Body language can reveal many truths about relationships — but only if you know how to read it. In Celebrity Couples: Decoded, an expert interprets A-listers' interactions to shed light on their IRL dynamic.
Pop star Ariana Grande, 24, and Saturday Night Live cast member Pete Davidson, also 24, have big news: They're engaged(!!!) as People confirmed today. Although the lovebirds have known each other since at least March 2016, when Ariana appeared on SNL, the duo only began dating recently.
The following summer, Ariana confirmed her relationship with rapper Mac Miller in an Instagram post, although they recently split up. Pete had been involved with Cazzie David, the daughter of comedian Larry David. They, too, ended things not long ago.
As it happens, Ariana and Pete's body language has spoken volumes about their chemistry, according to body-language expert Blanca Cobb: "When you know, you know," she says of their quick engagement. "I’m not surprised that they’ve found love in each other."
Below, Cobb assesses the couple's first-ever on screen interaction for signs of everlasting love:
Pete clasps his hands:
"Normally, putting your hands in your pockets is a sign you're hiding something or holding back," Cobb says, siding with the latter explanation: After all, Pete physically clasps his hands in front of his body the moment he removes them from his pants. Binding the hands, Cobb says, is a way to physically suppress oneself from acting on emotional impulses — including romantic feelings.
And in this case, Pete's expression shows he's pleased by his company: He even angles his body toward Ariana rather than squaring his hips to the SNL audience.
Meanwhile, Ariana faces Pete straight on: "She's letting him know she's interested in him," Cobb says, noting the way the singer holds eye contact and presses her lips together in a wide smile to show she's both pleased and paying attention.
Ariana mirrors Pete:
"When you like someone you’re interested in and attracted to, your body naturally mimics theirs," Cobb says, referring to the way Ariana grasps her hands on front of her body, just like Pete. "It’s very natural."
Ariana shrugs at Pete:
Typically, shrugging your shoulders, as Ariana does above, often implicates uncertainty, according to Cobb – but this may just be a product of their conversation's context: In the scripted bit, Pete approaches Ariana with a very public proposition to smoke pot. "It could also be a nervous gesture — something you do when you're around a person you're attracted to," Cobb says, although the couple's unwavering eye contact interests her more. "It says, 'You’re easy on the eyes, and I want to keep looking at you,'" she says.
Pete maintains eye contact with Ariana:
Speaking of eye contact: "A person's eyes can tell you how they are feeling," Cobb says. "When you're attracted to someone, you convey your emotions through your eyes." And would you look at Pete's gaze?! Although he's a practiced actor used to speaking to an audience, he barely acknowledges them.
"He’s nodding while she talks, which encourages her and shows he's listening," Cobb says of their interaction. "They're already on the same page."
Pete puts just one hand in his pocket:
"It looks like he doesn't know what to do with his hand," Cobb says, noting the way Pete reaches into his left pocket, concealing the palm closest to Ariana. "It's like he wants to reach out and touch her — a natural way to empathize with someone — but he put his hand away to stop himself."
At the same time, Ariana grins from ear to ear before turning away from the audience and microphone to face Pete while he talks. "Her smile is radiating," Cobb says.
The Bottom Line:
"It doesn't surprise me that they got together," Cobb says. "They're really focused on each other."
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Elizabeth Narins is a Brooklyn, NY-based writer and a former senior editor at Cosmopolitan.com, where she wrote about fitness, health, and more. Follow her at @ejnarins.
