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The Sun
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Maisie Smith reveals marriage plans with Max George after heart op as her mum admits reason they should NOT wed yet
WHEN The Wanted singer Max George woke up from life-saving heart surgery, his girlfriend Maisie Smith was at his bedside. But despite going through the terrifying ordeal together, former EastEnders star Maisie has revealed that the couple are in no rush to tie the knot. 5 In an exclusive interview with The Sun on Sunday, the actress said the pair, who met on Strictly Come Dancing in 2020, want to travel the world before they finally walk down the aisle. Maisie, 23, said: 'I'm still a baby! 'We have so much time — we have got the whole world, a whole life. 'Now Max is getting better and stronger and fitter. And we are ready to start an exciting next chapter of our time together.' Asked if Max's operation has put life into perspective, Maisie said: 'It really has, and I think we both want to be more impulsive, have fun, travel the world, see new things and make friends. 'It is all the things you put off because of work or stress, and we are just like, 'Do you know what? Anything could happen at any moment — let's just enjoy our life and time together'. So that is what we are doing.' Max, 36, was fitted with a pacemaker in December last year after his mum Babs realised he had 'turned blue' and pushed for him to go to A&E. Fearing he would die in hospital just days before Christmas, Max wrote out a will on his iPhone. Weeks later, he secretly went under the knife again after the device's wires were fitted too deeply, causing Max to experience 'flickering sensations'. He told The Sun on Sunday: 'I was trying to get back to good health, but was still having a flickering sensation for weeks after I had my pacemaker fitted and it was gradually getting worse and worse.' Max was told the procedure could cause a dangerous bleed on his heart, revealing: 'The night before, I was really nervous. 'I didn't sleep much.' The singer was forced to postpone The Wanted 2.0's Manchester Cathedral concert alongside bandmate Siva Kaneswaran in February due to his health setback. But in March, Max returned to the stage to play tortured priest Parson Nathaniel in a musical version of HG Wells' classic book, The War Of The Worlds. And Maisie was also by his side at the Connexin Live venue in Hull as she portrayed his wife, Beth. Asked about Max's current health at the Tric Awards in London, last month, Maisie said: 'He's good. 'He's getting stronger every day. 'We weren't even sure if he was going to be able to do The War Of The Worlds, but he's just been so strong and he's been training every day, getting his body fit and strong and ready — he's good.' Of their summer plans, Maisie added: 'We're going to go to France — it's exactly what we need. 'Just us two, I can't wait.' 'Ticks all the boxes' Maisie and Max became good friends while competing on BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing in 2020. Two years later their friendship blossomed into romance and Maisie relocated from her home town in Essex to move in with Max in Manchester. However, their 13-year age gap caused the couple to face a backlash on social media. Speaking to Fabulous magazine in 2023, Maisie said: 'If it wasn't that, it would be something else. 'People don't understand what goes on behind closed doors in a relationship, and I think they also forget that I'm a consenting 21-year-old woman who's actually been working longer than Max. 'I don't notice the age difference and neither do my friends or family. 'My mum Julia is the one who reads through all the comments. 'I got a message from her yesterday saying, 'Just ignore them, you two were made for each other'.' 5 Speaking alongside Maisie at the Tric Awards, Julia said of Max: 'He's absolutely gorgeous. 'He's charming, he's lovely, he's generous. 'He ticks all the boxes.' But Julia, who is also mum to daughter Scarlett, 28, said Maisie should concentrate on enjoying her life before saying, 'I do'. Asked if she could see the pair getting married soon, she said: 'Too young. 'It is not so much on the radar now with this generation.' Julia, who shares her daughters with husband Stephen Smith, said: 'I was married at 25, but I just don't feel like they need to go and conquer the world instead.' Yet despite finding love on the dancefloor, Maisie said Max has hung up his ballroom shoes after finishing in ninth place on the series. Maisie, who was a fan favourite on the series and took the runner-up spot, said: 'Max doesn't dance. 'I have made him do some TikTok dances, but he doesn't enjoy them.' However the actress, who released her first single, Good Thing, in 2016, said she loved singing alongside Max in The War Of The Worlds. Max shot to fame with The Wanted after they formed in 2009, and went on to have a string of hits and two UK No1 tracks with All Time Low and Glad You Came. Speaking about making music together, Maisie said: 'Do you know what? 'We actually joke about it all the time. 'But I'd never . . . he's in his band and he has his solo music. 'But if I were to do it, I'd probably be a solo artist.' She continued: 'I loved singing and being in The War Of The Worlds with him. 'It was so nice to get to train together, perform together. 'It's like, you never get to do it with your partner.' Maisie presented the award for Best Soap Actor to EastEnders actor Steve McFadden — best known for playing Phil Mitchell — at the Tric Awards. But despite her confidence on screen, Maisie said she does not intend to pursue a career as a TV or radio presenter. She admitted: 'I'll be honest with you. 'No. I can't — I get so nervous, I'm still young. 'But give me a script and I will knock it out the park!' It was in 2006 when five-year-old Maisie landed her first role as a young Elizabeth I in the movie The Other Boleyn Girl, which also starred Natalie Portman. Within two years, she had won the part of Tiffany Dean (later Butcher), daughter of Bianca (Patsy Palmer) and Ricky (Sid Owen), in EastEnders. After leaving in 2014 to focus on a pop career, Maisie returned as a regular for four years until 2022. But she said that the soap will always hold a special place in her heart after catapulting her to fame. On a return to Albert Square, she said: 'It is just one of those places that you would never say no to. 'I am never going to say I am not going to go back, but right now I am doing a lot of stage work and roles that I am really enjoying. 'But EastEnders is like home – it is the kind of place that is always going to be there.'
