Actress Nina Dobrev has issued a sharp rebuke to online trolls who labelled her a 'yacht girl' after she shared glamorous photos from a New Year's holiday in St. Barts. The 36-year-old star of The Vampire Diaries took to Instagram on Tuesday to dismiss the claims, urging critics to find a better use for their time.
A Luxurious Getaway Sparks Baseless Rumours
The controversy began over the festive period when Dobrev, who split from her fiancé, Olympic snowboarder Shaun White, in early September, posted a series of sun-drenched images and videos from a luxury yacht. The carousel, captioned 'Final days of 2025', showed the actress and a group of friends, including Michelle Randolph and TV personality Alix Earle, enjoying the high life.
Dobrev was pictured in an array of swimwear, from a string bikini to a fuchsia flower-print two-piece, soaking up the sun on deck. Other clips showed her modelling a detailed embroidered mini-dress and participating in a Pilates class with friends on the boat's bow. The carefree display, however, led a faction of social media users to falsely accuse her of being a 'yacht girl'—a term often used pejoratively to describe women paid to attend parties on mega-yachts.
'Get a Hobby': Dobrev's Blunt Social Media Response
Rather than ignoring the chatter, Nina Dobrev confronted it head-on. In a pointed New Year's post, she directly addressed the trolling. 'It's 2026. Jealousy is the worst thing ever,' she wrote. 'Please move on from these false statements. Get a hobby. Enjoy your life.'
Her retort was a clear message to those spreading the rumours, emphasising that she was simply celebrating the new year with close pals after a personally challenging period. A source previously told Us Weekly that her split from Shaun White, after a five-year relationship and engagement, was amicable but left her 'crushed'.
Life After a High-Profile Split
The yacht trip appears to be part of Dobrev's move forward following her broken engagement. White had proposed in October of the previous year with a five-carat diamond ring. Since the split, Dobrev has been focused on her friends and personal enjoyment, while White was reportedly a guest at Kate Hudson's Aspen New Year's Eve party and was later seen chatting with model Brooks Nader in New York City in November.
By shutting down the 'yacht girl' speculation with humour and defiance, Nina Dobrev has reclaimed the narrative, positioning her luxurious holiday as nothing more than a well-deserved break with friends at the start of 2026.
