Ariana Grande Shows Off New Bob That Has Boyfriend Ricky Alvarez Falling in Love All Over Again
Billboard ·
The ponytail is long gone.
You like my hair? Gee, thanks, just chopped it. Ariana Grande is now rocking a bob, which she showed off for the first time in a Friday (Oct. 23) post on Instagram — and boyfriend Ricky Alvarez is all for it.
The pop superstar shared a string of selfies in her post, holding the camera sideways and gazing into the lens. But instead of pulled into her signature ponytail or swept up in the chic bun Grande’s been wearing lately, her hair stops short a few inches above her shoulders, the ends flipping upward in a peppy swoop.
Grande let the new look speak for herself, captioning the photos with a simple heart and tagging hairstylist Brandon Pietsch.
The comments quickly filled up with famous friends complimenting the Grammy winner’s makeover, with Gigi Hadid writing, “rlly cute !!!!!!!!!” and Victorious costar Daniella Monet typing, “Natural cutie.”
But Alvarez’s comment was definitely the most forward. “i wanna ask you out,” the photographer wrote.
Grande and Alvarez first dated back in 2015, meeting when he worked as the the singer’s backup dancer. They split sometime in 2016, but rekindled their romance a decade later, with fans spotting them together throughout summer 2026 amid the Wicked actress’ Eternal Sunshine Tour and Petal album rollout.
“Wrote some songs about Ricky/ I’m tryna make him my last,” Grande sang at her final show of the trek, meaningfully tweaking a lyric in her 2018 seven-week Billboard Hot 100 -topper, “Thank U, Next” to declare her reignited love for Alvarez.
Petal arrived on the last day of July and debuted atop the Billboard 200 . It spawned Grande’s 10th Hot 100 No. 1, “Hate That I Made You Love Me.”
After the music video for the album’s title track dropped, however, an outpour of comments on her body and appearance flooded the internet. Her rep revealed that she’d be taking a step back from the spotlight shortly afterward, citing “endless, ongoing public scrutiny.”
The break has involved dropping out of the West End revival of Sunday in the Park With George — which would-be costar Jonathan Bailey has also since pulled out of — and scaling back public appearances. She will, however, participate in Focker-in-Law promo as the film’s Nov. 25 premiere draws closer, as Billboard confirmed in September.