The Rise of the ‘Hype Partner’ & ‘Hype Couple’

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The definition of ‘hype’ according to the Cambridge Dictionary is; to make something seem more exciting and important than what it is.

It is commonplace to hype up your friends before going out for a night on the town or going on a date. It can make the person feel more confident and special. Everyone has bad days and having that person tell you that you look great or are doing a great job can do wonders for your mental health. However, one place where hyping seems to be making waves at the moment is in the world of dating, and this is why.

You must have been living under a rock for the past year if you haven’t heard all the chatter around Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s blossoming relationship. Swift and Kelce could easily be deemed the poster couple for this recent ‘hype couple’ trend.

There have been numerous occasions where the couple have gone out and shown a whole lot of public displays of admiration towards each other. We have seen Kelce supporting Tayor during her Eras Tour Dates and vice versa, Taylor and her celeb friends cheering Kelce on during his matches.

 

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Although some may view this kind of behaviour as a publicity stunt for celebrities to further their public image, others believe that it is simply a reflection of the positive attributes that couples are looking for in their relationships in 2024. Bumble Sex & Relationship Expert, Dr. Caroline West says “This isn’t just a celebrity trend – everyday couples are embracing it too. The rise of Hype Partners is a clear sign of where modern relationships are heading”.

According to a survey carried out by the online dating platform, one in four Irish women believe that “emotional intimacy is more attractive than a physical connection”. These statistics challenge the hook-up culture ideals that are often associated with the likes of Tinder, Bumble and so on. It shows that people are actually interested in finding a partner who is emotionally supportive and who also wants them to be the best version of themselves.

Although it may seem a bit OTT to openly sing praises for your significant other in public, “People want partners who are not only kind and supportive but who actively champion their successes,” Dr Caroline adds. Obviously, in this crazy era of social media, there would be no better place to hype up your other half than on TikTok or Insta.

 

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Often where couples would have avoided making big displays in fear of coming across as tacky, many people are foregoing this mindset and showing their pride and admiration for their partner without a second thought.

Hunter Woodhall and Tara Davis-Woodhall captured the hearts of the media during the Olympics when Hunter publicly showed his pride for his wife winning gold at the games. Woodhall also has many Instagram posts dedicated to his wife and her achievements.

Other high-profile couples who often post adoring snaps on their feed of their partner include Justin and Hailey Bieber and perhaps the most OG hype couples of all, David and Victoria Beckham and Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively.

In an era where celebrity breakups seem to be occurring every other day, the Hype Partner trend could be the breath of fresh air the dating world has been searching for.