Recently, she’s been seen in the most enviable company, enjoying friendship circles along the sun-soaked Italian coast. After the chatter about our teenage crush Zac Efron, and speculation that she might have been involved with him, Nina shows us all that life goes on — and sometimes, breakups bring out the best in you.

Because, let’s be honest, no one saw this one coming. They looked so happy, so solid, that even Paul Wesley — her Vampire Diaries co-star and close friend — joked she was finally heading down the aisle. Well, Paul, maybe you spoke a little too soon. Rumors of infidelity from her ex-fiancé have started to swirl, and… Shaun, really? You were engaged to our beloved Elena Gilbert. Some mistakes you just don’t recover from.

And while most of her Vampire Diaries castmates are walking down the aisle or pushing strollers, Nina is walking Paris runways and living her best single life. In a world obsessed with rings and baby bumps, she’s proof that being thirty, single, and thriving is the new happily ever after. Society may still call it a taboo — we call it iconic.

Of course, not everything in Nina’s story sparkles. It’s been revealed that during her Vampire Diaries years, she was never paid what she truly deserved, which might explain why we didn’t get to see more of the iconic Elena and Damon duo. A tragedy both for love and for television history.

But as always, Nina turns pain into power. From her Italian escapes to her Parisian fashion moments with MIU MIU, she’s rewriting the breakup playbook — no tears, just glow.

Because if there’s one thing we’ve learned from Miss Dobrev, it’s this: heartbreak fades, but diamonds — and confidence — shine forever.

XOXO, always watching 💋