Who is Love is Blind’s Devin Buckley? Meet the Season 8 star with an impressive sneaker collection

Netflix's Love Is Blind Season 8 introduces viewers to Devin Buckley, a 29-year-old youth director and basketball coach with a passion that extends beyond the court — his impressive sneaker collection.

Among the 32 singles seeking connection in the isolation pods, Devin stands out not just for his romantic journey but for his self-proclaimed "sneakerhead" status, boasting ownership of over 100 pairs of shoes.

On the show, where participants date without seeing each other before potentially getting engaged, Devin's revelation about his expensive hobby raised eyebrows when he admitted to fiancée Virginia Miller that he sometimes purchases "two pairs a month" with individual pairs priced at up to $700.

As contestants transition from emotional connections in the pods to real-world compatibility testing, Devin's sneaker obsession becomes more than just a personal quirk — it symbolizes broader questions about consumption habits that couples must navigate when merging lives. But who exactly is the man behind this growing footwear empire?

---

Love Is Blind’s Devin Buckley’s journey and big dreams

Devin's life revolves around basketball, both professionally and personally. According to his official bio, he "built his own basketball training business and mentoring program to help kids reach their goals" in Minnesota. His Instagram (@devbuck3) showcases his passion, featuring numerous photos of him on the court.

His ambitions once extended beyond coaching local youth. In August 2019, he shared his experience trying out for professional basketball in Germany, writing:

"I was BLESSED with the opportunity to try out to play professional basketball in Germany this past week! It was such an amazing experience!"

Despite his athletic pursuits, Devin prefers quiet nights at home over hitting local bars. His ideal evening involves "listening to music, partying, and dancing," followed by collaborative cooking, noting in his bio that he wants to meet a woman who "supports him from the sidelines during big games and in the kitchen every night as his sous chef."

Devin's journey on Love Is Blind featured connections with two women: Virginia Miller and Brittany Dodson. With Brittany, their shared love of sports created an immediate bond, as her role as a partnership executive had her working with major leagues like the NBA, NFL, and MLB.

Meanwhile, Virginia's personality resonated with Devin on a different level in this season of Love Is Blind.

"Virginia is just such a kind, loving, genuine person," he told Love Is Blind cameras during a confessional.

Elaborating:

"Every time I speak with her, I feel like I can just lay down and close my eyes and listen to her for hours."

By the second episode of Love Is Blind Season 8, Devin admitted to his dilemma:

"Between Virginia and Brittany, it's very even right now."

---

Devin Buckley’s sneaker collection and the implications of the subculture

Devin's sneaker collection became a topic of discussion during a financial conversation with Virginia in Episode 8. When asked how much his hobby costs, Devin admitted one pair was valued at $700, explaining that shoes were his only splurge, with new purchases happening "every couple of months, sometimes two pairs a month."

This revelation mirrors a similar moment from Love Is Blind Season 3, when contestant Alexa Alfia told then-fiancé Brennon Lemieux that she never re-wears outfits. While Alexa faced significant viewer backlash for her clothing consumption habits, Devin's extensive shoe collection hasn't received the same criticism — at least not yet.

The sneakerhead subculture traces back to the 1980s with the release of the first Jordan 1s, capitalizing on Michael Jordan's basketball fame. Beyond collecting shoes, true sneakerheads pride themselves on knowledge of footwear history and restoration skills.

However, this hobby contributes to alarming environmental statistics. According to industry reports, 23 billion pairs of shoes are manufactured annually, with approximately 22 billion ending up in landfills. Only about 5% of shoes get recycled.

Award-winning journalist Tansy E Hoskins highlights the scale of the problem:

"66.6 million pairs of shoes are being made not every month or every week, but every single day."

When asked if ethical sneaker collecting is possible, Hoskins suggests it requires looking beyond design:

"You can be an ethical sneakerhead but you have to connect not just with the design and hype of a shoe, but with the materials and the work that goes into making footwear."

Whether Devin's sneaker collection becomes a point of contention in his relationship remains to be seen as Season 8 unfolds. But his hobby raises bigger questions about consumption habits in a world increasingly aware of environmental impacts.

Devin is somewhat of an intriguing paradox to Love Is Blind viewers: a young mentor imparting important life lessons while engaging in a pastime that personifies the heights of modern overconsumption.

Devin's sneaker collection is a little bit of a test of compatibility as Love Is Blind continues to examine whether emotional ties can transcend physical and lifestyle disparities— proving that sometimes, it's what's in the closet, not just the heart, that determines relationship success.

---

Love is Blind Season 8 is available to stream in its entirety on Netflix.