From acting on “Riverdale” to letting fans into her daily life through candid YouTube vlogs, Madelaine Petsch sets herself apart in Hollywood with authenticity and a flair for the dramatic. Born August 18, 1994, in Port Orchard, Washington, she grew up splitting her time between South Africa and the Pacific Northwest, later channeling that global perspective – and her early start in dance and commercials – into a breakout career.
It’s hard to forget Petsch’s turn as Cheryl Blossom: the red-lipped, fierce queen bee whose tough exterior masks a much deeper vulnerability. What’s surprising is just how much heart Madelaine herself brings both to her character and to the people who follow her journey. Her willingness to share the behind-the-scenes, the good days and the bad, has made her YouTube channel a go-to for fans looking for something genuine in showbiz.
Behind the Red Lipstick
Like anyone suddenly in the spotlight, Petsch quickly learned how much curiosity swirls around a young celebrity’s relationships. At first, she kept her love life solidly out of the headlines. That changed a bit after she started dating Travis Mills, a musician who slid into her Facebook messages to congratulate her after Riverdale’s first season. For a few years, they seemed inseparable – from sweet posts on each other’s Instagrams to sharing goofy red carpet moments. Their breakup in early 2020 wasn’t messy or scandalous, which seemed to reflect Petsch’s preference for handling life’s milestones with maturity.
Rumors popped up not long after: Olympic fencer Miles Chamley-Watson’s name started circulating, thanks to some paparazzi shots in Vancouver and LA. True to form, neither of them confirmed or denied anything, keeping fans guessing without feeding the gossip machine. Lately, there’s been speculation she’s dating musician Anthony Li, but Petsch seems to have returned to keeping that side of her life off the grid.
When she does address questions about love, she cuts to the heart of things: “Love is about finding someone who sees the real you,” she told Glamour in 2020. The impression she gives is less about secrecy and more about protecting what matters.
Life Beyond Romance
Off the set, Petsch puts her platform to use for issues she actually cares about. She doesn’t just say she’s vegan – she lives it, and her collaborations with PETA highlight her commitment to animal rights. You get the sense sustainability isn’t just a buzzword for her: she’ll geek out over eco-friendly fashion just as much as a big audition.
If you follow her, you know she doesn’t go for drama unless it’s in a script. She’s quick to set boundaries, brushing off rumors to focus on her own projects and advocacies. There’s a down-to-earth quality, maybe even a little old-school, in the way she manages the collision of public attention and private life.
While Cheryl Blossom is pure spectacle, Madelaine seems to crave real connection – a kind that can weather internet speculation and long shooting days alike. She gravitates toward people who get the unique chaos of Hollywood, valuing compatibility and trust over headlines.
Past Relationships
Tyga
Anthony Li
Miles Chamley-Watson
Travis Mills
Aaron Carter
Whether she’s owning the red carpet or cracking jokes during a YouTube Q&A, Petsch balances the demands of visibility with the need for personal space. As her career evolves and her fanbase grows, she keeps proving you don’t have to sacrifice your values – or your sanity – to thrive in Hollywood.