Welcome Skateboards’ pro skater Nora Vasconcellos has always been open in her own way, but this week she decided to say things plainly.
On January 6, 2026, Vasconcellos shared a photo that left little room for guessing.
The post showed her with her girlfriend, Betty Connolly, and it quickly caught the attention of fellow skaters.
When someone summed it up perfectly in the comments, Vasconcellos replied with a line that instantly spread online. “Better late than straight.”
For longtime followers, the moment felt natural rather than out of nowhere.
As we previously reported, Vasconcellos was already being linked to the LGBTQIA+ community, even if she did not claim that label at the time.
The story first came up during a Thrasher VS segment with fellow skater Nicole Hause. The two were asked if people ever recognized them in public.
Their answer turned into a funny memory from a friend’s birthday night out.
They recalled celebrating their friend Poppy at a gay bar, where the crowd assumed Vasconcellos was part of the community simply because she was there with the group.
According to Vasconcellos, people around them were warm and welcoming, and many assumed she was gay. At the time, she brushed it off and denied it, even though some gay skaters who knew her believed otherwise.
Fast forward to now, and things are much clearer. The photo she posted showed her and Connolly looking happy and comfortable together.
Connolly also uses she her pronouns, matching Vasconcellos.
The comments section quickly filled with support and jokes from across the skate world. One that stood out came from YouTube skater and LGBTQIA+ member Alex White, who wrote:
“It’s 2026 and @noravexplora is no longer tragically straight.”
Vasconcellos replied:
“better L8 than Str8.”
This sealed the moment with humor that felt very on brand for her.
What made the exchange resonate was how casual it all felt. There was no long statement or explanation. Just a photo, a comment, and a reply that said everything she wanted to say.
Fans appreciated that honesty and the light tone, especially in a scene where personal topics are not always discussed openly.
Vasconcellos has spent years letting her skating speak for itself, and now she is letting her personal life be seen in the same straightforward way.
Vasconcellos Posted:
"Betty one time I was riding on my skateboard when I passed your house…"