Australian fitness influencer Tammy Hembrow and Geelong Cats AFL star Bailey Smith have publicly confirmed their status as 'just friends', putting an end to speculation about a romantic relationship. The duo, who were linked earlier in 2025, are now navigating the dating world separately but together, thanks to a new partnership with the dating app Tinder.
From Romance to Friendship and Tinder Profiles
The pair first sparked dating rumours after being photographed in an intimate beach walk on the Gold Coast and later sharing images from a dinner date in Melbourne. However, as of Monday, 22 December 2025, they announced their dynamic has shifted firmly into friendship territory.
They are teaming up with Tinder ahead of Dating Sunday on January 4, which is historically the app's busiest day of the year. Instead of dating each other, they are now acting as each other's dating coaches, offering a 'friend-first' approach to finding love.
"We have a bunch in common and are genuine friends at this stage, so leaning on each other for dating advice feels so natural," Hembrow, 31, explained. Smith, 25, agreed, stating they simply "work better as friends."
Swapping Profile Tips and Red-Flag Checks
Their collaboration involves refreshing their Tinder profiles, sharing banter tips, conducting red-flag checks, and giving feedback on first messages. Hembrow revealed she values Smith's male perspective, while he appreciates her light-hearted and intentional approach to dating.
One of Hembrow's first orders of business? Reducing the number of shirtless pictures on Smith's profile. "Tinder daters, watch this space!" she quipped. Smith joked that this would be "a big change" but promised retaliation by overhauling Hembrow's bio and improving her chat game.
On her own profile, Hembrow lists herself as a non-smoker who works out often, enjoys social weekend drinks, and loves cats. Her ideal date involves an iced long black at sunrise on the beach, and she's currently listening to Olivia Dean's 'Man I Need'.
Smith's profile highlights his interest in parties, nightlife, surfing, coffee, gardening, and nature. He is open to both short-term connections and a long-term relationship.
Riding the 'Friendfluence' Trend
This platonic partnership taps directly into a major dating trend identified by Tinder called 'Friendfluence'. This trend sees singles increasingly relying on their friends' opinions when making dating decisions.
The data supports this shift: 42 per cent of young singles say friends influence their dating life, and 37 per cent plan to go on group or double dates in the coming year. Hembrow endorsed this approach, noting, "My friends often spot the red flags before I do... I think 2026 is the year we should all tune into how our friends view our date."
By publicly navigating their newly single status as friends, Hembrow and Smith are putting a celebrity spin on a widespread modern dating behaviour, turning their past romance into a supportive partnership for the new year.
