In the shots, Partridge and Rodrigo's arms were wrapped around the other's waist. People covered the dating rumors on Halloween, citing the photo and noting that neither of their reps commented on the potential romance when asked. Rodrigo spoke to Vogue in July about how she doesn't 'kiss and tell' when dodging a question about her relationship status. She conceded that she understands the public's interest in her love life. 'It's an interesting thing to think about,' she said. 'I understand it. I could sit here and be like, "I don't get why people do that," but I do it so often.' Here, everything to know about Partridge and his connection to Rodrigo. Rodrigo appeared with Partridge in photos that surfaced on social media during her London visit in late October. In one shot, they appeared to have their arms around each other. Days later, on Halloween, a source told The Sun that Partridge and Rodrigo were dating. 'Olivia flew to London with her best pal, singer Conan Gray, but it was Louis who she came to see,' the source alleged. 'They met through mutual pals earlier in the year and have been messaging quite a bit. She has spent a few days in the capital hanging out with them all but it's been Louis who she has been inseparable from. They have been for dinners and nights out. They hit a club together on Friday night and were acting very coupley. It's really sweet to see her happy.' Partridge added to dating rumours between him and Rodrigo when he was seen supporting her the weekend of December 8-10 in New York City. He was first seen in the crowd that Friday during her Jingle Ball performance, at one point filming her. The next day, after Rodrigo's Saturday Night Live performance, he was seen arriving to the after-party to celebrate with her. Paparazzi captured clear proof Rodrigo and Partridge were romantically involved ahead of the holidays. They were photographed kissing passionately at a gas station in their first major PDA moment. Shortly after their gas station makeout, Rodrigo and Partridge went on a getaway. People reported that one day after the kissing photos were captured, the couple was seen in Tannersville in upstate New York. 'They were browsing the apothecary goods at a shop called Sundry on Main Street,' an eyewitness told People. 'They were very cute and [were] overheard saying it was their first time in the area. They mostly spoke with gazes and body language. It was very cute.' That Sunday, December 17, they were photographed back in New York City holding hands. While Rodrigo and Partridge weren't photographed by paparazzi in January 2024, a comment on TikTok went viral where a user claimed Rodrigo had spent time with Partridge and his parents. The user said that they saw the group at a pub in the Isle of Wight. Footage surfaced of the couple with their arms wrapped around each other during a visit to Disneyland in California during Valentine's Day weekend. It marks one of their most public dates of the new year. On February 24, a fan account posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, with a clip from Rodrigo performing on her Guts Tour. The video pans over to Partridge, who is himself filming his girlfriend like a proud boyfriend would, and moving along to the music. Partridge was seen in the audience at the St. Louis stop of Rodrigo's Guts tour on March 12. The coincidence of St. Louis was not lost on fans: He was also seen at her Nashville show the week before and appears to be traveling with Rodrigo from stop to stop. The actor spoke to the magazine about why he prefers to keep their relationship private. 'Dating probably shouldn't be done in the public eye,' he said. 'There's enough going on between two people. You don't need the voices of thousands of others in your head. I think she's got it a lot worse than I have. I can be a bit of a normal person. She's got tonnes and tonnes of eyes on her case.' He was asked how he handles the comments he receives from fans about his love life. He replied, 'If there's a load of people nattering in a room about you, you can choose to put your ear to the door to hear what they say or not. I think you're probably better off not letting curiosity get the better of you.' Rodrigo shared her public birthday wishes to Partridge on June 3 when he shared an Instagram post to celebrate turning 21. 