Robin Thicke and Paula Patton captured as innocent teenage sweethearts in high school yearbooks... as singer refuses to ditch his wedding ring
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They had one of the most enduring relationships in Hollywood, having got together as teenagers.
So it came as a shock to most when Robin Thicke and Paula Patton announced their separation
to the world on Monday after almost nine years of marriage and a romance that spanned more than two decades.
to the world on Monday after almost nine years of marriage and a romance that spanned more than two decades.
Meeting at under-21s hip-hop club Balistyx on LA's famed Sunset Strip when the aspiring singer was just 14 years old and his lady love not quite 16, the two embarked on a fairytale journey together that culminated in their wedding in June 2005 followed by the birth of their son, Julian, on April 6, 2010.
No sign of trouble: Robin Thicke was in great spirits, happily chatting with fans and signing autographs as he took son Julian to Disneyland on Sunday, wedding ring firmly in place the day before he and wife Paula Patton announced their separation
Doting dad: The father-of-one treated his three-and-a-half-year-old to a fun day out at the Happiest Place On Earth after reportedly quietly splitting from his wife of almost nine years earlier this month
While their high school experiences couldn't have been more different - Paula was a dedicated student and president of the Black Student Union at Hamilton Magnet Arts High School while her beau was expelled from the prestigious Campbell Hall High School and completed his schooling at Montclair College Preparatory School - both were destined to become stars from the beginning.
Taking a look back through their respective high-school yearbooks, it's impossible to miss the aspiring actress and the jock-turned-singer, who feature heavily in the leather-bound pages.
In the fifth grade, Thicke, who turns 37 on March 10, stood front and centre in a photo with his basketball team, bursting with pride presumably after a win.
The youngster sported a cropped flattop hairdo and a cheeky grin.
Lothario-in-the-making: A then-16-year-old Robin was coming into his own having signed his first record deal while a student at Campbell Hall High School in 1991, before the troublemaker was expelled, finising his schooling at Montclair College Prep
She came, she saw, she conquered: Paula Patton was always ambitious and a good student who pursued her love of acting with roles in various school plays and was the president of the Black Student Union while attending Hamilton Magnet Arts High School
Playing nice for the cameras? The couple certainly acted like a happily married couple as they attended the Grammy Awards together on January 26, giving no indication of their strained relations
Fast-forward three years, to the eighth grade, and the lothario was coming into his own and developing a more relaxed style, with longer, floppy locks and a more chiselled face.
Paula, meanwhile, was voted best looking during her senior year, which is hardly surprising given
her exotic looks.
her exotic looks.
The now-38-year-old wore her dark locks in their natural curly state and had thick, sculpted eyebrows that perfectly framed her strong features.
Also not surprising was her appearance in various school plays as she pursued her love of acting
- her favourite role being that of Abigail in The Crucible.
- her favourite role being that of Abigail in The Crucible.
From stage to big screen: The actress honed her skills with parts in school productions such as playing Abigail in The Crucible (pictured), which she cites as her favourite
Leading lady: Her breakout role came when she starred alongside Tom Cruise in 2011's Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, while she is expected to reprise the role of Jane Carter in 2015 sequel Mission: Impossible 5
On Sunday, there was no indication that anything was amiss in the couple's relationship as doting dad Robin took his son to Disneyland - the day before news of the couple's split broke.
In fact, the star was still very much wearing his wedding ring despite reports stating that they had gone their separate ways earlier this month.
Fellow parkgoers also report that the Blurred Lines hitmaker appeared in good spirits, happily signing autographs and chatting with fans.
'I asked if I could get his autograph and he said, "Sure, baby!"' Us Weekly reported a fan as saying. 'He signed my Disneyland autograph book!
What might have been: The musician appeared to have a promising career as a basketball player in the fifth grade, before his love of music became all-consuming
The height of fashion: 1988 was evidently the year of the flattop hairdo, which the chubby-cheeked youngster rocked with aplomb
She stood out from the crowd: In her senior year, the exotic beauty was voted best looking by her peers, which is hardly a surprise given her striking looks which were accentuated by thick, sculpted eyebrows and her brunette locks worn in their natural curly state
She added: 'He was a really nice guy. It made my day.'
While no reason was given for the couple's split, Us Weekly reports that multiple sources have told them that the decision wasn't made in haste.
'It is not a shock to Robin or Paula, and it is something they have discussed for a long time,' the source told the publication, while another insider added: 'Their marriage was unraveling for a long time.'
Just hours after making the shock announcement, the controversial singer was already being propositioned - by the young woman whose bottom he was pictured grabbing following his VMAs performance in August.
Daydreamer: The teenager had high hopes of a career in the music industry even at a young age, while he was already a hit with the ladies, too, having been going steady with Paula for almost two years by this stage
Bone of contention? The married singer copped plenty of flack for his 'inappropriate' performance at August's MTV VMAs with a scantily-clad Miley Cyrus, who groped him and twerked against him, though while Paula insisted she approved, perhaps that wasn't quite the case
'I'd love to grab a drink with him if he asked,' 20-year-old Lana Scolaro told TMZ.
The married father-of-one's recent flirtatious behaviour with women other than his wife certainly raised plenty of eyebrows in the months leading up to the split.
His MTV VMAs performance with a scantily-clad Miley Cyrus, who groped him and twerked up against him, was deemed inappropriate by many, as was his bum-groping of Lana.
Just last month, he was also pictured getting a little too close for comfort with a pretty woman at Club 79 in Paris.
The star embraced the striking brunette, who had her arms flirtily around his neck as they dirty danced together, all the while Robin was grinning like the Cheshire Cat.
Boys' day out: The star, who turns 37 on March 10, enjoyed riding on the kiddie rides with his cute blond mini-me at Disney on Sunday, relishing the attention he received from fans
Ar you scared, Dad? Robin held his eyes tightly shut while his brave son took the roller-coaster in his stride
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