BTN News: Stella del Carmen Banderas, the 27-year-old daughter of Hollywood stars Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith, has announced her engagement to longtime friend Alex Gruszynski. The joyful news was shared on Tuesday, August 20, with Stella taking to Instagram to express her excitement, stating, “I get to spend forever with my favorite person on Earth!” Alongside her heartfelt words, she posted a picture proudly displaying her engagement ring, accompanied by a series of nostalgic photos of the couple from their childhood and teenage years. Their love story, which began at Wagon Wheel School in Los Angeles, has now blossomed into a lifelong commitment, marking the beginning of a new chapter in their lives. The couple, who recently vacationed in Greece, are believed to have gotten engaged during their trip, although the exact date of their wedding remains a mystery.
Stella and Alex’s relationship has seen various phases over the years. Despite knowing each other since childhood, they started dating in 2015, maintaining their relationship until 2019. Following their breakup, Stella, the only child from the 18-year marriage of Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith, found love with Eli Meyer, son of the renowned Hollywood talent scout, Ronald Meyer. However, that relationship eventually ended, leading Stella and Alex to rekindle their romance in 2023. The couple publicly confirmed their reunion on Valentine’s Day of that year, signaling their renewed commitment to one another. Melanie Griffith has been a vocal supporter of their relationship, even sharing a photo of the young couple in 2017 with the caption “True love.” After the engagement announcement, Melanie expressed her joy with a comment on Stella’s Instagram post, writing, “I love you both so much. Congratulations again!” Later, the proud mother shared her daughter’s engagement news on her own Instagram account, which boasts 647,000 followers. She wrote, “He asked…. On one knee… she said yes… Stella and Alex are getting married! Their love story began in preschool! True love, deep love! Congratulations to the lovebirds!” The post included photos of the couple, radiantly happy and showcasing Stella’s engagement ring.
Antonio Banderas also joined in the celebrations, sharing the same photos on his Instagram, where he expressed his delight, stating, “My daughter Stella del Carmen is getting married. We couldn’t be happier and more excited.” The last public sighting of the couple was during Holy Week in Málaga, a tradition Banderas has faithfully attended every year.
Both Stella and Alex share a deep passion for cinema, yet they prefer to live their lives away from the media spotlight. Alex, who graduated in Business Administration from Wake Forest University, later specialized in finance at a business school. He eventually shifted his career focus to the entertainment industry, working as a talent scout in the film literature department of the William Morris Endeavor agency. Currently, he is the co-founder and CEO of Nova, a website that aims to bring freelance artists together in one space. Stella, who describes herself as a “filmmaker,” has studied Dramatic Arts and dabbled in jewelry design. She has also worked as an assistant director at her father’s theater company, based in the Soho theater in Málaga.
The couple’s engagement has been met with widespread enthusiasm on social media, with many of Stella’s 226,000 Instagram followers sharing their congratulations. “Now that’s a love story!” one follower exclaimed, while another wrote, “Congratulations, Stella and Alex! I knew fate had this in store for you.” Celebrities also joined in the celebrations, with Kris Jenner, matriarch and manager of the Kardashian clan, commenting, “Congratulations!” and actor Blake Lee sharing, “This is truly the best news I’ve heard in my life! Love you guys so much.”
As the couple embarks on this new journey, their love story, rooted in years of friendship and shared experiences, continues to inspire those around them. The anticipation for their wedding day only adds to the excitement surrounding their engagement, as fans and loved ones alike eagerly await the next chapter in their beautiful journey together.
