Sophia Hutchins and Caitlyn Jenner had an extremely close friendship before the former died in a shocking accident.
On Wednesday, the 29-year-old was driving an ATV near Jenner’s Malibu, Calif., mansion when she hit the bumper of a moving vehicle.
The collision threw Hutchins down a 350-foot ravine, where she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Revisit Caitlyn Jenner and Sophia Hutchins’ friendship after the latter’s shock death. Image Press Agency/MEGA
The 29-year-old died in an ATV accident in July 2025. OnSceneTv
Jenner has yet to issue a statement regarding Hutchins’ tragic passing.
The duo enjoyed a decade of friendship, with Hutchins describing the retired athlete as her “partner” in life in 2018.
Revisit their relationship below.
The duo met in 2015. Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency / SplashNews.com
They were introduced by a mutual hairstylist and makeup artist. Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/MEGA
Hutchins and Jenner met in 2015 through their mutual hairstylist and makeup artist, the same year the “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” alum came out as transgender.
“He was doing my hair one day and he said, ‘I’m going to a photoshoot right after this and Caitlyn is going to be there and Caitlyn would like to meet you,’” Hutchins recalled to “Juicy Scoop” podcast listeners in 2020.
She noted that the duo immediately “got really close as friends.”
Jenner’s coming out story played a role in Hutchins’ own transition. David Acosta/Image Press Agency/MEGA
Seeing Jenner speak out being transgender made the possibility feel “real,” she wrote in 2016. Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/MEGA
In 2016, Hutchins credited her Olympian pal as inspiring her own transition.
Jenner “made it so much more real,” the Pepperdine University student wrote in a research article for the university.
“Like, normal and successful people do this and people are OK when they do it,” Hutchins, who graduated from the university with a degree in finance and economics, added.
Hutchins was Jenner’s manager. @hutchins_sophia/Instagram
Hutchins became Jenner’s manager in 2017 — a role previously filled by the reality star’s ex-wife Kris Jenner.
“I learned a lot about what was going on in Caitlyn’s life and I just felt it was a financial s—tshow — so much money was being thrown everywhere — and nobody was really running the show,” Hutchins explained to Heather McDonald in 2020.
“She didn’t have a manager,” she continued. “Kris wasn’t doing it anymore since they divorced and I felt I could do a really good job.”
As the duo made headlines for outings together in 2017, Jenner’s rep insisted to Page Six that the pair were “just friends.”
She denied dating rumors in 2018. Getty Images
However, Hutchins revealed she lived with Jenner, with whom she “shared a life” and a pet. @hutchins_sophia/Instagram
Hutchins confirmed their platonic status the following year by replying with an eye-roll emoji when an Instagram user asked whether she was dating Jenner.
She elaborated in a “Hidden Truth” podcast interview, saying, “I would not say we’re dating. I would say we’re partners. I would not use the word ‘girlfriend.’ I would not say the word ‘dating.’”
“We’re partners in everything we do,” she continued. “We’re inseparable. We’re business partners. We live together. We share a dog. We share family, we share a life together. We’re not going to [label it].”
After Hutchins referred to them as “two souls that are a fantastic match,” the pals continued to put their friendship on display, from Mexico trips to joint Fashion Week appearances.
Hutchins continued to insist she was “never romantically involved” with Jenner. @hutchins_sophia/Instagram
Hutchins was present in October 2019 when Jenner celebrated her 70th birthday with a family-filled bash.
When Jenner joined “I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here” that same year, Hutchins felt “weird” celebrating Thanksgiving without her.
“I’m hosting it at our house with some of my family and my good friend and his family, so it’s going to be different this year,” she told Page Six at the time.
Hutchins confirmed to the New York Times in December 2019 that she and Jenner were “never romantically involved.”
Hutchins compared Jenner to her “parent” in a 2020 interview. Getty Images for Janie’s Fund
She recalled the Olympian once walking in on her when she had a guy over. WireImage
She claimed, “We had to put a lock on my door because Caitlyn decided to barge into my room while I had a friend over. It’s kind of like living with your parents and I’m like oh, this might be a turning point where I might need to move out.” @caitlynjenner/Instagram
In Hutchins’ “Juicy Scoop” interview, she also revealed Jenner once walked in on with her with a guy, whom Jenner allegedly “knew was there.”
She claimed, “We had to put a lock on my door because Caitlyn decided to barge into my room while I had a friend over. It’s kind of like living with your parents and I’m like oh, this might be a turning point where I might need to move out.”
“I don’t want to leave her by herself, but she also knows that I’m getting older and I want to be able to have my own life,” Hutchins added.
In 2021, Hutchins denied any “hanky panky” between the two. Getty Images for EJAF
“I feel like I’ve been saying that for the past five years,” she quipped. RMBI / BACKGRID
Hutchins insisted again in 2021 that she and Jenner had a platonic dynamic.
“There’s no hanky panky,” she told People at the time. “I feel like I’ve been saying that for the past five years.”
At the time, Hutchins compared the “I Am Cait” alum to her parent.
Jenner referred to Hutchins as the “brains behind” her career in 2022. Getty Images
That same year, Hutchins called Jenner the “most genuine human being” via Instagram. FilmMagic
When Hutchins and Jenner appeared on the “Full Send” podcast in 2022, the latter called Hutchins “the most amazing” and “smartest person.”
Jenner added that Hutchins is “the brains behind” her career.
For Jenner’s birthday that year, Hutchins called her “the best … mentor, chosen family [and] the most genuine human being” in a touching Instagram tribute.
The duo have continued making public outings together over the years. @hutchins_sophia/Instagram
Hutchins continued giving glimpses of her life with Jenner via social media.
In 2023, she joked about needing to “golf with worse people” after playing with Jenner and “getting [her] ass kicked.”
Jenner defended Hutchins in 2024 when the latter called the LGBTQ+ community “toxic.” Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/MEGA
Hutchins, a political surrogate for President Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign, blasted the LGBTQ+ community that year as “toxic” and “bulls–t” — and Jenner made headlines for defending her against backlash.
The former track star agreed in June 2024 that the community is “a joke.”
Four months later, Hutchins attended Jenner’s birthday party.
Jenner’s social media was flooded with condolences after Hutchins died. OnSceneTv
Her late pal’s final social media upload, posted in April 2025, was about “healing.” OnSceneTv
Jenner’s social media was flooded with condolences after Hutchins died.
Her late pal’s final social media upload, posted in April 2025, was about “healing.”
Hutchins fixed a broken candelabra in before-and-after photos at the time, jokingly referring to herself as “Dr. Hutchins.”