F ZINE People Cam: Valentine’s Day 2026 Edition

From dating apps to TikTok livestreams, firm believers in soulmates to proud serial daters, love today looks different depending on whom you ask. This Valentine’s Day 2026, we spoke to young people on the street about romance, friendships and everything in between. Whether they’re married, taken, or happily single, their answers reveal a generation that’s hopeful, yet brutally honest about what dating looks like right now.

P.S.: Need V-Day date ideas? Check out our list of new romantic restaurants, make a reservation at some of the most romantic bars in Singapore, or hit up one of the many Galentine’s Day events to celebrate friendship.

Name: Fatyn Abdul Samad

Age: 28

Occupation: Journalist 

Relationship status: Married

“My ideal partner is…”: “A provider, understanding, and very honest.”

How she met her partner: “The most modern way – the dating apps! We met on Coffee Meets Bagel in 2023 and got married a year later.”

Thoughts on online dating: “I was a bit apprehensive initially. It felt like opening up a can of worms, and I didn’t know what to expect. The experience differs from one app to another, but I feel that Coffee Meets Bagel helps women a bit more since we’re able to pick the guys first. I met my husband there, so it was worth it!”

On whether she believes in finding “the one”: “I do, actually. I’m a lover girl, so there’s always a soulmate or a person for you. While I was dating, I did hold on strongly to the belief that there’s someone for me out there.”

To her, partnership means…: “Being there for each other. If you’re only functioning at 20 per cent, your husband has to be the other 80 per cent. You’re always balancing each other out.”

One piece of advice for new couples today: “It’s always okay to be picky about who you choose as your partner. You don’t have to settle for less. Always go for what you actually want and not settle.”

Name: Serena McNeill

Age: 25

Occupation: Model 

Relationship status: Single

“My ideal partner is…”: “Kind, even though that’s the bare minimum, intellectual without being condescending, and not pretentious.”

On the importance of practical considerations when seeking a partner: “The Pisces in me wants to say it’s not important, but it’s obviously important to a certain degree. I think at the end of the day, their attitude towards it matters the most. 

If they’re not in a great place right now but they’re working to be, who am I to fault them for that? It’s a give-and-take situation, but if they are looking at the future, they should be able to provide or be working towards that.”

Thoughts on online dating: “This is a very hot take, but I don’t like dating apps because I don’t think a great guy can be found on a dating app. If he’s good, he won’t be on a dating app.”

To her, friendship means…: “Having pillars of support that are authentic, and where you grow while helping each other become the best versions of yourselves. I used to think friendships and relationships had equal importance, but as my prefrontal lobe has developed, I now think friendships are more important.”

Name: Muhammad Atiq

Age: 22

Occupation: Student 

Relationship status: In a relationship

How he met his partner: “TikTok. We were kind of mutuals at the time, and I saw her on TikTok Live. She was streaming at Marina Bay Sands, so I just popped by after work.”

Thoughts on online dating: “I did use dating apps, but it was more for fun. I never went out with the people I met there. If I want something real, I’d rather walk up to someone and ask them for their name and number. I feel like that’s more authentic than just swiping on an app.”

On the importance of practical considerations when seeking a partner: “Right now, she’s working full-time while I’m working part-time. I do feel bad when I can’t help her out with finances, but I will provide for her when I have a better-paying job.”

One piece of advice for those looking for love: “If you’re not ready, just learn to love yourself first and focus on yourself. If you’re ready for a relationship, be prepared to learn how to be more patient, understanding and compromising with your partner.”

Name: Lexi Paton

Age: 21

Occupation: Retail associate 

Relationship status: In a relationship

“My ideal partner is…”: “Ambitious, hardworking and understanding.”

The dating scene in Singapore is: “More about the hook-up, and it’s not really about the connection that you have. If I’m going to be honest, it seems like most Singaporeans are more about the fun than settling down. It depends on your age and what you’re looking for though.”

On the importance of friendships: “Platonic relationships are very important, as you know you guys are in the same headspace and connected because you’re similar instead of just thinking someone is attractive, or you see them as a partner.”

One piece of advice for those looking for love: “Be yourself and don’t put on a show because you want to impress someone. At the end of the day, if they don’t like you, then that’s their problem.”

Name: Alexander Geller

Age: 17

Occupation: Student 

Relationship status: Single

“My ideal partner is…”: “Ambitious, confident and thoughtful.”

Dating today is…: “Not a necessity, especially at this age. I feel like many people crave the feeling of being loved, so I think it’s mostly for fun.”

On the importance of practical considerations when seeking a partner: “Personally, I don’t really think about that when I look at someone to date. Especially at this age, that’s something we can work on. I look more at their character.”

Thoughts on situationships: “Personally, I would want clarity on the situation. I feel like situationships happen when you guys don’t know if you should label the relationship, or if you’re more than friends but not a couple. For me, I would seek the other’s opinion and get on the same page.”

To me, friendship means…: “Having someone that truly cares for you and be there for you no matter what. Also someone who’s honest and cares for you, and wouldn’t just agree with you on everything.”

Friendship or romantic relationships?: “It’s about the strength of the friendship and the relationship. If I just got into the relationship, obviously I wouldn’t be as close to her as some of my other friends who I’ve known for many years. It depends on the relationship too – if I’m looking to marry her, then I would put her first. But for now, especially at this age, friendship.”

Name: Cheryl Pek

Age: 26

Occupation: Model 

Relationship status: In a relationship

“My ideal partner is…”: “Tall, kind and generous.”

