We need to talk about Charlton Howard—aka The Kid LAROI—because the 22-year-old just debuted a look that is a total plot twist. He was spotted grabbing breakfast in Los Feliz, and the signature curls are officially gone. Instead, he’s rocking a striking, bleached buzz cut that completely changes his vibe. It is giving major “fresh start” energy, and honestly, he looks incredibly relaxed just wandering around LA looking like a totally different person.
He wasn’t navigating the neighborhood alone, though. Right by his side was his girlfriend, model Sophie HM. If you remember the internet melting down with dating rumors late last year, they finally put the speculation to bed by going public in January 2026. Since then, they’ve been dealing with the usual paparazzi chaos pretty gracefully, showing a little casual affection here and there without making a massive spectacle of it.
Their morning coffee run gave us a rare look at how they actually operate when the cameras aren’t fully in their faces. Onlookers mentioned they just looked like two normal people chatting easily over breakfast, completely unfazed by the industry noise around them.
This whole new chapter feels especially grounded when you remember where he was a year ago. It’s hard to forget his highly publicized breakup with Tate McRae back in July 2025, mostly because it heavily influenced both of their tracklists. Breakups under a microscope are brutal, but instead of trading messy internet drama, it looks like both artists took the time they needed to focus on themselves and just move forward. It feels less like a tragedy and more like a necessary chapter of growing up.
With a bold new style and a solid relationship, the Australian star seems genuinely focused on what’s ahead. Fans are already rooting for this era, and you just know this kind of stability is going to translate into some incredible new music. For now, it’s just nice to see him balancing a massive global career with quiet, steady mornings. We love to see it.
