Who Is Madison Bailey's Girlfriend? All About Mariah Linney

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo: Paul Morigi/Getty

Outer BanksstarMadison Baileyhas been happily dating girlfriend Mariah Linney since 2020.

The actressrevealed that she was pansexualin May 2020 and confirmed her relationship with the former University of North Carolina at Charlotte basketball player in an adorableTikTok videothe following month.

In the clip, Bailey lip-synced to a voiceover that said, “I’m not falling, I’m not falling, I’m not falling … OK, I’m falling.” She then brought Linney into the frame and the two hugged.

Since their social media debut, the couple have continued to share glimpses into their relationship on their respective social channels, from shopping trips to vacations to casual hangs.

“It’s very serious,” Bailey toldEntertainment Tonightof their relationship in 2020, shortly after they began dating. “I had zero hesitation to post on social media about it because I was like, ‘No matter what happens, you will be in my life forever.’ I care about her so much. She’s very gentle-hearted, kind, loving, and you see that in the way she loves basketball [and] her family. You see her loyalty and dedication in the things that she cares about. I think I am in love.”

In February 2024, Bailey gave Linney a sweet shout-out on her birthday. “It’s my angels 25th!! Happy birthday to my best friend, my peace, and my joy. I love you,” the actress wrote onInstagram.

So, who is Mariah Linney? Keep reading for everything to know about Madison Bailey’s girlfriend.

She’s a former basketball player

Linney played basketball for much of her life, first getting involved with the sport when she was a child.

During her senior year of high school, she was named the High School Sports Report’s Miss Basketball in the state of South Carolina. She earned various other accolades throughout her high school basketball career, including Charleston’sPost and CourierPlayer of the Year and theUSA TodayHigh School Sports State Player of the Year, among others. She went on to play guard for theUniversity of North Carolina Charlottewomen’s basketball team up until her graduation in 2021.

After her final season with the 49ers, Linney retired from basketball, writing onInstagram, in part, “I never thought I would see the day basketball came to an end for me because it was my dream growing up to play professionally but I am ready to take the next step in my life & find my other passion.”

She grew up in South Carolina

Madison Bailey Instagram

Linney grew up in Goose Creek, South Carolina, and attended Goose Creek High School. She majored in sociology with minors in American studies and women’s and gender studies while at UNC Charlotte.

Family is everything to her

Mariah Linney Instagram

She met Bailey via TikTok

The couple have TikTok to thank for their relationship. Bailey toldEntertainment Tonightthat she saw one of Linney’s videos and tracked her down on Instagram. The two began DMing before finally meeting in person. “I was staying in a hotel in Charleston and was like, ‘Just come hang out. We can chat, chill. Everything’s closed so it’s not like we can go out anywhere,” Bailey recalled of their first meetup. “Then she just came out to L.A.”

Linney also posteda cute videorecounting their initial introduction set toAriana Grande’s song “7 Rings.” The video ended with the pair hugging and smiling, and Linney captioned it, “thanks to tiktok🥰.”

She went Instagram official with Bailey in June 2020

Shortly after the couple made their debut on TikTok, Linney shared a carousel ofcandid snapshotsof her and her new girlfriend posing together in Nike high tops. She captioned the post with a simple blue butterfly emoji. TheOuter Banksstar has continued to make appearances on Linney’s social media since then, and vice versa. In June 2022, Linney called Bailey “my heart in human form” in a sweet poston Twitter.

A year later, Linney and Bailey celebrated three years together.

“to my lover, thank you. thank you for choosing me, for loving me, & supporting me in all i do,” the former basketball player wrote onInstagram. “you deserve to be loved with all of one’s heart & i will happily continue to be that one.”

Sheis passionate about streetwear

Bailey is not the onlyfashionistain the relationship. Linney is also very into clothes and has curated a signature look for herself — a pair of jeans, chinos or shorts, a graphic or white T-shirt and a fitted hat, paired with either Converse or Nikes. She often posts photos of her outfits on Instagram and frequently shares her sporty-casual style with her followers.

She loves TikTok

Ilya S. Savenok/Getty

Both Bailey and Linney have large followings on TikTok. The athlete has over1 million followerson the popular platform, where she mainly shares dance videos, including both solo dances and some with Bailey as well as her friends and siblings.

She’s a gamer

Linney may be a basketball star, but she’s also a pro gamer. She’sbeen playingvideo games since she was little and often live streams on Twitch.

She attended the season 3 premiere ofOuter Bankswith Bailey

Steve Granitz/FilmMagic

In February 2023, Linney played the supportive girlfriend role at theOuter Banksseason 3 premiere in Los Angeles. The former basketball star, who donned a blue suit, walked the sandy red carpet with Bailey, who stunned in a figure-hugging black-and-gold Tom Ford dress.

“Being able to witness my partner be a literal shining star was such a beautiful genuine moment that i will cherish forever,” Linney captioned an image of the couple onInstagram. “I can’t be more proud & to just know this is only the beginning is insane. you shine so bright not only in my world but in so many others & seeing that play out at your first premier was unreal. i love you soso much.”

She and Bailey attended Coachella in April 2023

At the annual music festival, Bailey told PEOPLE that driving to Coachella was her"first little road trip in California" with Linney. TheOuter Banksstar added that the couple’s next getaway will be to San Francisco.

source: people.com