Barney Walsh, the actor and presenter known for co-hosting BBC's Gladiators with his father Bradley Walsh and starring in Casualty, is reportedly in a relationship with Stephanie Del Valle, the Puerto Rican beauty queen who was crowned Miss World 2016. The couple, who keep their romance largely private, have been linked since 2017.
How They Met
Barney Walsh, 28, has served as an ambassador and presenter for the Miss World pageant since October 2017. It was during the 2017 Miss World competition that he met Stephanie Del Valle Diaz, then 20, who had won the Miss World crown the previous year. According to reports from The Mirror, their first encounter occurred while Barney was presenting the event.
A source told The Sun in 2022: "The couple started out as mates. They're now very loved-up. They get on really well and know they're both young in their careers so give each other space to pursue their dreams. This is set to be a big year for them."
Brains and Beauty
Stephanie Del Valle, now 26, made history as the second woman from Puerto Rico to win the Miss World title, following her victory in 2016 after securing the Miss Mundo de Puerto Rico crown. She is fluent in English, Spanish, and French, and studied Law and Communication at Pace University in New York City.
During the 2016 Miss World competition, when asked what she would change about the world, Stephanie responded: "If I have the opportunity to change something about the world, I think what I would do is send a message of how important it is to change exclusion for acceptance, to promote and provide justice for others, and the importance of helping those in need. Thank you."
Rare Public Appearances
The couple is known for keeping their relationship out of the spotlight. In 2022, Stephanie shared a rare sunset photo on Instagram posing with Barney, seemingly confirming their relationship. They also made a joint appearance on the BAFTA TV Awards red carpet in 2019.
Barney, who also co-stars with his father in the ITV series Breaking Dad, has not publicly commented on the relationship. As both personalities maintain a guarded presence on social media, it remains unclear whether they are still together or have since parted ways.
