English musician Sam Smith and fiancé Christian Cowan stepped out together in New York City on Wednesday in their first public appearance since confirming their engagement.
The couple coordinated their casually cool looks in white vests while taking a stroll around the city. Smith, 34, was dressed in a shirtless Disney top paired with denim shorts, while Cowan, 32, chose a plain white vest and jeans.
Smith confirmed the engagement to the fashion designer last month after the couple had been dating for more than three years. The non-binary musician, who uses they/them pronouns, opened up about the relationship during an interview with The New York Times.
"For me, there's something radical about being queer in this time, in this world, and singing love songs," the Stay With Me artist told the newspaper. "I'm not going to allow the poison that I read and that I see to affect my way of loving."
The five-time Grammy winner added that the lead track from their album, titled Everlasting Love, marked the first time they had written songs "about requited love". Smith has achieved global success as a singer and songwriter, earning critical acclaim and major awards for emotional pop and soul records.
Engagement rumors and the Met Gala
Rumors of an engagement first surfaced in May when an insider claimed to PageSix that the couple were overheard discussing their engagement at The Mark Hotel in New York City shortly before arriving at the Met Gala.
Cowan, who designed both of their looks for the 2026 fashion gala, was reportedly seen wearing a large square-cut yellow diamond ring by Cartier on his wedding finger at the hotel and later at the event. Smith did not appear to be wearing a ring on their left hand, which was wrapped in a sheer black glove.
A witness quoted by the outlet described the proposal as a quiet moment between the pair, stating: "From what I understand, it was a private engagement." The source added that Smith and Cowan were "over the moon" and "so in love."
The couple originally began dating in late 2022 but kept their relationship private until May 2024, when they made their formal debut at the Met Gala wearing contrasting black and white suits. At the 2026 Met Gala, Smith wore a dramatic, beaded Art Deco gown designed by Cowan. The Met Gala is an annual benefit held for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute in New York.
Career background and personal growth
Cowan is a British-born fashion designer based in New York who has built a high-profile career dressing leading entertainment figures. His celebrity clients include Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga, Cardi B, and Paris Hilton.
About one year into their romance, the couple faced split speculation triggered by an account on the exclusive dating app Raya featuring photographs of Smith. A source close to the singer shut down the rumors to the Daily Mail, clarifying that the pair "are still very much in a relationship and haven't been on Raya." Raya is a private, membership-based networking application widely used by celebrities.
Since addressing the rumors, Smith and Cowan have kept details of their relationship largely off social media. Smith began dating Cowan three years after publicly coming out as non-binary in 2019.
During the early days of their romance in 2023, Smith told the Sunday Times that they were "happier than ever" in their own skin following years of struggling with body image. Smith noted that Cowan helped boost their confidence, describing the experience as having "the opposite of body dysmorphia," as Cowan created custom outfits for the superstar.
