Sophia Bush’s girlfriend is “proud” the actress has opened up about her journey to coming out as queer.

The former ‘One Tree Hill’ actress, 41, grew close to her partner Ashlyn Harris, 38, while going through a divorce from her now-ex-husband Grant Hughes, 42, to whom she had been married for only a year before their split, and has now written an essay for Glamour magazine detailing how they fell in love.

Ashlyn has now reposted a photo of Sophia posing for the cover of the publication’s latest issue on her Instagram Story – and added the caption: “Proud of you babe. (Staring face and melting face emojis.)”

Sophia’s Glamour cover shot shows her wearing an open brown leather jacket and using her hands to cover her bare breasts – along with the strapline: “I feel like I can finally breathe.”

It is taken from an emotional essay Sophia wrote for the publication, telling how she fell for Ashlyn while the ex-US Women’s International Soccer Team plater was dealing with her split from her fellow footballer wife, 38-year-old Ali Krieger.

Sophia said about how their romance was sparked when they attended the same support group: “I didn’t expect to find love in this support system. I don’t know how else to say it other than: I didn’t see it until I saw it.

“And I think it’s very easy not to see something that’s been in front of your face for a long time when you’d never looked at it as an option and you had never been looked at as an option.”

Sophia added things soon “turned ugly” as the pair started to face allegations they had been unfaithful to their partners – which Ashlyn has strongly denied.

She said: “The ones who said I’d left my ex because I suddenly realised I wanted to be with women – my partners have known what I’m into for as long as I have (so that’s not it, y’all, sorry!)

“The idea that I left my marriage based on some hysterical rendezvous – that, to be crystal-clear, never happened – rather than having taken over a year to do the most soul crushing work of my life?

“Rather than realising I had to be the most vulnerable I’ve ever been, on a public stage, despite being terrified to my core?”

Sophia and Ashlyn’s relationship was first reported in October 2023, two months after the actress filed for divorce from businessman Grant.

The actress and ex-footballer – who has adopted children Sloane, three, and 20-month-old son Ocean – made their first public appearance as a couple in March at Sir Elton John’s annual Oscars party.