Why Vanessa Hudgens And Cole Tucker's Relationship Is So Special
Vanessa Hudgens may have finally found her prince charming! Over a year since they started dating, the Princess Switch actress and her boyfriend, MBL athlete Cole Tucker, are still going strong. The couple first sparked romance rumors when they were spotted together in late 2020, packing on the PDA while out on a date night in L.A. They later confirmed their romance by going IG official in February 2021, greeting each other for Valentine's Day. In December that year, the pair celebrated a milestone as they marked their first anniversary as a couple.
While they prefer to keep their romance out of the spotlight for the most part — only sharing glimpses here and there on Instagram — Vanessa previously opened up about her relationship with Cole, telling ET Online, "It's just easy. We're like the same person, very much the same person, but with different interests. We have the same spirit, I think. We're both just energetic. We want to have a good time, easy, goofy. It's cool." Below, we break down everything we know about this lovely couple.
8 How Vanessa Hudgens And Cole Tucker Met
It was a love story that started during COVID. Vanessa Hudgens, 33, revealed that she first connected with her boyfriend Cole Tucker, 26, over Zoom on a meditation group. “It’s the ultimate modern-day love story,” she told TODAY in September 2021. “It’s ridiculous... Like who are we, the most new-age couple ever?"
The Asking For It actress said it was her who first made the first move with Cole, sliding into his DMs shortly after the virtual class. “I mean, I’m such a go-getter. I’m like, if I want something or someone, I'm going after them," she said on The Drew Barrymore Show in May 2021. “I fully just slid into his DMs and was like, 'Hey, it was nice to meet you.' I think there is no shame in making the first move."
7 Vanessa Hudgens And Cole Tucker Step Out In LA
The couple first sparked dating rumors in November 2020 when they were photographed getting cozy while out on a dinner date in L.A. The tick, tick... BOOM! star is seen with her arms around Cole, smiling and looking totally smitten as they waited at the valet outside the Canyon Country Store.
At the time, Vanessa was already separated from her former boyfriend, Elvis star Austin Butler, for almost a year. They reportedly split in January 2020, after almost nine years together. "They're just shooting on two different continents and it's a matter of distance," a source told E! News back then. "There is no bad blood at all, and they have a lot of respect for each other."
6 Vanessa Hudgens And Cole Tucker Confirm Relationship
Shortly after their first public appearance, Vanessa Hudgens confirmed her romance with the MBL athlete via a social media post for Valentine's Day. On her Instagram page, the High School Musical alum shared a cute snap of her and Cole Tucker kissing, with the caption: "It's you, it's me, it's us." Cole likewise dedicated a sweet V-Day post for Vanessa, posting on his account a photo of them cozied up to each other in their pajamas. "Happy V Day," he simply wrote.
In an interview with ET Online in April 2021, the actress gushed about his relationship with Cole, describing her athlete-boyfriend as "perfect." "I am [happy]. I really am," she said. "I think that it's also so important to stay grateful for everything that you have in life. I've been making that a priority, and I feel like it's just been making magic happen all the more."
5 Cole Tucker Opens Up About Vanessa Hudgens
For the first time, the Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop opened up about his romance with Vanessa on the sidelines of his training session back in March 2021. "I got a girlfriend and she's cool," Cole said of the actress, as reported by KDKA. "She's awesome. I love her."
"She's great. She'll be around. You will see her," promised the baseball player before expressing his hope that Vanessa would be given the same treatment as the other players' non-showbiz partners. "I don't want it to be like, 'Oh, Cole's dating Vanessa. I don't want her to be treated any differently than Mitch [Keller] having his wife come down, or Ke'Bryan [Hayes] having his girlfriend come down," he said. "But you saw the headline. It is what it is."
4 Vanessa Hudgens And Cole Tucker Make Red Carpet Debut
Vanessa Hudgens and Cole Tucker made their first red carpet appearance as a couple at the premiere of Netflix's tick, tick... BOOM! in L.A. in November 2021. The actress wore a white lace dress by Vera Wang for the special evening, while Cole went for a simpler look, sporting a sleek black tux with a matching shirt underneath. Notably, the lovely pair also graced the film's N.Y.C. premiere at the Schoenfeld Theater just a few just days later, arm-in-arm and matching in their stylish black ensembles.
3 Vanessa Hudgens Talks About Supporting Cole Tucker
As his girlfriend, Vanessa has also shown her support for Cole by regularly attending his baseball games. Speaking to ET Online in November 2021, the actress said: "I've gone to a lot of games, way more than I have in my entire life condensed into a year. I love going and supporting and cheering him on." She added: "But for the premier days he's like, 'It's game day, babe. It's so nice. I get to come to your game.' And I'm like, 'Yes! Same thing.' It's great, he's amazing."
Reflecting on her relationship with the MBL player, she said: "It's just easy. We're like the same person, very much the same person, but with different interests. We have the same spirit, I think. We're both just energetic. We want to have a good time, easy, goofy. It's cool."
2 Vanessa Hudgens And Cole Tucker Mark First Anniversary
On December 30, 2021, Vanessa Hudgens and Cole Tucker celebrated their first anniversary as a couple. The Downtown Owl star turned to Instagram to mark the special occasion, sharing a snap of the pair with the caption: "1 year down. Love you." Under her post, Cole simply wrote: "The best."
At the time, a source told Us Weekly that things have gotten serious for the couple and that they are now working on the "next step" of their relationship – moving in together. "They are very in love. They have gotten to the point of their relationship where they have gotten serious and are committed to each other," the insider said. However, the source noted that Vanessa remains committed to her career and isn't ready to think about settling down with Cole just yet. "[She's] not in that headspace right now where she’s focusing on marriage," they added.
1 Vanessa Hudgens Professes Love For Cole Tucker
In June 2022, Vanessa shared a sweet Instagram tribute for Cole in honor of the athlete's 26th birthday. Sharing a carousel of their photos together, the half-Filipina actress professed her love for Cole and wished him a happy birthday. "Who’s a big birthday boy?! @cotuck is," she wrote. "I hope you don’t mind that I put down in words… how about wonderful life is now you're in the world. DAMNIT. Happy birthday baby." Cole later responded, writing under her post: "I lava youuuuuuu. Thank you baby."
Though currently busy with their respective careers, Vanessa and Cole's relationship seemingly continues to thrive, with an insider telling Us Weekly that the two are "super understanding of each other’s careers" and "give each other space to be free and thrive."
"They both have accepted the fact that their lives, including their relationship, are in the spotlight despite both of them being private," the source said, adding, “They really make an effort to see each other as much as they can but also miss each other when they are apart — it makes their reunions that much more special and meaningful.”
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