Who is Madison Bailey's Girlfriend? All About Her Love Story with Mariah Linney

The couple met—of all places—on TikTok!
sarah hanlon entertainment and celebrity editor the knot
by
Sarah Hanlon
sarah hanlon entertainment and celebrity editor the knot
Sarah Hanlon
Entertainment & Celebrity Editor
  • Sarah is the Entertainment & Celebrity Editor for The Knot, with special focuses on pop culture and celebrity wedding news.
  • Before joining The Knot Worldwide, Sarah was a contributing writer for Bravo at NBC Universal.
  • Sarah has a degree in journalism and resides in New York City.
Updated Oct 03, 2024

When you know, you know. Such was the case for Madison Bailey and her girlfriend, Mariah Linney, who quite literally met on TikTok. The For You page was certainly For You page-ing when the Outer Banks star first laid eyes on the former basketball player. After they connected over social media, the couple hard-launched their relationship in June 2020—and they've been thriving ever since. Here, we break down everything to know about Madison Bailey's girlfriend, including the details from their very modern meet-cute, along with their complete relationship timeline.

  • Madison Bailey is dating Mariah Linney. They have been together for four years.
  • Madison Bailey's girlfriend is a former basketball player for the University of North Carolina Charlotte.
  • After meeting on TikTok in 2020, Madison Bailey and Mariah Linney hard-launched their relationship in June of that year.

In this article:

Who is Madison Bailey's Girlfriend, Mariah Linney?

Madison Bailey is in a relationship with Mariah Linney. A South Carolina native, Linney attended the University of North Carolina Charlotte where she obtained a degree in sociology with minors in American studies and women's and gender studies. While there, Linney also played on the UNCC 49ers basketball team. A lifelong athlete, Linney was named the High School Sports Report's Miss Basketball in the state of South Carolina prior to her collegiate career.

Upon graduating in 2021, Linney wrote a touching tribute to the sport on social media announcing her retirement. "i never thought i would see the day basketball came to an end for me because it was my dream growing up to play professionally but i am ready to take the next step in my life & find my other passion," she shared. "all i have known my whole life is basketball since the day i was born…it brings tears to my eyes to finally see it end, but it has been a dream come true to have made it this far."

How Madison Bailey and Mariah Linney Met

While some people meet their partners through friends or on dating apps, this famous couple had a very modern meet-cute. Madison Bailey met her girlfriend Mariah on TikTok in 2020. The Outer Banks star told Entertainment Tonight that she saw one of Linney's videos on the app and found her on Instagram. After they began DMing, they finally shared their first date in person. "I was staying in a hotel in Charleston and was like, 'Just come hang out. We can chat, chill. Everything's closed so it's not like we can go out anywhere," she recalled. "Then she just came out to LA."

Madison Bailey and Mariah Linney's Relationship Timeline

For four years, Madison Bailey and Mariah Linney have embarked on a love story worth swooning over. Look back on their relationship timeline, from June 2020 to today.

June 2020: Madison Bailey and Mariah Linney Hard-Launch Their Relationship

Mariah Linney shot her shot with Madison Bailey in 2020. The basketball player shared a video with the caption, "Just me staring at Madison Bailey" adding, "don't mind me." Bailey saw the TikTok, slid into Linney's DMs, and the rest is history.

The couple hard-launched their relationship in June of that year—just one month after Bailey came out as pansexual. "Nobody knows [what] pansexual means," she said in a TikTok video. "Girls. Boys. Trans boys. Trans girls. Nonbinary babies. It's what's on the inside boo."

Not long after the pair took their romance public, Bailey told Entertainment Tonight she was ready to share their love story with the world right away. "It's very serious," she explained. "I had zero hesitation to post on social media about it because I was like, 'No matter what happens, you will be in my life forever.' I care about her so much. She's very gentle-hearted, kind, loving, and you see that in the way she loves basketball [and] her family. You see her loyalty and dedication in the things that she cares about. I think I am in love."

February 2023: Madison Bailey Attends the Outer Banks Season 3 Premiere With Mariah Linney

Amid the third season of Outer Banks, Madison Bailey attended the red carpet premiere with her girlfriend. "being able to witness my partner be a literal shining star was such a beautiful genuine moment that i will cherish forever," Linney wrote of the special occasion on Instagram. "i can't be more proud & to just know this is only the beginning is insane. you shine so bright not only in my world but in so many others & seeing that play out at your first premier was unreal. i love you soso much ✨"

April 2023: Madison Bailey Opens Up About Her Relationship

In her April 2023 cover story with Cosmopolitan, Bailey opened up about how she was handling legislative attacks on the LGBTQ+ community. "I hold my girlfriend's hand everywhere. We're PDA all day. I think I'm navigating it with a 'f–k you' attitude in a way," she explained. "Like, 'I'm here. Nothing you're saying is changing attitudes.'

Addressing online hatred, she added, "I feel like I'm very, very lucky to be in a position where my safety has not been affected. I get hate — but all I can do in my position is keep advocating, keep being proud of who I am, keep spreading whatever word I can spread."

June 2024: Madison Bailey and Mariah Linney Mark Their 4th Anniversary

Four years into their romance, Madison Bailey and Mariah Linney are happier than ever. The couple celebrated their anniversary in June 2024, with Bailey writing on Instagram, "4 years of us🤞🏽🤭."

Up Next
  • Chase Stokes and girlfriend Kelsea Ballerini
    All About Kelsea Ballerini & Chase Stokes' Love Story