Two individuals showed up separately for a National Gallery of Victoria gala in Melbourne in December 2022 and departed the event after capturing each other’s attention in a way that the tabloids would attempt to properly describe over the course of the following few weeks. One of Australia’s most unique singer-songwriters, Thelma Plum, is well-known for her emotionally honest songs and her presence on the Triple J Hottest 100.
Konrad Bien-Stephen is a friendly carpenter and reality TV personality who gained widespread recognition after competing on The Bachelorette Australia the year before. Those who were present said it was hard to overlook the chemistry at the NGV. When asked explicitly, Konrad said they were “just friends.” He shared an Instagram Story of them kissing at midnight on New Year’s Eve at Falls Festival, around three weeks later.
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Thelma Plum | Australian singer-songwriter; winner of the Triple J Unearthed National Indigenous Award 2012; released debut album Better in Blak in 2019; known for lyrical, emotionally candid music |
| Konrad Bien-Stephen | Australian reality television personality; appeared on The Bachelorette Australia (2021) and The Challenge Australia (2022); passed away on March 30, 2026, aged 35; cause of death not publicly disclosed |
| How They Met | Spotted together at the National Gallery of Victoria gala in December 2022; initial reports described them as “just friends” before romance became clear |
| Going Public | Konrad shared a New Year’s Eve kiss photo on Instagram Stories on January 1, 2023; later confirmed Thelma as his girlfriend publicly, calling her “the best, better than the rest” in an Instagram post asking fans to vote for her in Triple J’s Hottest 100 |
| Notable Public Appearances | National Gallery of Victoria Gala (Melbourne), Melbourne Fashion Week, Falls Festival (New Year’s Eve); the couple were openly affectionate at public events throughout 2023 |
| Konrad’s Comments on the Relationship | In a 2023 interview, described Thelma as “a beautiful partner who I’m madly in love with” and said her career had given him a new appreciation for the music industry and the work behind it |
| Relationship Status at Time of Konrad’s Death | The couple had separated before his passing; described as ex-partners by April 2026; exact split date not publicly known |
| Thelma’s Current Status | No confirmed relationship as of April 2026; keeps her personal life private; career continues with music releases and performances |
By the standards of Australian celebrity coverage, the subsequent interaction was remarkably kind and straightforward. In January 2023, Konrad made his Instagram debut by asking his followers to vote for Thelma in Triple J’s Hottest 100 poll: “My girlfriend is the best, better than the rest.” You ought to go cast your vote for her.
It was viewed as a declaration because it was the type of public debut. In later interviews, he was candidly excited about the partnership, praising Thelma’s talent and work ethic and stating that observing her career had opened his eyes to the amount of work that goes into the “rock star lifestyle” image that fans often project onto musicians. One outlet reported that he was “madly in love” and considered himself “very lucky” to have found her. People use these expressions with differing degrees of earnestness. At the time, they appeared to be completely clear-cut in Konrad’s case.
Throughout 2023, they were spotted together at a number of Melbourne-related events, such as Melbourne Fashion Week, the Falls Festival, and a trip to Europe that briefly appeared on social media. They presented themselves as a couple who were happy enough to allow their relationship to be visible but comfortable enough to not need to perform it all the time.
Although Thelma hasn’t publicly acknowledged the connection, people who follow her work will note that some of the music she created during those months reflects the emotional register of that time. Thelma’s music has always pulled from personal experience.
The relationship ended before 2026; neither of them made the kind of public split statement that other famous couples do, and the precise date was never disclosed. By the time Konrad Bien-Stephen died in Melbourne on March 30, 2026, at the age of 35, they were said to have split up.
On April 2, his management verified the information. The cause of death was not made public. The Australian entertainment industry’s reaction was prompt and sincere; Konrad was a well-liked individual whose directness and friendliness left an effect on anyone who worked with him or saw him at industry gatherings. A few days prior to his passing, his Instagram page featured him happily returning to work on a kitchen makeover. Everyone who witnessed it was struck by the stark contrast between that everyday joy and the subsequent news.
Thelma Plum has no relationship that has been made public as of April 2026. Her approach has always been characterized by her maintaining the seclusion surrounding her personal life; her music talks, but her social media does not.
She has been able to continue developing a career whose length and quality speak for themselves without the cacophony that frequently surrounds artists who live more publicly, and there is a sense that this is a purposeful and deliberate choice rather than a burden placed on her. The narrative of her connection with Konrad Bien-Stephen concludes with a certain type of melancholy, the kind that arises when a person you once loved is no longer with you and the version of them you knew only survives in your memory and the little remnants left by the public record.
