The Fairy Tale Romance Behind This Couple’s Viral Selfie
Couples post selfies on Instagram every day, but not every selfie becomes virally popular like this couple's selfie did.
So what was it about the picture that was so fascinating and got them featured in different well-known news outlets around the world?
A Facebook love affair
Wendy Joseph and Dan Hennessey met on Facebook in 2006, at the beginning of the platform's heyday.
Dan was a sophomore in college, and Wendy had just graduated high school.
On to the next
Dan, a social butterfly who liked partying, was looking to meet new people and messaged a cute lady named Daphne on Facebook, who he shared mutual friends with.
Unfortunately, she ignored his messages, so taking a peek through her friend list, he stumbled upon her friend Wendy.
Red flags
Little did he know that Daphne would tell Wendy, who was already apprehensive about meeting people on the internet, that Dan messaged her too!
Taking this as a red flag, Wendy followed Daphne's stance and ignored him too.
Persistency is the key
But Dan was persistent, and this is what caught Wendy's attention.
Knowing they had mutual high school friends, Wendy decided to take a chance and replied.
He needed to see her IRL
After chatting back and forth, Dan wanted to meet up with Wendy, but knowing she wouldn't be down to a one-on-one date, he invited her to a party, which she accepted.
Except...there was no party happening.
A party to remember
Scrambling together a party at the last minute, thanks to help from his friends, Dan set up a great night.
He spent most of it dancing and talking with Wendy well into the night-- the two hit it off.
Giving love a chance
Despite their effortless chemistry, Wendy was fresh out of her first relationship, so the decision to remain friends.
But after six months, they couldn't deny their romantic feelings for one another and decided to give the relationship a chance.
Mismatched priorities
But after seven years together, Wendy realized she had been neglecting her goals, and while she was finishing her master's degree, Dan was still partying and meeting new people.
And on top of this, she discovered something strange on Dan's Facebook account...
Messaging other women
Wendy discovered that Dan had been messaging other women on Facebook. Even though there was no sign of cheating in the messages, they still sent her down a spiral of paranoia and suspicion.
The women he had been messaging were accomplished and educated too. She didn't know what to do.
Time to make a big decision
The arguments blew up, and the couple fought over small and big things.
The messages Wendy discovered made her insecure and needy, and Dan wasn't giving her the reassurance she needed. So Wendy made a big decision...
Ready for a glow-up
She decided to end the relationship for her sake and Dan's.
She needed to focus on herself to feel like herself again. Here is where Wendy's glow-up begins.
Making her mark on social media
Wendy earned her Master's in Public Administration. She also began a successful YouTube channel called "Wendy's Curls," centered on hair care and beauty, sharing tutorials and tips all while embracing her natural hair and beauty.
But despite all her success, something was still missing in Wendy's life.
Still thinking of one another
After two years, Wendy still thought about Dan, and even though she didn't regret the decision to break up, she still missed him.
And there was something that Wendy never considered: Dan missed her too.
Older and wiser
Dan knew that his actions pushed Wendy to end their relationship, and he messaged her regularly during their time apart, hoping his persistence would work again.
But Wendy had grown up, and her success made her rightfully more cautious about what she would allow into her life.
A fateful re-encounter
As fate would have it, the couple ran into each other one day. Dan was amazed at this beautiful, transformed woman. Wendy was confident and radiant inside and out.
But would she take him back? Had Dan finally set aside his partying ways?
Rekindling the spark
Wendy seemed to think so, and the two rekindled their relationship.
Their chemistry never faded, and they complimented each other's lives, so much so that Dan even started making appearances on Wendy's Curls, much to the delight of Wendy's viewers.
Social media couple
The pair began posting relationship-themed videos, and Dan migrated from his beloved Facebook to Instagram.
They quickly grew their following list, with Dan gaining 25,000 followers and Wendy's substantial following growing to 105,000. But it was their 10-year anniversary post that really gained traction...
The viral photo
On their 10-year anniversary, Wendy made a post featuring a photo of her and Dan from 10 years before a more recent photo.
The comments blew up, asking if the couple had found a secret fountain of youth.
Gaining international attention
In just over a week, the post got over 60,000 likes. Major news outlets like The Independent, The Sun, and The Daily Mail posted articles about the couple's viral Instagram post.
But why was everyone so blown away by a couple's selfie?
Fitness guru couple
Wendy and Dan had always been into fitness, considering their background in health wellness as undergrads.
Since gaining popularity on YouTube, the couple realized it made sense to incorporate their love of fitness and health into the channel.
Getting into business together
Always wanting to set up a business together, Wendy and Dan created True4You Fitness.
They coached and trained clients for better health and fitness.
A huge announcement
They also created a second YouTube account where they focused on offering advice on working out and eating healthy, and now and then answering relationship questions and offering advice based on their own experiences.
But they had a huge announcement to make...
A romantic trip to Paris
A year before the viral anniversary photo, the couple traveled to Paris with friends.
When they reached the Eiffel Tower, Dan, ever the romantic, pulled something out of his pocket...
They got engaged!
Getting down on one knee, Dan asked Wendy to marry him, as friends recorded the occasion with the Eiffel Tower in full view.
In her excitement, Wendy could not contain her joy and offered the wrong hand for the ring. Talk about being overcome with joy!
On to more adventures
But the couple's adventures didn't end there.
With the money saved from their YouTube and coaching success, they dropped everything and decided to travel to Thailand, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, and more.
Moving to California
Since then, the couple has grown their business and made the big move from New Jersey to San Diego.
They've also set up a website to centralize all their accounts together.
Growing their following
Since then, the couple has achieved true social media fame and amassed a large following of fitness and health enthusiasts.
But while growing their following, they finally had their big ceremony...
They eloped!
On September 22, 2019, the happy couple finally eloped in a small, intimate wedding with close friends and family.
The ceremony was recorded and posted on the Wendy's Curls YouTube channel.
Honeymoon and One Year Anniverary
The now-married couple returned to Paris for their honeymoon before heading to Italy, exploring Cinque Terre.
They then headed to Joshua Tree National Park to celebrate their one-year anniversary.
Enjoying wedded bliss
Wendy and Dan took one year off from their YouTube account in 2021, taking the time to enjoy married life. They returned in April 2022 with a recap of what they were up to in their time off in Los Angeles.
The couple's success in their relationship and business only continues to blossom, and we can't wait to see what they'll get up to next.
