Meet Matte Babel: Inside Shay Mitchell's Low-Key Life with Her Longtime Partner
By Maya Lin-Takahashi
Mitchell and Babel began dating around late 2016, though they preserved their privacy for years. The couple initially bonded over their shared Canadian roots in Los Angeles. While Mitchell was wrapping up her defining seven-season run as Emily Fields on Freeform's Pretty Little Liars, Babel operated quietly within entertainment management. Their circle of mutual friends shielded the budding romance from aggressive paparazzi cycles.
The pair did not debut their domestic dynamic on red carpets. Instead, they revealed their shared life when Mitchell announced her first pregnancy in mid-2019. That announcement, marked by an offbeat YouTube gender reveal involving actors dressed as Power Rangers brawling in a backyard, set the tone for how they communicate with the public: tongue-in-cheek, heavily self-produced, and entirely on their own schedule.
| Milestone Year | Personal & Family Development | Professional Nexus |
|---|---|---|
| 2016, 2017 | Began dating privately in Los Angeles; connected through Toronto social circles. | Mitchell wraps Pretty Little Liars; Babel shifts deeper into talent management. |
| 2018, 2019 | Went public during pregnancy; daughter Atlas Noa Babel born in October 2019. | Mitchell launches travel brand BÉIS; Babel supports strategic operations. |
| 2020, 2021 | Clarified stance on marriage via high-profile interviews; dismissed engagement pressure. | BÉIS enters nine-figure retail growth; Babel expands entertainment advisory roles. |
| 2022, 2026 | Daughter Rome Babel born in May 2022; continued unified co-parenting life in California. | Mitchell establishes global founder status; pair maintains joint private real estate portfolio. |
Maya is a hardware enthusiast who tests and reviews smart home devices, smartphones, wearables, and audio gear. She focuses on practical consumer value and build quality.