Daily Mail
21-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE I'm a proud gold digger who bagged a billionaire a decade my senior. Here are my secrets to hooking the biggest fish
Are you a woman working long hours for a company that doesn't value your contributions? Still investing time and emotion into romantic relationships that go nowhere?
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
She Let Her Followers In on Her Dating Life. They Witnessed Her Love Story in Real Time (Exclusive)
Maddie shared her dating ups and downs exclusively with her Instagram Close Friends, unknowingly chronicling a real-time love story A casual DM from a younger man named Mikey turned into something unexpected: respect, chemistry and a deep connection Just months later, Maddie's followers watched her go from 'I can't do this anymore' to 'I need him biblically' — and ultimately to saying yes to his proposalIn a now-viral Instagram video, Maddie scrolls through a year of Close Friends stories, narrating the real-time love story she didn't know she was capturing. 'You post your dating stories on Close Friends,' she says in the clip, 'and they watched you fall in love.' When she first invited a few followers into her inner circle, it was just to vent about the chaos of dating in her 30s. 'I posted on my story like, 'If you want to be on my Close Friends to hear more dating stuff, let me know,' and 300 girls said yes,' Maddie tells PEOPLE. The rest of the story unfolded in voice notes, videos, screenshots and tearful recaps shared only with those women. Her digital diary became a safe space not just for storytelling, but for solidarity. 'Honestly, last year was the worst dating experience I've ever had in my life,' she says. 'All 300 of those girls can attest to it.' By early 2024, she was cautiously stepping back into dating after a long break. Burnt out from bad dates and disillusioned with the process, she told herself she'd date just to have fun — no pressure, no expectations. 'I pretty much was like, I'm never gonna find love,' she says. 'But at least I can have fun… at least they're getting some entertainment out of it.' Then, one morning, she posted a quick video from the gym. A guy named Mikey, who followed her online, messaged her, casually noting they went to the same gym, though they'd never seen each other in person. 'I thought he was a trainer trying to sell me a package,' she laughs. 'Because also, I do not get hit on [through] Instagram.' But then came the message that made her pause. 'If it's not obvious, I think you're really pretty,' he wrote. A few days later, they went on their first date. 'I was literally in the car right before, almost in tears,' she remembers. 'I was just like, I cannot go on like these first dates anymore.' But that date turned out to be different. 'Even though my expectations were super low going in, when he walked in, I felt like my body took a screenshot,' Maddie laughs. While everything seemed to be going well, Maddie was hesitant because Mikey looked significantly younger than her. 'When I asked how old he was, he said 26,' she says. 'I was like, do you know how old I am? I'm 35.' Back in the Close Friends group, she debriefed immediately. She told them 26 might be too young, even if he was kind, smart and incredibly attractive. 'I was like, I don't know if I could do that,' she says. 'And they were just like, just give it a chance.' So she did. And with each date, her resistance softened. 'He's responsible, he doesn't go out, he honestly acts older than I do,' she says. 'We always joke that he's 41.' Soon after, Maddie posted the now-viral phrase that marked a turning point in her feelings. 'I need him biblically,' she wrote, adding, 'It's from a Britney Broski sound. It was more hedonistic, if anything, not like I needed to read the Bible with him.' Around that same time, Mikey introduced her to his parents, just two weeks in. 'That's crazy,' she says. 'But I was already like, this is it.' It wasn't just the relationship that felt serious, but how she was showing up in it. As a mom to her daughter Gabbie, dating meant navigating a whole different set of priorities. 'I used to be scared to bring up my daughter,' she says. 'But with this relationship, I was just like, you know what, Gabbie is a big part of my life.' She made it clear from the beginning that Gabbie wasn't going to be hidden or minimized. Mikey didn't flinch. 'When I told him I had a kid, I thought he was gonna be like, I'm not interested,' Maddie says. 'But it didn't faze him at all.' Before they even met, Mikey spoke about Gabbie with gentleness and respect. 'When they finally met, they got along really well, and he just played with her all day,' she says. It was that moment, seeing how he treated her daughter, that cemented everything. 