Zara teases romance with Louis Tomlinson just months after ending her five-year relationship with Sam.
Zara McDermott appears to have moved on from heartbreak with a new flame—none other than One Direction star Louis Tomlinson. The 27-year-old reality TV favourite has sparked fresh romance rumours after subtly posting about her new relationship on Instagram.
Just months after her high-profile split from long-time partner Sam Thompson in December 2024, Zara shared a glimpse of what looks to be her latest love interest during a casual brunch date in Malibu. The photo showed plates of blueberry pancakes and eggs benedict—but it was the unmistakably tattooed hand of Louis Tomlinson that set social media buzzing.
Though the former Love Island star didn’t tag or name the 32-year-old singer, fans were quick to connect the dots. Adding fuel to the fire, both Zara and Louis posted near-identical Instagram Stories from a recent Stereophonics gig at The Wiltern theatre, just minutes apart. Their posts—featuring clips from the show and audience views from seemingly similar vantage points—only intensified speculation.
According to The Sun, the pair have enjoyed a string of low-key dates over the past month, with eyewitnesses reporting they were spotted dining at The Suffolk in Aldeburgh back in March. At the time, their cosy outing raised a few eyebrows, but no confirmation followed—until now.
Zara’s latest Instagram post, although understated, is being seen as a classic “soft launch”—a modern trend where celebrities tease their new relationships without making an official announcement. For many followers, it was the first real confirmation that the two were indeed romantically linked.
Their romance marks a fresh chapter for both stars. Tomlinson, who rose to fame as a member of One Direction, has kept a relatively low romantic profile in recent years. His last known public relationship was with model Eleanor Calder, with whom he had an on-and-off relationship spanning nearly a decade. Since their reported split in 2022, Louis has focused on solo music projects and remained largely private about his personal life.
Meanwhile, Zara’s breakup from I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! winner Sam Thompson drew significant media attention at the end of last year. After five years together, the couple confirmed their separation, citing differing priorities and long-distance pressures as contributing factors. Despite the split, both parties have maintained public dignity, with no messy fallout played out online.
Fans of both Zara and Louis have reacted to the budding relationship with a mix of surprise and excitement. Many have taken to social media to express their support, calling the unexpected pairing a “power couple in the making.”
While neither star has publicly confirmed the romance, their frequent joint appearances and shared social media cues suggest a relationship that’s already well under way. Whether this marks a fleeting fling or the beginning of something more serious remains to be seen, but one thing is clear—Zara McDermott is no longer flying solo.
As whispers turn into headlines, both celebrities continue to enjoy their time together, largely away from the public eye. But with interest growing by the day, their low-key love story might not stay in the background for long.
