Becca Tilley Proposes to Hayley Kiyoko in Kyoto, Marking Mutual Engagements for the Longtime Couple

Becca Tilley, known to many as a runner-up on season 19 of The Bachelor and a contestant on season 20 of The Bachelorette, proposed to her partner of over seven years, Hayley Kiyoko, during a trip to Kyoto, Japan. Tilley shared photos of the romantic moment on Instagram , captioning the post: "to forever & everywhere with you 💍🇯🇵 ." The proposal recreated a vacation the couple took six years prior, a trip Kiyoko had described as feeling like a honeymoon and where she journaled about wanting to spend her life with Tilley on December 6—an exact match for the proposal date.

This mutual commitment comes just six months after Kiyoko, often celebrated in LGBTQ+ communities for her music exploring sapphic themes, proposed to Tilley on a cliffside overlooking crystal blue water. The couple announced the first engagement on July 10, 2025, via a joint Instagram post , showcasing Tilley's elongated cushion-shaped diamond ring with a hidden halo, designed by Ring Concierge. Kiyoko captioned it: "My dream girl said yes to forever…."

The pair first crossed paths in April 2018 at Kiyoko's Expectations album release party, where a photo captured them together just five minutes after meeting—Tilley wearing a shirt reading "no time for romance." Tilley, who had appeared on The Bachelor with Chris Soules in 2015 and Ben Higgins in 2016, kept her personal life private initially. In August 2018, she told People magazine she was dating but aimed to keep it low-key after a public past relationship.

By May 2022, after four years together, they confirmed their relationship publicly. At Kiyoko's "For The Girls" single release party, Kiyoko invited Tilley onstage, gave her a rose—a nod to Bachelor traditions—and they shared kisses. Tilley posted a reel on Instagram captioned: "Hard to say if this is a hard or soft launch, but it is a launch ❤️ #95p." Kiyoko told People: "It feels really good... We've been together for four years, but now it's on social media. And now we get to share with the world."

Their journey included private milestones, such as a January 2024 vacation in Hawaii at Rosewood Kona Village. Kiyoko has reflected on the initial challenges of privacy, noting it "triggered" past traumas but that she respected Tilley's pace.

The couple's story resonates widely in LGBTQ+ circles, with outlets like Autostraddle describing it as a "sapphic romance novel come to life," highlighting the serendipity of the Kyoto proposal aligning with Kiyoko's journal entry. Tilley's proposal post drew congratulations from Bachelor Nation figures, including JoJo Fletcher , Hannah Brown, Olivia Caridi, and Amanda Stanton, signaling broad support.

Kiyoko, whose career includes roles affirming queer women's experiences, and Tilley, now a podcaster on Scrubbing In with Becca Tilley and Tanya Rad, represent a narrative of authentic love across public and private spheres. Their mutual proposals underscore commitment in same-gender relationships, offering visibility to lesbian and queer women navigating fame, privacy, and partnership.