'Welcome to the 21 club angel boy,' she wrote, adding a string of pink heart emojis. Rodrigo joined Partridge at the premiere of his TV series Disclaimer during the Venice Film Festival on August 29. The couple held hands as they arrived at the event. They matched in dark ensembles, Rodrigo wearing a semi-sheer black floral dress. Partridge opted for a gray suit. On Saturday, August 31, Partridge went Instagram official with Rodrigo by posting a black and white photo of them together at the festival in which they are holding hands and smiling at each other. They also posed for a sweet photo at filmmaker dinner held to celebrate Disclaimer's release in Venice on August 30. In the photo, Partridge is giving Rodrigo a gentle kiss on the forehead. The couple put in an appearance at Old Trafford on in Manchester, England, on November 3 to catch the Premier League match between Manchester United and Chelsea. In footage seen on X, formerly Twitter, the couple enjoyed the warm up ahead of the game from a very close perspective. Rodrigo could be seen taking pictures and putting Partridge in position against the field for a photo op. In several images from the event, Rodrigo could be seen wearing a small silver 'L' necklace. Partridge dodged a question about whether Rodrigo's track about a foreign love interest was an ode to him. He laughed and said, 'Not my song, not my place. So I wouldn't know.' He did share that Rodrigo has been shaping his music taste: 'My girlfriend has been trying to get me into more pop recently—Chappell Roan has been on repeat,' he said. He also revealed that he sees himself as a golden retriever boyfriend type. 'I think in past relationships my mind worked at a different speed to the women I've known,' he said. 'A bit slower. The way I would characterise it is like a Golden Retriever and a black cat. I can imagine being happy sitting and catching a Frisbee.' Rodrigo was spotted arriving to the award ceremony with Partridge by her side. And although they didn't pose on the red carpet together, they were seen cuddling up in the ceremony. Rodrigo subtly tucked in a photo of Partridge in an Instagram showcasing how she celebrated turning 22. He appears holding a ladybug in the sixth shot. She wrote, 'thank u for all the birthday wishes!!! I feel like the luckiest girl alive!!! grateful for this year and all the love, friendship, music, magic and spaghetti I got to experience! cheers to 22!!!💋❤️🐞' Fans noted that Rodrigo has made a habit of just showing hints of Partridge on Instagram: On May 3, Iris Apatow's boyfriend, Sam Nivola, shared a carousel of photos featuring both Rodrigo and Partridge. The couple appeared throughout the photos of what looked like an epic summer vacation. The group was swimming, sunbathing, playing tennis, dining, and just generally enjoying themselves. Partridge has been acting since he was a kid, but his big breakout role was when he played Millie Bobby Brown's love interest Viscount Tewskbury in the Netflix film series Enola Holmes. The first film came out in 2020, putting the spotlight on him. Prior to that, Partridge acted in the BBC sitcom Boomers and shorts including Second Skin, About a Dog, and Beneath Water. Since then, he's appeared in Medici, Paddington 2, and had a major star moment when he played Sid Vicious in FX's miniseries Pistol. Partridge was born in London on June 3, 2003. He marked his 20th birthday and the end of his teens with a selfie on Instagram. 'Going into 20 with eyes half shut and a beard a quarter grown. Only way is up from here 🎂🕺🍊🍷⭐️♥️,' he wrote. Rodrigo is a Pisces, so for the astrologically curious, they are dual signs, making their pairing a more intriguing match. As the AstroTwins wrote for ELLE US, these signs can be a little wary of commitment, but the pairing offers a growth opportunity: 'a golden chance to peer into love's looking glass and see your own shadowy id mirrored back.' Partridge told The Face in May 2022 that he had a girlfriend, an 'ex-friend turned girlfriend [who's] in the business.' The Daily Mail later reported in September 2022 that he and 27-year-old actress Sydney Chandler, co-stars on Pistol, had struck up a romance. The outlet cited The Sun, and a source telling the outlet that they had been involved for quite some time privately. 'They've been quietly going out for about a year now but have managed to keep it under the radar,' the source alleged. 'They seem very close to going public with their relationship and Louis clearly played the role of the supportive boyfriend very well.' They attended the British Fashion Awards together in December that year. The length of their relationship isn't clear, as the two stars kept much of it private. Following the first Enola Holmes' release, the then-17-year-old Partridge told Gentleman's Journal that he was 'still focusing on school, so I don't have that classic actor's problem of waiting for the phone to ring. It has been difficult in the past, though. I remember sleeping in the car on the way to meet director Harry Bradbeer and Millie Bobby Brown for rehearsals—having already done 3 GCSEs that same day…' He went on to complete his A levels in 2021, receiving two As (in English and French) and one A (in Film Studies), per The Face. Partridge spoke to Gentleman's Journal about liking older music in his teens. 