Saffron Barker Splits with Josh: Dubai Dream Crumbles

When  packed up her life in Britain and headed to  to be with her new boyfriend Josh Miln last year, fans were convinced the influencer had finally found her happily ever after.

Just months after her high-profile split from Welsh rugby star , the sensation appeared to be embracing a fresh start, relocating overseas after falling head over heels for the 25-year-old Scottish model.

But fast forward a few months and Saffron’s life has taken another dramatic turn.

The 25-year-old, who boasts more than two million subscribers on YouTube, alongside millions more across and , is now living in New York, enrolled at two prestigious drama schools and speaking openly about rediscovering the acting ambitions she says she placed on hold for her career as an influencer.

So how did this rapid transformation come about? And what does the move mean for her relationship with Josh?

I can now reveal that the couple are ‘taking a break’ and ‘figuring things out without each other’ as Saffron pursues her acting dream in America and Josh continues travelling abroad.

A source tells me: ‘She has always been desperate to have that perfect relationship, her parents have been together all her life and both her brothers (also influencers) found their partners young, so she is just desperately trying to replicate that.

‘But right now Saffron and Josh can’t agree on a location, so are giving each other some breathing space and having a break.

‘Other than Josh, there wasn’t anything in Dubai for her. In America she is able to focus on her career goals and what she wants to do.

‘She’s chasing her dreams and not boyfriends and would love to move to NYC permanently.’

After first catching Josh’s attention by sliding into his TikTok messages in 2024, the romance between the pair moved quickly.

The couple made their relationship Instagram official over the New Year, before the model later moved into Saffron’s countryside home in East Sussex, with the YouTube star seemingly embracing her new chapter following the end of her previous relationship.

Their romance continued at pace and Saffron relocated to Dubai in June 2025.

Rather than making the move permanent, Saffron explained that she planned to split her time between Dubai and the UK, allowing her to continue work commitments at home while building a life overseas with Josh, who spent much of his childhood in the UAE.

At the time, the move was one of the biggest decisions of Saffron’s career.

After documenting virtually every milestone of her life online since her teenage years, Saffron gave followers an intimate look at settling into Dubai alongside Josh.

In one of her YouTube videos filmed shortly after the move, Josh spoke enthusiastically about returning to a place he had long considered home.

He told her followers: ‘Since I went back in 2017, I said to myself I always want to go back. I love the heat, I love the culture, I just love everything about the Middle East. And I just think moving here with the love of my life... I’m just so excited.’

Saffron, meanwhile, stressed that the relocation did not necessarily mean saying goodbye to Britain for ever.

‘It’s gonna be a good time,’ she said. ‘We will always come back to the UK. This is just while we are young.’

However, in recent months fans noticed the influencer’s content has undergone a noticeable transformation.

Instead of documenting life in Dubai, Saffron’s social media channels have become dominated by New York.

From walking through Manhattan’s streets and trying viral food spots to apartment updates and acting classes, her content now centres almost entirely on building a new life in America.

It is a dream she has spoken about for years.

In a recent YouTube vlog announcing the move, Saffron became emotional as she reflected on finally pursuing acting full-time.

‘I have never felt happiness like I do now,’ she told viewers. ‘One of my biggest dreams is to be an actress.

‘Going to Dubai my life took a bit of a turn. I lost a bit of optimism and I have found it again.’

I can also reveal that the influencer has enrolled at two respected New York acting schools, the Maggie Flanigan Studio and the William Esper Studio – institutions known for training professional actors.

The Maggie Flanigan Studio’s year-long programmes can cost thousands of pounds, while the William Esper Studio has trained stars including Jeff Goldblum and Kathy Bates.

Friends and family have rallied around Saffron during the move.

Her best friend and fellow influencer Libby Whitehouse flew to New York to help her settle into her apartment, while mum Wendy Barker later joined her in the city for a visit.

Meanwhile, Josh, who continues to live in Dubai, has shared updates from his own separate travels, including trips to Bali with influencer friend Nathan Samuel.

Although both continue to post regularly, they now appear focused on different projects and adventures.