'Gabby liking you is more important than my family liking you all combined,' she says. 'If Gabby doesn't like you, this is not gonna work.' And he did. From day one, he put his best foot forward. Meanwhile, Maddie's followers were catching feelings right along with her. 'Every time I would meet a man, the group chat would be like, 'That's your husband,' ' she says. This time, she asked them to hold off. 'We've said that a few times and we have been wrong every time,' she says. 'So from now on, don't call him my husband.' Mikey was the only man she didn't give a nickname to. 'I don't think he needs a nickname,' she says. 'He just went from the guy from Instagram to my boyfriend to my fiancé.' The proposal came quicker than expected. They had talked about a summer engagement, but Mikey couldn't wait. 'I think we went to Olive Garden and he was like, I can't wait until July,' Maddie says. 'If I have that ring, I'm going to have to propose to you immediately.' She knew the proposal was coming, but didn't want to be caught off guard. 'I told him I didn't want to be surprised with no nails done,' she laughs. So he planned everything. He made sure her nails were done, she received a massage, and even a special dress she had picked out months before. 'We were able to almost plan it together,' she says. 'He executed it, but I got to tell him everything I wanted.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Looking back now, Maddie feels grateful she documented it all — every high, every heartbreak, every glimmer of hope. 'I go back to my archives and see where I was a year ago today,' she says. 'Some of the videos, I'd be crying, like, this is the worst.' But she also sees growth and grace. 'You could see almost like the light returning to my eyes from when we met,' she says. Her journey through dating in 2024 was painful, but it shaped her vision for love. 'Had I not had that, I don't think I would have ever found Mikey,' Maddie says. 'Even if I did, I don't think I would have appreciated him.' She stopped dating for a husband and started dating for herself. 'I just wanted to meet people, go to my favorite restaurants, and be social,' she says. That freedom helped her figure out what she truly wanted, which was kindness, generosity, and softness. 'And not just with me, but with everyone,' she adds, saying she found all of that in Mikey. 'My expectations were so low,' she says. 'And now I genuinely can't imagine my life without him.' Read the original article on People
The Sun
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Mikel Arteta's actress and spiritual life coach wife Lorena Bernal opens up on the secrets to marriage with Arsenal boss
MIKEL ARTETA'S wife Lorena Bernal has opened up on the secrets of a happy marriage. The couple have been together for 23 years since meeting in a nightclub in their hometown of San Sebastian, Spain. 2 2 They wed in 2010 and have three children together - Gabriel, 15, Daniel, 12, and Oliver, 10. But their hectic working lives mean Lorena and Arteta often find joy doing the simplest things together, like going for a coffee. Lorena shared the secrets behind her happy marriage to the Arsenal boss, revealing it is important to grow as people while maintaining separate lives. She told Hello!: 'There isn't just one secret to our marriage, but I'd say it's important to understand and to accept that you're two individuals sharing a life, not completing each other. 'You're not there to teach them how to live; you're there to grow next to them and support their growth. But you need to accept that each person has their own rhythms, pace and journey, and that acceptance makes it amazing. 'And of course, there's the love underneath it, the foundation of admiration, respect for the other person… and having fun together. 'When we have time together, we do pretty normal things, because our life is the opposite of normal. So we go for a walk or we sit and have coffee. Doing nothing together is beautiful.' Lorena has a busy working life, combining her role as an actress with her job as a spiritual life coach. Lorena has helped fellow models and actors, and other footballers' wives, leading to her publishing a book - It Starts With You. She finds peace in the every day, finding appreciation in the small things. Mikel Arteta will be sacked by Christmas if Arsenal are not in top two, warns former Gunners star Lorena said: 'It's a state of being that I have and apply in my daily life. 'No matter where I am in my life, if I'm mothering or acting or being the wife of my husband, I enjoy it, embracing every day. Because every day is one day less that I have to enjoy all this.'
