Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles have been celebrated as one of gymnastics’ most unshakable friendships, a bond that began when they first roomed together at the world championship team trials in 2018. That connection has defined much of Chiles’ journey, from the moment Biles convinced her not to abandon the sport after failing to make that year’s World roster to their shared triumphs and setbacks on the Olympic stage. Yet as the 2025 season unfolds, it seems another figure has stepped into Chiles’ circle of closest companions, creating a new chapter in her story both inside and outside the gym.

The 23-year-old gymnast has balanced Olympic competition, collegiate dominance, and personal milestones with a notable measure of poise. Following the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she lost a floor bronze after a technical ruling, Chiles returned to UCLA with renewed focus. That season she secured her second NCAA uneven bars title with a 9.9750, shared the Big Ten floor crown with her second perfect 10, and brought her career All-America total to 16, placing her fourth all-time at the school. Her campaign also included three NCAA Regional victories, a perfect 10 on bars, and 29 individual wins. When asked about her longer-term goals, she acknowledged in July, “For now, I’m still embracing Paris. I’m still embracing the moments that we’ve all had since Paris. I have one more year of college and then we’ll just go from there.” With UCLA Athletics confirming her continued presence for the coming quarter, her collegiate path remains clear even as her Olympic future is undecided.

In the midst of this demanding schedule, Jordan Chiles has unveiled a surprising personal update. On TikTok in September 2025, she referred to musician Lauren Jauregui as her “bestie,” posting videos of the two dancing and lip-syncing to the trending track “Illegal” by Pink Pantheress. The clips, casual in nature, reveal a playful side of Chiles rarely seen in competition. Tagging Lauren, Chiles even captioned the TikTok post, “my new bestie!!! @Lauren Jauregui”. While she has long been linked to Biles as her constant confidante, the recent posts suggest a widening of her inner circle as she navigates both gymnastics and entertainment.

This emergence comes at a time when Chiles is managing commitments beyond UCLA. She has been preparing for the upcoming Bruins season, as indicated by her recent Instagram stories showing her in team attire alongside rising talent Tiana Sumanasekera. At the same time, she has embraced her role in Dancing With the Stars, rehearsing routines while still maintaining the physical demands of NCAA training. The dual commitment underscores her ability to cross between athletic and entertainment spheres without losing momentum in either.

For Chiles, the shift in her personal associations may not diminish her longstanding loyalty to Biles, but it does illustrate the growth of a young woman whose career has often been defined by resilience and adaptation. Whether stepping in during Biles’ withdrawal at the Tokyo Games in 2020, capturing NCAA titles, or introducing her newest “bestie” on social media, Chiles has consistently shown that her identity extends beyond a single narrative. As her TikTok partnership with Jauregui gains attention, it adds another layer to a gymnast whose story continues to evolve both on the mat and in the broader public eye. And amid everything, Chiles has decided to balance her return to UCLA gymnastics with a bold new step onto the Dancing With the Stars stage.

Jordan Chiles carried her Olympic gold from Paris into an entirely different arena, trading balance beam landings for sequined turns. The gymnast entered Season 34 of Dancing With the Stars alongside professional partner Ezra Sosa, a pairing that quickly drew attention for its chemistry and promise. “GOOD LUCK!!! You have a great partner by your side!” wrote teammate Stephen Nedoroscik, who can now be considered a veteran in the field of being a gymnast turned dancer for DWTS.

For Chiles, the ballroom stage was not a distant leap from her collegiate roots at UCLA, where she had performed with theatrical flair during the 2025 season opener. Her floor exercise set to Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy” had already revealed her comfort blending choreography with athletic command. When reminded of that performance, she laughed, admitting, “Okay, my floor routine. Yeah, it does got some flips, some twirl, some, you know, I got that little hip… I do hit a step in there.” Her words indeed hinted at the ease with which she transitioned from sport to spectacle.

The announcement of her partnership with Sosa was received with enthusiasm, not least because of the dancer’s candid reaction. He placed the words, “pov: I actually have a shot this year🤧,” across a reel of the two rehearsing. It was a sentiment that underscored both his optimism and their perceived competitiveness. When asked about being regarded as contenders, Chiles replied warmly, “I mean, it feels cool and amazing that people think I’m a tough competition… I feel like we’re all tough competitions against each other until we’re all like, ‘Okay, we can all be loose and really have fun.’” Thus, Chiles, standing at the intersection of two demanding disciplines, is preparing to showcase her artistry once more while maintaining her ties to UCLA gymnastics. The stage lights shifted, but her readiness to perform remained unchanged.