Has Lisa finally got the ultimate revenge on Ant?
Two years on from the devastating breakdown of her 11-year marriage to Ant McPartlin, Lisa Armstrong proves that she’s happier than ever as she celebrates exciting job news, a house move and a rumoured engagement with her new man!
After landing two new TV shows, her own coveted make-up range, a gorgeous home and a new boyfriend, even a second lockdown couldn’t stop Lisa Armstrong from smiling as she posed on Instagram last week.
While her ex-husband Ant McPartlin prepares for the return of I’m A Celeb! this week and is loved-up with mumof-two Anne-Marie Corbett, Strictly make-up artist, Lisa, 43, has a lot to smile about herself. She’s become a star in her own right – and appears to be the most content she’s been since the end of her 11-year marriage to Ant in 2018.
In September, she moved into a stunning new £3.85 million home in West London, and her career is going from strength to strength after she received rave reviews for her guest judging role on Stacey Dooley’s Glow Up, along with landing her own online show, The Updaters.
Then, last week, one of her Instagram posts sparked rumours she’s engaged to reported new man James Green, 37, as she was spotted wearing an impressive rock on her wedding finger. The couple haven’t made their relationship official, but Lisa replied to a tweet from a fan who called her new beau “fit” with two blushing emojis.
It’s a far cry from just two years ago, when Lisa was reportedly so heartbroken, she struggled to put her name on the announcement that would end her marriage to childhood sweetheart Ant, whom she met aged 17.
A very public divorce ensued and despite Lisa being awarded a reported £31 million, the money seemed to do little to soothe her sense of betrayal as she watched as Ant built a new life with his Anne-Marie – their former PA and mutual friend.
MUCH-NEEDED BOOST
At the time, Ant appeared to spare no expense, jetting off on holidays to Italy and Abu Dhabi with Anne-Marie, and splashing £7.6 million on a new “family home” and two new “designer” puppies.
Meanwhile, Lisa was forced to fight for custody of the couple’s beloved chocolate Labrador, her
“best friend” Hurley, of whom the couple now share joint custody as agreed in their divorce settlement, which was finalised in April.
Before their split, Ant had praised Lisa as “amazing” for supporting him through his two-month stint in rehab and recovery in 2017, following a secret battle with prescription painkillers and alcohol. He said, “I’ve put Lisa through hell with mood swings and depression.”
The presenter then returned to rehab following the end of his marriage, after causing a three-car smash while driving under the influence of alcohol.
Now, Closer’s psychological therapist, Emma Kenny, says she believes Lisa’s public humiliation and break from Ant could have been the boost she needed to transform her life.
“If you accept it’s over and use the pain and the sadness to propel you forwards, you learn, you grow and you get braver,” says Emma. “When you’ve fallen like Lisa, and survived, it really shows you that you can cope.”
She adds, “That means you’ll be able to face more things than before because you’ve survived things you thought you never could have. It’s really powerful.
A DIFFERENT PERSON
“She could well be having the best sex, the best feeling of freedom, the best sense of happiness. All of the worries that she may have had about never being loved again... they’ve all gone as she’s now thriving in her own right.
“In a long marriage, you can become invisible and lose sight of what you brought to the relationship. Often you think you are where you are because of them. After a divorce, you suddenly see yourself for the first time as you really are and that can be extremely liberating and sexy. Lisa isn’t just coming to the party with a different dress, she’s coming to the party as a different person. Since her divorce she’s unveiled a different side to her, showcasing on Instagram an edgier, sexy look. Transformation and success are always the ultimate revenge.”
Emma adds, “Lisa got a lot of money in her divorce settlement so she wouldn’t have to work another day in her life. But the fact that she’s continuing to work shows she really values herself as an independent woman and her job boosts her confidence and self-esteem, as it does most of us. She doesn’t want to just sit back and live off her divorce – she wants to move forward with her life.”
DIGNIFIED
Throughout the public furore, Lisa remained dignified, choosing to channel her experiences into helping other women.
Following the split, Lisa spoke exclusively to Closer about how keeping her head down, hiking in the Hollywood Hills with friends and looking after herself were key to her recovery.
She said, “I went on holiday to LA for five weeks and just hung out. I was chilling with my friend and just enjoying myself. Now I’m getting back to work, I feel great and I’m having a nice time.”
And Lisa hasn’t forgotten the friends she leaned on during the darkest times – even sweetly dedicating her new Avon makeup range to her pals who are not in the public eye.
A spokesperson for her Avon range revealed, “Lisa’s lipsticks are named after close friends who are independent women who have supported and inspired her.”
WHEN YOU’VE FALLEN LIKE SHE HAS, AND SURVIVED, IT REALLY SHOWS YOU CAN COPE