How Byron Bay model Vanessa Valladares met Hollywood megastar Zac Efron
Vanessa Valladares and Zac Efron’s budding romance set in the trendy town of Byron Bay is one fit for a Hollywood script. Here’s exactly what we know.
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A former Byron Bay waitress has become an overnight It-girl after being outed as Zac Efron’s new girlfriend this week.
In the blink of an eye, Vanessa Valladares was thrust into global headlines – prompting her Instagram following to jump by thousands – after pictures emerged of her cosying up to the 32-year-old High School Musical heart-throb.
In a tale fit for a Hollywood script, it turns out the 25-year-old model has her boss to thank for introducing her to the hunky star.
RELATED: Why Efron will destroy Byron
Valladares was photographed holding hands with Efron this week while grabbing a bite in the trendy beachside town in northern NSW, following reports the star extended his visa in Australia for another 12 months.
As the story goes, the romance began at the Byron Bay General Store where Valladares was waiting tables and making coffee. It is understood Valladares’ boss first encouraged the pair to get to know each other, believing they’d hit it off.
Hit it off they have. The couple have already gone on a romantic getaway to the snow and Valladares has all-but moved in with the star in the three months they’ve been seeing each other.
This rom-com writes itself.
Real life rom-com. This is Vanessa Valladares, she’s not an actress or model. She was working as a server at a Byron Bay cafe where she met Zac Efron. She’s now his live-in girlfriend, and has quit her job at the cafe. pic.twitter.com/is0BX6LNrE
— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) September 8, 2020
Here’s what we know about their relationship timeline:
WHEN EFRON ARRIVED
It’s understood Efron arrived just before international borders were shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The star had spent some of the back end of 2019 in Australia after filming the series Killing Zac Efron in Papua New Guinea. During filming, Efron fell ill and was rushed to a hospital in Brisbane.
He then flew back to LA to spend Christmas with his family, but came back to Australia during the first half of this year.
RELATED: Zac Efron confirms Aussie romance
Rumours swirled in June that Efron had settled down in Byron Bay – complete with confirmed sightings of the Baywatch actor all over social media.
Social media influencer Tarsha Whitmore was the first one to spot him in the town.
“Don’t mean to alarm anyone but Zac Efron was literally eating at the same cafe as me when this was taken,” she wrote at the time.
But it wasn’t until early July that he was first photographed by a paparazzi. Coincidentally, he was hugging Valladares at Byron’s iconic General Store cafe, though it was reported at the time she was just a friend.
He’s now said to be house hunting in the area fellow Hollywood star Chris Hemsworth calls home – reportedly extending his visa to explore his relationship with Valladares after cancelling a flight back to LA last month.
HOW THEY MET
Valladares was working at the Byron Bay General Store cafe and Light Years restaurant when she caught Efron’s eye back in July. Her manager seemingly played matchmaker.
“They were introduced by her boss,” a source told Who magazine.
Another source confirmed to People that the pair “started hanging out in July and recently took a ski trip together”.
“You can tell that they are having fun,” they said. “She spends a lot of time at his house.”
“Zac met Vanessa while she was an employee at the Byron Bay General Store & Cafe in June,” the source said.
“Things moved quickly, and Vanessa spends most nights at Zac’s house. They are both very smitten with each other.”
RELATED: Who is Zac Efron’s new girlfriend, Vanessa Valladares?
A TWIST OF FATE
While it may have been a set-up by the boss of the year that brought them together, fate played a part given Valladares was actually meant to be in Africa at the time they were introduced.
According to her Instagram, she was set to take off on March 24.
But with COVID-19 border closures, she stayed put, where she eventually crossed paths with the The Greatest Showman actor.
GOING PUBLIC
Photos released this week of the pair casually grabbing food together from organic hotspot The Farm surfaced after they disembarked a Jetstar flight at Ballina airport following a ski trip to Thredbo together.
Even decked out in their snow gear, the two looked like a match made in genetics heaven as they smiled and chatted by the slopes surrounded by tourists seemingly unaware of Efron’s presence.
According to Us Weekly, Valladares has proven to be a positive influence on Efron, whose battle with alcohol and drug addiction led to a stint in rehab in 2013.
“Zac and Vanessa are really good for each other,” an insider told the publication.
“She has calmed him down a lot, and he’s not partying too much.”
As evidenced by Valladares’ earthy Instagram feed, she certainly shares his love of the outdoors.
“Vanessa loves to be active,” the source confirmed. “She and Zac have that in common.”
EFRON’S LONG-TERM PLANS
The Daily Mail revealed that Efron cancelled one of his scheduled flights back to Los Angeles last month.
“He was only planning to fly home if he had to,” a source said.
“He didn’t really want to go back to America.”
It was said that the star only bought the ticket in case his application for a visa extension was denied by the Department of Home Affairs, however it has now been extended from three to 12 months.
According to TMZ, Efron is planning to list his Los Angeles home for sale soon, with the star looking to settle down in Byron.
Efron has been open about his love for life Down Under over the years.
“I’ve fallen in love with Australia and the fans out here, the people, the culture, the beach,” Efron told reporters at the Australian premiere for Baywatch in 2017.
“I’ve come out for most of my premieres, every chance I had the opportunity to. (I’ve) made great friends over the years here. I kind of sneak over here on my own time as well.”
Efron was also vocal about his desire to leave Los Angeles during his Netflix series, Down To Earth With Zac Efron, which started streaming in July.
“I gotta get out of Hollywood, I’m done. It’s not a place conducive to living a long, happy, mentally-sound life,” he said.
“I love California, I just think that dense population of people and city life is clearly not leading to many centenarians.”
Valladares, meanwhile, is rumoured to have quit her job and is said to be staying with Efron at Belongil Beach – suggesting things are getting serious.
Cue hardcore High School Musical fans all over the world dying a tiny bit inside.
Originally published as How Byron Bay model Vanessa Valladares met Hollywood megastar Zac Efron