Nina Dobrev is back in the dating-rumor cycle after a low-key New York City sighting with model Dougie Joseph.
The Vampire Diaries alum was photographed walking in New York this week with Joseph. Just Jared reported that the sighting came from a fan photo submitted to DeuxMoi.
The photo quickly drew attention because Dobrev has kept her personal life relatively quiet since ending her engagement to Olympic snowboarder Shaun White in 2025.
Just Jared noted that some fans think the two could simply be friends, while others are reading more into the walk.
The Sighting Started With a Fan Photo
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Just Jared reported that DeuxMoi later identified the man in the photo as Joseph, a model who also goes by Dougie Joseph. The outlet said Dobrev follows Joseph on Instagram, which added to the speculation after the fan-submitted photo spread online.
Joseph Has His Own Public Profile
Joseph is a model and co-founder of Bondi Skin Co., a men’s skincare brand, according to Just Jared. The outlet also noted that Dobrev’s close friend Julianne Hough follows him on Instagram, another small detail that fans connected to the rumor.
Some online speculation has focused on one of Joseph’s older Instagram captions about a “big week of Bulgarians.” Just Jared reported that the post included a gym video involving Bulgarian squats, though fans still connected the wording to Dobrev’s Bulgarian background.
Dobrev Has Been Single Since Her Shaun White Split
Dobrev and White ended their engagement in September 2025 after five years together. People reported at the time that the split was mutual and made with “love and a deep respect for one another.”
White had proposed in October 2024 with a 5-carat diamond ring. People reported that representatives for both stars did not respond to requests for comment when the split was confirmed.