Famous Women Who Broke Tradition in Their Relationships
Elijah Nouvelage / AP Photo
No two families look alike, but many couples still choose to stay close to social norms when it comes to the choices they make in their relationships. However, there are always a few trailblazing folks who do things their own way to shake things up.
While it can be especially tough for women to make these choices, the truth is that those who make their own rules make space for new and different kinds of families — and that’s a good thing! People should feel free to do what’s right for them, especially when it comes to family life. Regardless of judgment or tradition, these women stayed true to what they felt was right for themselves, and we love them for it.
Zoe Saldana’s husband took her last name.
A lot of famous actresses don’t end up taking their partner’s last name. It makes sense because a name means a lot, especially when it’s how the world has come to know them. But after actress Zoe Saldana wed Marco Perego in 2013, the pair broke with tradition, and he started going by Zoe’s surname.
At first, she tried talking Mr. Saldana out of it, worried that he might catch some flack. But he told his wife that he didn’t “give a ****” what anyone thought.” Now that’s true love, baby.
Kristen Bell wouldn’t marry Dax Shepard until same-sex couples could marry.
Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard are one of Hollywood’s most adorable couples. But they wouldn’t marry until everyone had the right to do it. In a 2012 interview with The Advocate, Bell said she didn’t feel comfortable taking advantage of a right that was denied to some of her best friends.
The following year, the Supreme Court decided that an important portion of the Defense of Marriage Act, which would’ve altered the ability of same-sex couples to marry in much of the U.S., was a no-go. The couple didn’t wait long to celebrate the court’s decision by getting hitched themselves. She proposed to him in a tweet because love is love!
Britney Spears proposed to Kevin Federline after two months of dating.
Who can forget Britney Spears and Kevin Federline’s whirlwind romance? While the couple didn’t make it last, Spears surprised everyone when she proposed to Federline after only a short two-month courtship back in 2004.
Federline reportedly jokingly said “no” at first, then proposed to her just a few minutes later. Unfortunately, the marriage only lasted about two years, but it will live on in our memories forever.
Pink proposed to Carey Hart on the racetrack.
The relationship between Pink and her husband, motocross racer, Carey Hart, has been turbulent over the years. Pink has spoken openly (and written songs) about the challenges of monogamy, and they’ve even taken a couple of lengthy breaks. In addition to their on-again-off-again status, their relationship is nontraditional in another sense — Pink was also the one who did the proposing.
She wrote “Will you marry me? Serious!” on a sign and held it up while Hart was on the racetrack at the Pro 250 class finals in Mammoth, California. Of course, the racer pulled off the track to accept her proposal. While this couple’s love seems to be about as true as it comes, it has been anything but traditional, thanks to Pink being Pink.