A quality that’s difficult to find in a partner these days: “Being able to celebrate that your partner is doing well without feeling threatened by it, or that you have to one-up them in some way.”

Thoughts on situationships: “I think they’re a surefire way for you to diminish all your self-worth and have an immense amount of self-doubt. You just start thinking about how you got yourself into a situation where you somehow feel lesser than a dog, because you’re always waiting. It’s not worth it.”

On whether she believes in finding “the one”: “No. I think a relationship is something that will always take consistent work, so I don’t believe there’s the one. But I believe if you find somebody who’s good, compatible and kind, and worth fighting for, then you can get through whatever obstacles together.”

One piece of advice for those looking for love: “Don’t waste time when it’s obviously not going to work out. Don’t think just because you’ve invested a certain number of years into a relationship that you can’t start anew again. You can.”

Name: Sarah Tan

Age: 26

Occupation: Makeup artist 

Relationship status: Single

“My ideal partner is…”: “Tall, kind and bully-able. And buff.”

A quality that’s hard to find in a partner: “Someone who isn’t intimidated by a successful woman.”

The dating scene in Singapore is: “Dry. Dead. It’s super mixed because there are people who settle down too quickly, but also people who don’t want to settle down. There’s nothing wrong with either, but you have to be honest with your intentions.”

Thoughts on online dating: “It can be fun to go on dates for the plot, especially as a casual serial dater myself, but it’s true that it’s hard to find good guys on it when it comes to settling down. There are gems, but you really just have to cash in your luck. It’s like one in a million.”

On the importance of practical considerations when seeking a partner: “Controversial, but very important. If you have a lifestyle in mind and your partner isn’t compatible in that lifestyle, no matter how much you love each other, there will be clashes.”

To me, friendship means…: “Telling someone the truth even when they don’t want to hear it. A good friend will take it and know that their friend has their best interest at heart. I do place my friends over relationships – I would cancel on my ex to hang out with my friends.”

One piece of advice for those looking for love: “There is nothing wrong with being single, and when anyone says you’re being too picky, you’re not. When it comes to friendship, it gets better. You find your people, and it’s not worth it to hold on to relationships that don’t serve you.”

Name: Leandro Santos

Age: 17

Occupation: Student 

Relationship status: Single

Dating today is…: “Definitely for fun. I see a lot of people in two-week or one-month relationships, and it’s more about lust than love.”

Thoughts on situationships: “I guess it’s when you know that you both like spending time with each other, but you can’t put a label on it. You’re still seeing if you’re compatible and want to fully invest in each other.. 

On the importance of practical considerations when seeking a partner: “I’m not expecting much, because it’s not like we have a lot of time for a job. As a student, money is always low, so that’s not something I really care about. But you have to make up for it in other ways.”

To me, friendship means…: “Trust, someone you can rely on, and [whom] won’t judge you. No matter what happens, they’re there for you and help make you a better person.”

Friendship or romantic relationships?: “I guess I have to see which one’s more important in the long run. If I lose this friendship, will I be more affected than if I lose the relationship, and vice versa.”

One piece of advice for those looking for love: “Don’t force it. If it’s not meant to be, it’s not meant to be.”

Name: Verena Winarta

Age: 19

Occupation: Student 

Relationship status: Single

“My ideal partner is…”: “Stable, empathetic and thoughtful.”

A quality that’s hard to find in a partner: “Everything I’ve just mentioned.”

The dating scene in Singapore is…: “I haven’t had much experience in that – I’m not actively looking and I’m focusing mostly on my studies. I think a lot of people are looking for short-term instead of long-term [relationships].”

On whether she believes in finding “the one”: “I’m quite delusional, so I think there’s someone perfect for everyone out there.”

Friendship or romantic relationships?: “I prioritise my friendships a lot, definitely more so than my romantic relationships. A lot of my friendships have lasted for years, and I treasure them more than short-term flings or relationships. I just know they’re always gonna be there for me.”

Name: Cindy Nguyen

Age: 29

Occupation: Working in finance in New York City

Relationship status: Single

“My ideal partner is…”: “Communicative, loyal and emotionally intelligent.”

A quality that’s hard to find in a partner: “Emotional intelligence is something I’ve been struggling a lot with. Especially with social media and dating apps, it’s very difficult to find people who are willing to be open and vulnerable.”

The dating scene in big cities is…: “It’s very transactional and rotational. A lot of people think they can do better, so no one’s really looking to settle down. People often think that if the person doesn’t give them what they want, they can always find it elsewhere. I personally don’t think that’s how relationships should work.”

Dating today is…: “Definitely experimental. As a woman, you have a lot more choices and you can be independent. I really enjoy being single, because it’s not a choice that many women have had until recently. It’s nice being experimental and testing out what I like and what I want, but I do think it is a little bit harder to find someone who’s more intentional about dating as well. It can be hard to compromise.”

Thoughts on situationships: “I think going through a situationship is a modern necessity only because it makes you realise, ‘is this what I want?’. In terms of my past situationships, they were definitely a growth opportunity. I would never do it again. 

A situationship is only a situationship to one person. To the other person, it’s not really anything. It definitely showed me that I’m not willing to settle for this, and made me value myself a little bit more in terms of what I’m looking for in dating.”

One piece of advice for those looking for love: “Don’t settle. I know a bunch of people will say that, but I think it’s so true. Really try to get to know yourself and realise that sometimes, it’s just better to be by yourself than to be with someone who makes you feel less than.”