How an Instagram follow led to Pua Magasiva's engagement

Pua and Lizz snap a selfie in Samoa. Photo / Instagram

Who says romance is dead? In what's very much the epitome of a modern-day fairytale, Pua Magasiva has popped the question to his new love Lizz Sadler less than a year after they met - on Instagram.

Sadler, a 30-year-old primary school teacher, followed the Shortland Street and Flava star on Instagram thinking nothing of it.

But Pua felt an instant attraction to both her stunning good looks and her caring nature, which he says shone through in her photos of herself with her six-year-old daughter Laylah.

They liked each other's photos, left a few comments and eventually Pua sent Lizz a private message asking for her number. Almost a year later, they were atop a Queenstown mountain, with Pua on one knee asking for her hand in marriage.

Telling the story to Woman's Day, Pua said: "Knowing how much we love and care for each other, and how dedicated we are to our relationship, it's crazy to think that not so long ago, we were strangers living separate lives."

It's especially impressive given Lizz was not looking for a relationship and she was really not a fan of Pua.

She told the magazine: "I wasn't a fan of Pua on Shortland Street. His character bored me - I actually used to fast-forward through all his parts! But something told me to take a chance and now I can say it's the best decision I ever made."

Pua was previously married to the mother of his seven-year-old daughter. They married in 2012 but separated after three years.

Lizz is also divorced but the two are excited to blend their families and their two daughters will be flower girls at the wedding.