She Let Her Followers In on Her Dating Life. They Witnessed Her Love Story in Real Time (Exclusive)
A casual DM from a younger man named Mikey turned into something unexpected: respect, chemistry and a deep connection
Just months later, Maddie's followers watched her go from 'I can't do this anymore' to 'I need him biblically' — and ultimately to saying yes to his proposalIn a now-viral Instagram video, Maddie scrolls through a year of Close Friends stories, narrating the real-time love story she didn't know she was capturing. 'You post your dating stories on Close Friends,' she says in the clip, 'and they watched you fall in love.'
When she first invited a few followers into her inner circle, it was just to vent about the chaos of dating in her 30s. 'I posted on my story like, 'If you want to be on my Close Friends to hear more dating stuff, let me know,' and 300 girls said yes,' Maddie tells PEOPLE.
The rest of the story unfolded in voice notes, videos, screenshots and tearful recaps shared only with those women. Her digital diary became a safe space not just for storytelling, but for solidarity.
'Honestly, last year was the worst dating experience I've ever had in my life,' she says. 'All 300 of those girls can attest to it.'
By early 2024, she was cautiously stepping back into dating after a long break. Burnt out from bad dates and disillusioned with the process, she told herself she'd date just to have fun — no pressure, no expectations.
'I pretty much was like, I'm never gonna find love,' she says. 'But at least I can have fun… at least they're getting some entertainment out of it.'
Then, one morning, she posted a quick video from the gym. A guy named Mikey, who followed her online, messaged her, casually noting they went to the same gym, though they'd never seen each other in person.
'I thought he was a trainer trying to sell me a package,' she laughs. 'Because also, I do not get hit on [through] Instagram.' But then came the message that made her pause. 'If it's not obvious, I think you're really pretty,' he wrote.
A few days later, they went on their first date. 'I was literally in the car right before, almost in tears,' she remembers. 'I was just like, I cannot go on like these first dates anymore.' But that date turned out to be different. 'Even though my expectations were super low going in, when he walked in, I felt like my body took a screenshot,' Maddie laughs.
While everything seemed to be going well, Maddie was hesitant because Mikey looked significantly younger than her. 'When I asked how old he was, he said 26,' she says. 'I was like, do you know how old I am? I'm 35.'
Back in the Close Friends group, she debriefed immediately. She told them 26 might be too young, even if he was kind, smart and incredibly attractive.
'I was like, I don't know if I could do that,' she says. 'And they were just like, just give it a chance.' So she did. And with each date, her resistance softened. 'He's responsible, he doesn't go out, he honestly acts older than I do,' she says. 'We always joke that he's 41.'
Soon after, Maddie posted the now-viral phrase that marked a turning point in her feelings. 'I need him biblically,' she wrote, adding, 'It's from a Britney Broski sound. It was more hedonistic, if anything, not like I needed to read the Bible with him.'
Around that same time, Mikey introduced her to his parents, just two weeks in. 'That's crazy,' she says. 'But I was already like, this is it.'
It wasn't just the relationship that felt serious, but how she was showing up in it. As a mom to her daughter Gabbie, dating meant navigating a whole different set of priorities. 'I used to be scared to bring up my daughter,' she says. 'But with this relationship, I was just like, you know what, Gabbie is a big part of my life.'
She made it clear from the beginning that Gabbie wasn't going to be hidden or minimized. Mikey didn't flinch. 'When I told him I had a kid, I thought he was gonna be like, I'm not interested,' Maddie says. 'But it didn't faze him at all.'
Before they even met, Mikey spoke about Gabbie with gentleness and respect. 'When they finally met, they got along really well, and he just played with her all day,' she says.
It was that moment, seeing how he treated her daughter, that cemented everything. 'Gabby liking you is more important than my family liking you all combined,' she says. 'If Gabby doesn't like you, this is not gonna work.'
And he did. From day one, he put his best foot forward. Meanwhile, Maddie's followers were catching feelings right along with her. 'Every time I would meet a man, the group chat would be like, 'That's your husband,' ' she says.
This time, she asked them to hold off. 'We've said that a few times and we have been wrong every time,' she says. 'So from now on, don't call him my husband.'
Mikey was the only man she didn't give a nickname to. 'I don't think he needs a nickname,' she says. 'He just went from the guy from Instagram to my boyfriend to my fiancé.'
The proposal came quicker than expected. They had talked about a summer engagement, but Mikey couldn't wait. 'I think we went to Olive Garden and he was like, I can't wait until July,' Maddie says. 'If I have that ring, I'm going to have to propose to you immediately.'
She knew the proposal was coming, but didn't want to be caught off guard. 'I told him I didn't want to be surprised with no nails done,' she laughs.
So he planned everything. He made sure her nails were done, she received a massage, and even a special dress she had picked out months before. 'We were able to almost plan it together,' she says. 'He executed it, but I got to tell him everything I wanted.'
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Looking back now, Maddie feels grateful she documented it all — every high, every heartbreak, every glimmer of hope. 'I go back to my archives and see where I was a year ago today,' she says. 'Some of the videos, I'd be crying, like, this is the worst.'
But she also sees growth and grace. 'You could see almost like the light returning to my eyes from when we met,' she says.
Her journey through dating in 2024 was painful, but it shaped her vision for love. 'Had I not had that, I don't think I would have ever found Mikey,' Maddie says. 'Even if I did, I don't think I would have appreciated him.'
She stopped dating for a husband and started dating for herself. 'I just wanted to meet people, go to my favorite restaurants, and be social,' she says.
That freedom helped her figure out what she truly wanted, which was kindness, generosity, and softness. 'And not just with me, but with everyone,' she adds, saying she found all of that in Mikey. 'My expectations were so low,' she says. 'And now I genuinely can't imagine my life without him.'
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