Honestly, it feels like only yesterday that everyone was squinting at blurry paparazzi photos from a beach in Australia, trying to figure out if the girl in the oversized shirt was actually Dove Cameron.
Well, the squinting is officially over.
As of January 2024, the world finally got what it wanted: a hard confirmation. But by the time we hit early 2026, the story had shifted from "Are they or aren't they?" to a full-blown engagement. If you haven't been keeping up, Dove Cameron and her boyfriend—well, fiancé now—Damiano David, the lead singer of the Italian rock sensation Måneskin, are basically the "it" couple of the music world.
It’s been a wild ride. From the high-energy stages of the VMAs to quiet nights in their pajamas watching Lost, their relationship is a weirdly perfect blend of rock-and-roll chaos and "1950s gentleman" vibes.
How It All Actually Started (No, It Wasn't Instant)
Most people assume these things happen at some glamorous Hollywood party where eyes meet across a crowded room and the rest is history. Not quite.
The two first crossed paths at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards. Dove was there for her massive hit "Boyfriend," and Damiano was there with Måneskin. They were actually up for the same award: Best New Artist.
"I don't think I even spoke to Damiano," Dove told Cosmopolitan in a 2024 cover story. She won the VMA, went about her night, and that was that. No sparks. No secret DMs. Just two artists in the same room.
Fast forward a year. The 2023 VMAs roll around. This time, things were different. They finally had a reason to talk. Damiano apparently walked up to her and invited her to see Måneskin kick off their world tour at Madison Square Garden.
She went. Then she went to the greenroom. Then they went to an after-party.
The transition from "industry peers" to "dating" was surprisingly careful. Dove has been very vocal about her past, mentioning in interviews how she’s dealt with "red flags" and situations where she didn't feel safe. Because of that, she and Damiano took it slow. We're talking eight hours of "interview-style" questions before they even held hands.
The Timeline: From Bondi Beach to the Met Gala
If you’re looking for the specific moments that broke the internet, here’s the messy, real-world progression:
- September 2023: Fans spot Dove at the MSG show. The rumors start.
- November 2023: The "Bondi Beach" incident. Paparazzi catch them kissing in Sydney, Australia. At this point, the cat was out of the bag, but they still weren't "official."
- February 2024: The Pre-Grammy Gala. They make their red carpet debut with a very public kiss for the cameras. This was the "okay, we're doing this" moment.
- May 2024: Their first Met Gala together. They both wore custom Diesel outfits, leaning into the "Garden of Time" theme.
- October 2025: Rumors of a "massive rock" on Dove's finger start circulating after they're seen in Sydney again.
- January 3, 2026: The official announcement. Dove posts to Instagram with the caption, "My favourite part of being alive." Damiano follows up on his own page, saying, "It’s gonna be a beautiful year."
Why Damiano David is "Different"
There’s a lot of chatter about why this relationship seems to be sticking when so many other high-profile celeb pairings burn out in six months.
Dove has described Damiano as an "angel, teddy bear." That's a far cry from the leather-clad, eyeliner-wearing rockstar persona he projects on stage with Måneskin. She’s mentioned that he’s incredibly sensitive and nurturing.
Interestingly, Damiano has credited Dove with helping him navigate his solo career. In May 2025, he released his debut solo album, Funny Little Fears. He told SiriusXM that this is the "healthiest relationship" he’s ever had. He's managed to balance the insanity of a global music career without "sacrificing his personal life."
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It’s also about the music. They aren't just partners; they're fans of each other. While they’ve teased the idea of a collaboration, Damiano admitted in early 2025 that doing a duet right away felt "extremely cheesy." They prefer to just play each other's tracks at home.
Dealing with the "PR Relationship" Accusations
Of course, the internet is going to internet.
A lot of skeptics on Reddit and Twitter have claimed the whole thing is a PR stunt to help Damiano break into the American market or to boost Dove’s "rocker" image.
But if you look at how they actually live, the PR theory falls apart pretty quickly. They aren't constantly posting for engagement. In fact, Dove once mentioned that they spend most of their time at home, in their pajamas, watching old TV shows. They go to supermarkets. They go to Broadway shows. They do the boring stuff that PR couples usually skip in favor of "candid" sightings at Nobu.
What Most People Get Wrong About Them
The biggest misconception is that Dove "changed" for Damiano.
People see the edgier fashion and the shift in her musical tone and think she's just absorbing his personality. But Dove has been on this path for years—long before they met at the VMAs. She’s been open about her "emotional spring cleaning," revisiting past traumas to write her own debut album.
If anything, Damiano seems to be the one providing the "solid ground" she needed to be her full self. She specifically mentioned that as a queer woman, she has never felt "invalidated" or "threatened" by dating him. He sees her full identity, and that’s a rare thing in the spotlight.
What's Next for the Couple?
Now that the engagement is official as of January 2026, the wedding bells are the next big topic.
So far, they haven't dropped a date. Given their track record, they’ll probably keep the planning quiet until a few months before it happens. Dove’s mother has already given the stamp of approval, posting that her "heart is so full" following the engagement news.
If you’re following their journey, here are a few things to keep an eye on:
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- The Solo Careers: Both are in "growth mode." Damiano is touring for Funny Little Fears, and Dove is rolling out her full-length solo album.
- The Style Evolution: Expect more "power couple" fashion moments. They’ve mastered the art of coordinating without looking like they’re wearing matching uniforms.
- The Possible Collab: We might finally get that song they recorded together back in 2023. Now that they’re engaged, maybe it’s "less cheesy" to release it?
The real takeaway here isn't just that two famous people are getting married. It's that in a world of 24-hour news cycles and "curated" romances, Dove and Damiano seem to have found something that actually feels... normal.
They took the time to do the "eight-hour interview" phase. They survived the long-distance stretches of world tours. They leaned into the safety of being "best friends" first.
Whether you’re a fan of the Disney alum or the Italian rocker, it’s hard not to root for a couple that seems to genuinely like each other when the cameras are turned off.
If you want to stay updated on their latest moves, keep a close watch on their rare but meaningful Instagram posts—they usually drop the biggest news there first. You can also follow Måneskin's tour updates, as Dove is frequently seen supporting Damiano from the wings, proving that even after two years, they're still each other's biggest fans.