These ‘Degrassi’ Queer Couples Still Have Our Heart

In 2002, the multiple award-winning Canadian series Degrassi, originally titled Degrassi: The Next Generation, premiered. The show followed the lives of Degrassi students navigating all of the hurdles and triumphs that come with middle and high school and has remained popular today. Known for its realistic portrayal of teen struggles, the show includes topics like sexual identity, mental health, bullying, and every other dramatic plot you can think of. One of the exceptional themes in the show was its honest and nuanced demonstration of lesbian and queer love. Through its many iterations, Degrassi was ahead of its time in unapologetically providing visibility for lesbian and queer relationships. Let’s recap our favorite lesbian relationships and queer forthcomings from Degrassi.

Paige Michalchuk and Alex Nuñez

In seasons 5-7, Paige Michalchuk and Alex Nuñez made history by being the first lesbian couple portrayed on Degrassi. Paige and Alex started off despising one another…classic enemies-to-lovers arc. But, after Paige needed to pay off the damage she did to her boyfriend’s car, Alex helped her get a job at the movie theater, and their relationship began. The more they worked together, the harder it was to resist one another. You could literally taste the tension through the screen, and finally, in the fifth season, they shared a kiss. This confused Paige, who never thought extensively about her sexuality, but after coming to terms with her feelings, the two ended up dating. Alex and Paige could not have been more different. Paige was popular, mean, cared a little too much about her appearance, and came from a wealthy family. Alex was always around the stoner crowd, grappled with her family relationships, and struggled financially. The two imagined their futures and goals very differently. Alex was doing everything she could to get by, and Paige was doing everything she could to get into the prestigious university ‘Banting’. Though they were different, watching them want to be better for each other was incredibly sweet, especially as Paige inspired Alex to be more ambitious, and Alex encouraged Paige to be more open-minded and less uptight about her future. 

Unfortunately, it was their fundamental differences in character that tore them apart as much as it brought them together. Paige had big and bright dreams for her future at Banting and Alex wasn’t on the same path. She feared being Paige’s “lap dog” and didn’t want to define her life based on Paige’s goals and successes. While they might not have been the perfect pairing, theirs was the first queer love story between women on Degrassi and created visibility for young queer people tuning in. It’s safe to say that they served as an iconic blueprint for lesbian and queer couples in later seasons.

Fiona Coyne and Imogen Moreno

In seasons 11 and 12, Fiona Coyne and Imogen Moreno’s love story was a huge fan favorite and widely shipped throughout the Degrassi fandom. Fiona and Imogen started rocky, as many Degrassi relationships did. Fiona was back at Degrassi after rehab and focused on returning to her popular status. Let’s just say popular isn’t a word someone might use to describe Imogen. At first, Fiona thought Imogen was weird for wearing the clothes she liked, not adhering to the cultures and social norms of high school attire, and dissing the desire for popularity. But, Imogen’s unique personality and charm won Fiona over, and she admitted feelings for Imogen at the Winter Frostival. In her time on Degrassi, Imogen had never been in a relationship with a woman and felt excited and nervous about what it meant to reciprocate feelings for Fiona. 

After the winter holidays, Fiona and Imogen were back at Degrassi and cozy with one another. Fiona was incredibly eager to finally have a girlfriend, after making the realization she was gay in an earlier season. Imogen, on the other hand, wasn’t so comfortable with the label of girlfriend or lesbian yet. When Fiona went around Degrassi bragging about her new boo, Imogen felt put off knowing that Fiona was making decisions about their relationship without her. Eventually, Imogen became more comfortable with being Fiona’s girlfriend. The two were absolutely adorable and inseparable, but they definitely had their toxic moments. Following in the footsteps of Paige and Alex’s story, Fiona and Imogen couldn’t be more opposite from one another. Fiona came from an extremely wealthy family, lived in a small bubble, and was more concerned about popularity than anything. Imogen struggled with her dad who had onset dementia, had a strained relationship with her mom, and didn’t have many friends at Degrassi. What eventually pushed them apart wasn’t their character differences; in fact, their contrast in characters made their love story so touching and worthy to follow. When Imogen discovered she would be held back her senior year and Fiona was considered for a fashion internship in Italy, their different paths forced them to break apart. It was true heartbreak for fans who loved #Fimogen.