'I've recently—and quite randomly—got into the doo-wop genre of the 1950s and 60s,' he said. 'That's all since stumbling across "In the Still of the Night" by Fred Parris and The Satins on Spotify. Those songs are just so simple and usually don't have great lyrics, but just feel warm. Other than that, I'm a big Shazammer—and take no shame in whipping my phone out in a restaurant to discover the name of a song.' Partridge told Gentleman's Journal that his relationship with social media is a little complicated. 'Social media is a blessing and a curse,' he said. 'So far, I've been glad of the opportunities it has brought me. However, I feel like it'd be easy to become completely wrapped up in numbers and likes and all of that. It's still all relatively new to me, but I imagine, after a while, the novelty wears off. I've never been one to put my entire life out there, and I don't think that will change. But, so far, all I've received are sweet comments—touch wood…' Partridge currently has 9.2 million followers on Instagram. Partridge does more than just act. He is an ambassador for Prada, posing in the brand's 2023 holiday campaign most recently. He spoke to Esquire in June 2022 about what he likes most about the fashion house. 'I first admired Prada for their classic silhouettes,' he said. 'I've always been a fan of simple and classy, and I think Prada does that better than anyone. With Raf, I became aware of his work when I started getting into fashion as a teenager. Walking round London, his clothes would always stand out to me as they always seemed to go against convention in one way or another. His first pieces I noticed were the Ozweego tennis shoes, his loose-knitted jumpers, and his denim with Calvin Klein. Though I couldn't afford any of it, I used to go to Dover Street Market and try it all on. I think the combination of their two styles creates something classic yet constantly evolving, and I love that. I'm always surprised.' The actor was asked by W in May 2022 about his teenage years, and whether he was punk or emo growing up. 'Nah, [I didn't have that phase],' he said. 'I'm glad. Maybe this was my punk phase. I had a few weird phases, but I never went for emo. Early, early, it was Ben 10 t-shirts, this kid show that I used to love back in the day. It makes me embarrassed even talking about it now, but I used to wait outside shops in London for ages and buy these stupid clothes because I thought it was cool.' He did add later that he was a bit of a hypebeast, calling his biggest fashion regret 'queuing up outside of Supreme every weekend when I was about 13 years old. It was just a waste of time. I used to think all these clothes were so cool, but I've thankfully grown out of waiting outside to shops for clothes.' Partridge spoke about his friendship with Millie Bobby Brown to W. He confirmed that the two keep in touch. 'When she's in London, we get together, but she's off doing crazy things and I'm off in New York now, far from home,' he said. 'It's rare that we overlap, so it's nice coming back to the film when we're in town together for a while.' Partridge spoke to W about his first brush with celebrity, saying he has been recognised in public 'a few times. I had a little bit of trouble there because I was staying at the cheapest places possible, at hostels, because that's how you want to do it, I guess. But the Brazilians were so lovely and friendly and welcoming and generous that I didn't have any problems—too bad of problems, that is.' He expanded on his experience to The Face. 'It makes me more aware of myself, I'd say, out on the street, which I'm not a massive fan of, just because of photos and things,' he said. 'But it's not the worst thing in the world!' Recognition out in public, 'it comes and goes, to be honest,' he said. 'Yesterday I went into town and I was recognised three times before I even got to Waterloo [station]. It was nuts. But then some days I can do anything, be on Oxford Street, and nothing. And I haven't been recognised today, which is nice.' As for what the sudden shift in attention following Enola Holmes was like, he explained, 'It was just insane. I think it's a little weird for my sister at school because, obviously, the kind of people that watch Enola Holmes are her mates and in her year, that demographic. But she really doesn't care about it too much. My family are trying to keep things as normal as possible… even though it's kind of fucking mad that it's happening!' ELLE Collective is a new community of fashion, beauty and culture lovers. For access to exclusive content, events, inspiring advice from our Editors and industry experts, as well the opportunity to meet designers, thought-leaders and stylists, become a member today HERE.

