If you’ve spent any time on TikTok or scrolling through the "The Summer I Turned Pretty" (TSITP) hashtag, you know the obsession with the cast's real lives is next level. It’s wild. Fans track every Instagram like and every blurry background photo. The biggest question lately? Who is Sean Kaufman dating? Sean, who plays the protective and occasionally chaotic Steven Conklin, has become a massive fan favorite. But unlike some of his co-stars who are more open about their love lives, Sean is a bit of a mystery.
Honestly, he’s good at the "is-he-or-isn't-he" game.
The Minnie Mills Rumors Are Everywhere
Let’s talk about the Shayla in the room. Minnie Mills played Shayla in the first season of TSITP, and their onscreen chemistry was basically fire. Even though Shayla was written out of the show after season one—a move that still makes fans pretty salty—it seems like Sean and Minnie didn't actually stop hanging out.
They are constantly spotted together. Like, constantly.
Just recently, in late 2025 and heading into 2026, the two have been seen at US Open matches and New York Liberty basketball games. They aren't usually alone, though. They’re often on what looks like a classic double date with Christopher Briney and his longtime girlfriend, Isabel Machado.
If you see four people at a WNBA game and two of them are a confirmed couple (Chris and Isabel), it’s not exactly a stretch to think the other two are a pair as well.
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A source recently told the Daily Mail that the two are "still together and very happy." While neither Sean nor Minnie has posted a "hard launch" photo with a "my person" caption, the evidence is piling up. They went on a spring break trip to Mexico together in 2024. They attended a Blackpink concert together.
Basically, if they aren’t dating, they are the most dedicated "best friends" in Hollywood.
What About Nikol Tsvetanova?
Before the Minnie rumors took over the internet, Sean was linked to a New York-based actor named Nikol Tsvetanova. This one was actually "Instagram official" for a minute. Back in early 2023, Nikol posted a photo of the two of them kissing.
Sean even posted a birthday tribute to her that year, calling her "my love."
But then? Total radio silence.
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The photos disappeared. The tags stopped. In the world of Gen Z celebrity dating, a deleted Instagram post is basically the modern equivalent of signing divorce papers. While they still follow each other, it seems that chapter closed sometime before the Minnie Mills sightings became a regular thing.
Why the Fans Are So Invested
People love a "life imitates art" story. On the show, Steven and Shayla were the couple everyone wanted to see go the distance. When the show moved on to the "Staylor" (Steven and Taylor) romance, fans were torn.
Seeing Sean and Minnie together in real life feels like a win for the Season 1 purists.
It’s also about how Sean carries himself. He’s low-key. He doesn't do the "paparazzi walk" to get attention. When he’s at a basketball game with Minnie, he looks like a regular guy in a hoodie just trying to enjoy the fourth quarter.
That authenticity makes people want to root for him.
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What We Actually Know for Sure
If you’re looking for a press release where Sean Kaufman says, "Yes, Minnie Mills is my girlfriend," you aren't going to find it. He hasn't given that interview.
Here is the breakdown of the facts:
- The Double Dates: Frequent sightings with Chris Briney and Isabel Machado.
- The Travel: Shared vacations in Mexico and weekend trips that show up in background IG stories.
- The Social Media: High engagement on each other's posts, though they avoid the "lovey-dovey" captions.
- The History: A past relationship with Nikol Tsvetanova that appears to have ended in 2023.
What’s Next for Sean Kaufman?
Beyond his dating life, Sean is busy. He’s moving into some heavy-hitter territory in the industry. He recently joined the cast of a supernatural horror film called Other Mommy, starring alongside Jessica Chastain. That’s a huge jump from teen drama to prestige horror.
He’s also rumored to have a recurring spot in the upcoming season of For All Mankind.
As his star rises, the privacy he’s managed to keep might get harder to maintain. For now, he seems content to let the fans speculate while he spends his off-days at the US Open with a "friend" who happens to be his former onscreen love interest.
If you’re trying to keep up with his relationship status, your best bet is to keep an eye on the background of his friends' Instagram Stories. That’s where the real tea is usually hidden. Check the tags on Christopher Briney’s posts—if Chris and Isabel are out, there’s a high chance Sean and Minnie are just out of frame.