When Colette approached Ekene at the gym in 2025, she wasn’t shooting her shot, she just needed a model for a Valentine’s Day campaign. One viral wedding shoot later, the internet decided they were married.
In this story, they share how a creative partnership turned them into one of Instagram’s favourite “couples”, and how the unexpected fame strengthened their friendship instead.
Colette: We met at the gym in 2025. I walked up to Ekene and asked, “Hi, are you a model?”
It sounded like a pick-up line, but I genuinely needed a model for a Valentine’s Day shoot.
The truth is, I took one look at him and thought he’d be perfect for it. He also had a very calm demeanour. It felt like my spirit just connected with him.
Ekene: In my head, I was thinking, Is this how women flirt these days?
But I agreed to the shoot anyway. We exchanged Instagram handles and started chatting regularly.
When the Valentine’s shoot was posted weeks later, my DMs exploded. People immediately assumed we were dating.
My closest friends were asking how I’d managed to keep an entire relationship secret.
Colette: Even when I insisted we weren’t together, nobody believed me. They were convinced we were just trying to keep things private.
The funny part is that the Valentine’s shoot was only the second time we’d ever seen each other. If people looked closely at the photos — especially Ekene’s poses — they’d realise we weren’t even that comfortable around each other yet.
Ekene: Then, a few months later, the wedding shoot happened.
Colette: His friend was supposed to be the model, but we only had time for fittings on the day of the shoot. That’s when we realised the clothes wouldn’t fit.
His friend immediately said, “Call Ekene. It’s his size.”
I wasn’t even sure he’d be interested, but when I asked, his response was: “Ask and you shall receive.”
Ekene: To be fair, the outfit was fire.
Colette: If people thought we were dating after the Valentine’s shoot, the wedding shoot completely finished us. People who knew me personally started congratulating me.
I remember starting a new job, and one of my coworkers looked at me and said, “Wait, aren’t you the last-born bride?”
The conversation quickly turned to my supposed husband. I had to explain again that I wasn’t married.
Ekene: Even my pastor called to ask if I’d secretly gotten married.
I thought it was hilarious. We ended up on Tunde Ednut’s page, and even now, people stop us in random places when they realise we’re the couple from the viral wedding shoot.
Colette: The whole thing felt surreal. Everywhere I looked, I saw myself. My dad, who rarely comments on Instagram, was even somewhere in the comment section of a blog.
Ekene: Still, not all the attention was positive. Some people questioned why I kept taking those kinds of pictures with Colette. Others thought I shouldn’t be entertaining it at all.
But I didn’t really care. I was enjoying the recognition and everything that came with it.
Colette: At some point, though, we became intentional about correcting people. The photos and videos had travelled so far that it felt important to control the narrative.
People often assume men and women can’t just be friends, but that’s never been the case with us. We’re simply friends who created something people connected with.
Ekene: I actually have more female friends than male friends, and I can confidently say there’s no attachment. Friendship is friendship.
Colette: Ekene is sweet, reliable and genuinely caring. I find myself thanking him all the time. He’s one of those people I’m genuinely glad to have in my corner.
Ekene: I consider Colette one of my closest friends, even though we’ve only known each other for a little over a year.
I’m grateful for how much we’ve grown as friends and creators. If she calls me at 4 a.m. and says she’s stranded in another city, I’d get in my car and go get her without thinking twice.
What do you think about this?
Drop your opinion in the comment section.
FOLLOW US & Share this with someone who needs to see this.