‘Game changing': How ‘breast cancer social media' is helping young women get diagnosed earlier
‘Game changing': How ‘breast cancer social media' is helping young women get diagnosed earlier

Boston Globe

time3 days ago

  • Health
  • Boston Globe

‘Game changing': How ‘breast cancer social media' is helping young women get diagnosed earlier

In the past several years, numerous high-profile women — including Thurston, 'There's much more out there making young women aware [of breast cancer] and the supports and resources there are,' said Dr. Ann Partridge, vice chair of medial oncology and director of the Program for Young Adults with Breast Cancer at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. 'Social media has really promoted that in very positive ways.' Advertisement The increased media attention comes as an array of cancers — including breast — are striking Advertisement Partridge said because young women don't get 'They also do worse from a psychosocial emotional standpoint,' Partridge said. 'You're dealing with a bigger problem medically, and then it has more implications psychosocially because of where she is in her life.' As beneficial as the cancer community on social media can be, Partridge warned against taking medical advice from influencers and putting too much stock in others' stories. She said what people share is almost always incomplete and everyone's experiences differ with the type of cancer they have and their treatment plan. Social media can also be rife with misinformation, said Dr. Cristina Pozo-Kaderman, a psychologist and the director of the But one of the benefits of increased awareness on social media, Partridge said, is young women knowing that breast cancer can happen in their age group. This, and hearing other people's stories, can help them advocate for themselves when medical professionals Advertisement 'For the vast majority of people who don't have a strong family history [of breast cancer], who don't have any other personal reason why they're at high risk, that's where it's much harder. And that's the majority of women who present with young-onset cancer,' Partridge said. On the flip side, influencers can also help women find out if they're high risk by spreading awareness about factors like family and personal medical history. Munn, for example, 'We encourage people to know their own risk factors, know their family history, and consider getting genetic testing if they have a strong family history,' Partridge said. For all women, Partridge said, it's important to know and listen to their body and advocate for themselves if something feels off. 'If it's not sitting right with you, stay on it and say, 'I'd feel more comfortable if I got a test,'' she said. Pozo-Kaderman said that even though incidence rates are rising, being diagnosed with cancer as a young adult is still relatively rare, meaning those affected are more likely to feel alone and go through unique challenges. 'When you're diagnosed as a young adult, you don't have this peer group or cohort that is going through similar types of things like you are,' said Pozo-Kaderman, author of 'Coping with Cancer in Early Adulthood: From Diagnosis to Treatment to Day-to-Day Life Changes, Navigating Your Cancer Journey,' due out in October. 'When they go to treatment, they look around and everyone is their parents' or grandparents' age.' Advertisement That's where social media can come in. With hashtags like Bethy Atkins, a 36-year-old Needham resident, partly credits other women's openness about breast cancer — and social media — for helping her catch the disease early and ultimately preserve her ability to have children. Atkins was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer when she was 31. Her first symptom was pain, and she immediately contacted her doctor. She took it so seriously because, in part, a woman she knew from college had publicly documented her own diagnosis in her early 20s on 'Because I knew someone who had this happen young, it was not so much of a shock,' Atkins said. Atkins also used social media to connect with women who had gone through fertility treatments after cancer treatment, 'I'm incredibly grateful I had other examples of people who had been able to get pregnant, because that was super important to me,' she said. Advertisement Another popular breast cancer hashtag — 'At that point, I was like man, this is tough — I'm not finding the support that I needed,' she said. So she turned to Twitter, now X, and at first used random hashtags like #cancer to connect with other young people. In July 2011, she and another cancer survivor created the #bcsm hashtag, which Staley said having social media when she was going through her first two treatments would have been 'game changing.' 'It's amazing the influencers you can find on Instagram and TikTok,' she said, '...people sharing incredible messages of support and awareness.' Atkins, who follows Thurston on social media, hopes the trend of influencers talking about early-onset breast cancer continues. Specifically, she wants young women to be encouraged to 'trust themselves and their bodies.' 'You might not have a friend or a sister who has been through this but see these girls talk about their treatment and diagnosis and their first symptoms,' she said. 'The more stories young women can hear about how other young women have protected their health and advocated for themselves and trusted their bodies, the better equipped we will be.' Advertisement Emily Spatz can be reached at

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