Imogen Moreno and Jack Jones

In seasons 13 and 14, Jack Jones entered the scene as a new student at Degrassi and met Imogen in class. While working on a project together, Jack developed feelings for Imogen and planned to ask her out to the school dance. The two danced together and shared moments of tension but didn’t act upon it…classic. After the dance, Imogen finally asked Jack out, and Jack invited her to her dance studio. They ended up flirting, smoking a joint, and in one of the more unforgettable moments between these two, Jack blew smoke in her mouth and they shared a kiss. We were sweating, seated, and living for this scene. 

As their relationship progressed, they began to feel more comfortable sharing a kiss and a tender moment around school. When the two were chatting in class in one episode, Imogen abruptly blurted out that she loved Jack. If you know Imogen, you probably could’ve seen this coming from the moment they met. Jack replied by saying thank you. So awkward. Even worse, Jack said she thinks they should break up. She really twisted that knife like it was her job. Jack explained that she is polyamorous, adding another level to their queer relationship. But when Imogen shared that she is a “one woman, woman,” Jack caved and finally said I love you back to Imogen. Just when things were looking up for the couple, Jack introduced Imogen to her mom as her best friend instead of her girlfriend, explaining that she was not out to her parents. Imogen, who had become more comfortable in her sexuality since her relationship with Fiona, was shocked. When Jack’s mom asked Imogen if she wanted to come over, she said she “has a really important closet to clean out.” Even when she was hurt, Imogen would never sacrifice her sass and wit. Comedic relief at its finest. Thankfully, they made up and went to prom together. Were things looking up for the two of them? Spoiler alert…no! They probably should’ve kept it at one breakup. When the two sat together at prom, Imogen realized they were just not meant to be, and their differences were too irreconcilable. Though they weren’t well suited, we saw a new side of Imogen, where she could be open, comfortable, and unapologetic about her sexuality, which we didn’t get to see in her relationship with Fiona.

Zoe Rivas and Rasha Zuabi

In season 3 of the Netflix reboot Degrassi: Next Class, which aired in 2016 and 2017, Zoë Rivas finally got the lesbian relationship she deserved. After grappling with her sexuality and falling for straight girls for most of the season, Zoë needed a romance where she could finally be her unapologetic self. She had always been a character who carried herself with confidence, so seeing her get nervous and awkward around Rasha Zuabi was a pleasant surprise. Zoë welcomed Rasha and the rest of the Syrian refugees to Degrassi and, at first glance, assumed Rasha was straight. In an effort to help out her ex-boyfriend Winston, who she used as her “beard” earlier in the show, Zoë agreed to set him up with the new girl.  This ended up being painful for Zoë, as the more she got to know Rasha the more she liked her. When Winston asked Rasha out for coffee, which she didn’t know was code for a date, she said yes. Once she realized Winston’s romantic intentions, she turned him down and asked Zoë to get coffee instead! Our hearts were melting for Zoë. 

The two began their relationship in secrecy, forced to hide their feelings from their unaccepting families.  Zoë, giddy and happy from her first relationship with a woman, decided to bring Rasha to her mom’s wedding. Things got complicated when Zoë’s mom caught the two girls kissing…awkward. Her mom kicked her out for being gay and bringing Rasha to the wedding. Rasha struggled equally in this moment, disturbed that Zoë brought her to a place where she thought she could escape her previous homophobic environment, not relive it. 

Thankfully this plot had a happy ending because if it didn’t, every Degrassi fan might have been in shambles. While Rasha contemplated their relationship, Zoë decided to make the sweetest promposal ever. She created a trail of sticky notes of their memories together, with the 200th sticky being the night they went to prom together. You’re lying if you say you didn’t choke up at this. Little did they know they were about to make history. Rasha and Zoë end up becoming the first prom queen and queen on Degrassi! When Zoë was officially disowned by her mom for being gay, Rasha was there to comfort her and remind her of her strength and courage. Though the ending for Zoë’s character was bittersweet, we’re glad that the sweet part of it all was Rasha and her coming to terms with her sexuality.