Luann de Lesseps' Favorite Ex-Boyfriend Is Engaged
Updated May 14 2020, 7:23 p.m. ET
On a recent episode of The Real Housewives of New York City, Luann de Lesseps reunited with her ex-boyfriend, Jacques Azoulay, for a charity function benefiting the anti-bullying nonprofit STOMP Out Bullying.
Bravo fans no doubt remembered the wine distributor from RHONY's early days. Following Luann’s divorce from Count Alexandre de Lesseps in 2009, the mother of two dated Jacques for four-and-a-half years. Though they’ve remained good friends since their split, the French businessman now has a new love in his life.
Who is Jacques Azoulay's girlfriend?
The Gabriella Wines CEO is actually engaged. Viewers briefly met Jacques’ fiancée, Paige Boller, on the May 7 episode during a stand-up comedy event, which was filmed for the show in September. Luann revealed that the couple has her "stamp of approval."
According to the bio on Paige’s Instagram, she owns her own interior design consulting company called B+B Interior Space. The brunette beauty is passionate about "creating luxury interiors that successfully combine timeless elegance with modern functionality and simplicity," her website reads.
Paige’s extensive education includes stints at the New York School of Interior Design, Inchbald School of Design in London, and Parsons School of Design in New York.
Luann insisted that she’s thrilled about Jacques’ engagement, telling the camera, "[We] have a really healthy relationship. He checks in with me and I do the same… To see Jacques happy makes me happy. That’s all I want for him."
The 54-year-old also appreciated her friend’s words of encouragement following the end of her probation stemming from a 2017 arrest on charges of disorderly intoxication, resisting arrest, battery of an officer, and making threats against a public servant.
"Having the support of Jacques means the world to me because he knows me so well and I know whatever I decide to do he has my back," the reality star shared.
Luann maintains she never cheated on Jacques during their relationship.
A year before the duo went their separate ways — romantically speaking — Luann was accused of being unfaithful after she reportedly hooked up with a Johnny Depp lookalike. The author wants fans to know that she "never f--ked the pirate," claiming the reason she and Jacques broke up was much less salacious.
"We adore each other, but we want different things. Jacques wants to have a family," Luann told Life & Style in 2013. "We were just hoping that it would happen in all these years we've been together. We talked about adoption, but I've spent 18 years raising kids — I want to do other things."
The former countess went on to marry Smart Source CEO Tom D’Agostino Jr. in 2016, but the pair filed for divorce just seven months later. Page Six reported at the time that Jacques’ close connection with Luann bothered her new husband. Both parties denied that their friendship factored in to the split.
"I actually really like Tom, he’s a nice guy," Jacques told the publication. "I regret it didn’t work between them."
New episodes of Real Housewives of New York air Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.