News24
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
One woman, two ‘husbands': The KZN mom defying norms and challenging SA's marriage laws
@thepinkpitbull/Instagram South African woman living with two husbands, Jo-Leen Geldenhuys, advocates for polyandry's legalisation despite societal backlash and public scrutiny. Currently, South Africa's marital laws permit polygamy (men marrying multiple women) but don't recognise polyandry, sparking ongoing debates and cultural resistance. Geldenhuys uses her platform and lifestyle shine a light on polyandry, promote marriage equality, and empower others to embrace unconventional relationships. The South African woman pushing boundaries and challenging marital norms has taken her journey one step further—by marrying her second husband, albeit symbolically. No stranger to headlines and ruffling feathers, Jo-Leen Geldenhuys, 34, is well aware of what people have to say about her decision to live with and love two husbands. A few weeks ago, she took a bold stance against societal norms after saying 'I do' to the second love of her life, Santini Lee, 38, who she met at her boxing club while taking a break from her first husband, Jack Geldenhuys, 37. The symbolic wedding may not carry legal weight, but Geldenhuys, known as 'The Pink Pitbull', remains fiercely dedicated to challenging South Africa's current marital laws, which prohibit polyandry—the right of a woman to marry more than one man. Conversely, polygamy, which allows men to marry multiple women, is legally recognised under particular contexts, such as customary marriages. Confirming this, advocate Suzette Gordon shares, 'The Recognition of Customary Marriages Act 120 of 1998 recognises polygamous marriages but does not recognise polyandrous ones.' This has been a point of contention for years, with many gender equality activists advocating for polyandry to be legalised in the interest of equality and choice. In 2021, their proposal was included in a document—officially known as a Green Paper—that the government released for public comment as it embarked on the most significant overhaul of marriage laws since white-minority rule ended in 1994. 'It's important to remember that this Green Paper sets to uphold human rights, and we cannot lose sight of that,' said Charlene May, an advocate at the Women's Legal Centre, a law firm that fights for women's rights, told BBC at the time. However, the proposal ignited a wave of backlash from various quarters. One vocal critic, well-known polygamist Musa Mseleku, argued that the legalisation of polyandry would, 'destroy African culture.' 'What about the children of those people? How will they know their identity?' asks Mr Mseleku, who stars in a South African reality TV show about his polygamous family. He further criticised the notion of role reversals in traditional customs. 'The woman cannot now take the role of the man. It's unheard of. Will the woman now pay lobola [bride price] for the man? Will the man be expected to take her surname?' The reality TV star, who spoke to TshisaLive at the time, went on to add that men who accept polyandry are 'weak.' Despite his sentiments, and many others similar to his, advocate Gordon reminds us that discussions around the legalisation of polyandry in South Africa are still under way. She shares with News24, 'There are ongoing discussions about reviewing this issue, though no significant progress has been made.' For Geldenhuys, the fight is personal. The human rights activist, who currently lives in La Mercy, Durban, with her two husbands and four children, says that polyandry is more than a legal issue - it is also a cultural and societal issue. She hopes that her harmonious arrangement will shine a spotlight on polyandry and allow people to do what works for them. Speaking to YOU earlier this year, Geldenhuys revealed that her children, who she shares with first husband Jack, are all very accepting of their alternative lifestyle. Opening up about the living arrangements, she reveals that they have their own rooms and don't generally have a schedule when it comes to intimacy. 'Sometimes it's Jack and me alone, sometimes it's Santini and me. There are also times when it's the three of us together but Jack and Santini don't touch each other then - just me.' They have also grown accustomed to people staring at them during trips to the beach or while grocery shopping, but she takes it in her stride, often adding a little humour to the situation by kissing both men or touching them lovingly. She shared photos from her wedding to Santini on Instagram last week, which took place at Salmon Beach on 26 April. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jo-Leen Geldenhuys (@pinkpitbull_thriplelationship) She often uses the platform to open up about her 'thriplelationship' and shares that other couples who are afraid to speak out often contact her. This, she shares with The North Coast Courier, further fuels her passion for equality within the country's marital laws.
