Christopher Briney may be caught in a love triangle on The Summer I Turned Pretty, but in real life, his heart belongs to just one person. The actor has been happily dating his longtime girlfriend, Isabel Machado, since 2021 — and their relationship is built on a solid foundation of friendship.
“We were friends first,” Briney told PEOPLE in October 2023. “We went to college together and we lived together. We knew that we could do it.”
From sweet Instagram tributes to walking red carpets together — including the 2024 Mean Girls premiere, where Briney starred as Aaron Samuels — Isabel has been by his side every step of the way. But who exactly is the woman who stole Christopher’s heart? Here’s everything to know about Isabel Machado.
She’s a Chicago Native
Isabel was “Chicago born” before moving to New York, where she’s currently based. On her website, she describes herself as a “Foster Kitten Mom” and someone who leads with heart. “I believe that if you’re not feeling anything, you’re missing everything,” she wrote in her bio, adding that she shows up “with heart (& a coffee).”
VENICE, ITALY – AUGUST 31: Isabel Machado and Christopher Briney attend the Armani Beauty Passione Party during the 81st Venice International Film Festival at Arsenale on August 31, 2024 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images for Armani Beauty)
She Met Briney in College
The couple’s love story goes back to their college years at Pace University, where both studied acting. Isabel graduated in 2020 with a BFA in Acting for Film, Television, Voiceover, and Commercial.
Their relationship slowly became Instagram-official long before Briney rose to fame. Isabel first appeared on his feed as early as 2018, dressed up with him for a group Halloween costume. Since then, they’ve been staples in each other’s social media posts, from New York City nights out to sweet couple snapshots.
She’s an Actress and Singer
Like her boyfriend, Isabel is also in the entertainment industry. She’s acted in several independent and short films and even collaborated with Briney on projects during their college years.
In addition to acting, Isabel is a talented singer and performer. She’s appeared in local theater productions like *Hairspray* and lists soprano vocals among her skills — she can even hit a high G note. Her resume also includes piano, ballet, jazz, and modern dance. For even more training, she attended the Cecchetti Council of America, which specializes in ballet instruction.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 06: Isabel Machado and Christopher Briney attend the Prada SS25 Campaign Cocktail Event at Prada SoHo on February 06, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Aeon/GC Images)
She’s Worn Many Hats Outside Acting
Isabel’s talents go beyond the stage. According to her LinkedIn, she’s also worked in the service industry in New York City, taking on roles like hostess and event services agent.
Their Romance Timeline
Christopher and Isabel officially started dating in 2021. In June 2022, he marked their first anniversary on Instagram, writing, “a whole year!? i could never want anything else 💘.”
Isabel celebrated their love in her own since-deleted post a month earlier, calling it their “feelingsiversary.” She captioned the snap, “so glad we kiss now,” to which Briney sweetly replied, “i never want it any other way 💘💘💘.”
