Alix Earle Reveals the 'No. 1 Thing' Braxton Berrios Has Taught Her About Love as They Celebrate Their Anniversary (Exclusive)

Alix Earle and Braxton Berrios celebrated their one-year anniversary on Nov. 11

Alix Earle has learned to let her guard down in her relationship with Braxton Berrios.

At the 2024 ELLE's Women in Hollywood event in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Nov. 19, the 23-year-old Hot Mess podcast host spoke exclusively with PEOPLE about her relationship with Berrios, 29, as they celebrated their first anniversary.

"The number one thing I've learned about love in this relationship is probably that I need to let my guard down," she tells PEOPLE. "I was a little bit guarded at the beginning and [I've] fallen more and more in love through each experience and every month. The love keeps growing."

Earle also adds that "allowing myself to love" and "not being so guarded has been a really big thing for me." As a result, she says her relationship with Berrios "turned out amazing."

Earle — who first Berrios met in February 2023 and officially started dating him later in November 2023 — previously opened up about their relationship and shared that she was actually apprehensive about dating him on an episode of the Hot Mess podcast on Oct. 16.

Related: Alix Earle Encourages Boyfriend Braxton Berrios After His Season-Ending Injury: 'Proud to Be by Your Side'

"When I met Braxton, I literally was like, 'The last thing on earth that I want is a boyfriend,' which is why it took me so long to date him," Alix explained at the time. "So I was like, 'I don't want a boyfriend.' I was literally like, f--- that. I'm not doing it.' "

However, as she got to know him, Earle said she realized Berrios was "just so perfect" for her and made the decision to date him.

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Earle and Berrios celebrated their one-year anniversary together on Nov. 11 on Instagram. The Miami Dolphins wide receiver shared several sweet photos of the couple together and wrote, "my best days are the ones I spend with you."

"You’re my best friend and have made me feel a way I didn’t know existed," he continued in his post. "I’m so in love with the woman you are and am in awe of the one you’re becoming... Observing you has been inspiring, being with you has been fulfilling, and loving you is easier than it’s ever been.

Related: Alix Earle Reveals Why She Was Apprehensive to Date Braxton Berrios at First: 'It Took Me So Long'

Earle also posted a sweet Instagram Reel commemorating "one year with my Best Friend 🫶🏻" and included several photos and videos of the couple from their time together.

"To the person who taught me to love whole heartedly... happy 1 year ❣️," she wrote in the caption of the video. "You have become so much more than my best friend and partner. I didn’t know I was capable of this type of love & I feel like I have truly found my other half! I love you."