KRISTIN, THIERRY & KATHERINE

Kristin (36) Thierry’s Girlfriend

Thierry (55)

Katherine (36) Thierry’s Ex-Wife

Naples, Florida

Beauty & The Beast-Mode

If you share just a few moments with the eccentric, over-the-top and lovable Thierry and Katherine, you will likely assume they were placed on earth to spend the rest of their lives together. However, after six years of marital bliss the spark began to fade. Thierry cheated on Katherine, leading to a swift divorce in December 2020. Oddly, it appears that the affair and the separation has actually brought the exes closer together though.

Thierry, born in West Africa and the son of Africa’s President of Ford Auto, was raised with a silver spoon. Katherine on the other hand was born in Venezuela and raised in New York City to immigrant parents. She had a happy but humble upbringing. Especially humble compared to Thierry who she describes as a “grown-up frat boy!” due to his spontaneous lifestyle. On first glance, Thierry seems to be a work of fiction: Hulk-like physique, teeny-tiny-shorts, designer-head-to-toe. What those who are quick to judge Thierry don’t realize just how big his heart is. He’s kind, compassionate, generous and gets along with just about everyone.

Katherine, on the other hand, isn’t as outgoing and affable. In fact, part of the reason their relationship ended was because Thierry wanted to travel, meet people, go to parties, be spontaneous and carefree, but at some point Katherine became a homebody. She didn’t want to live out lout in the same way, and the two began to split. It’s a bit of a mystery what an affectionate party animal like Thierry could possibly see in the commanding Katherine, but their mutual friend, Melanie, believes that Katherine fills a roll currently vacant in Thierry’s life: that of a mother figure. Thierry’s mother is no longer alive, and his father is aging rapidly. He is still a man-child in many ways, and he likely feels safe engulfed in Katherine’s controlling personality.

While many recently divorced couples tend to completely cut their exes out of their lives, Thierry and Katherine still go out on “dates” (Thierry’s word, not Katherine’s) at least three times a week, and talk on the phone or FaceTime six or seven times a day. They are still very much emotionally dependent on each other. This has led to some complications when it comes to finding new love, which Thierry might have found in his new partner, Kristin, whose more natural appearance and disposition is quite a departure from Katherine.

Kristin and Thierry met at the gym, when Thierry politely asked her if she needed help with a piece of equipment. She remembered that she had met this hunk of a man years ago, but now he was standing right in front of her, asking her on a date. They’ve been dating for several months and they’re both impressed on how easily they get along, including her having the same spontaneous zeal for life that he does. Unlike Katherine, Kristin is excited for parties, unplanned vacations and getting out the house. Thierry has introduced Kristin to Katherine, and neither woman seemed that impressed with one another. Kristin couldn’t understand what Thierry saw in Katherine, and Katherine is skeptical that Kristin can make Thierry happy in the way that she did.

Katherine does not want her life to revolve solely around Thierry’s. She is also trying to get back into the dating scene, something made difficult by her move back into her parent’s home after her and Thierry’s divorce. She is in the process of opening her own medical spa (Thierry has proudly proclaimed he will be her number one customer and has joked that he will even move into the spa if he is able to), an endeavor that she hopes will allow her to move out of her parents’ home and start a new life for herself. Meanwhile, Thierry is being pressured by his father to finally grow up. He stands to inherit his father’s fortune and properties, but his father is reluctant to proceed with the arrangement until Thierry has proven that he is able to live in an adult-like manner. At age 55, Thierry is quite vocal that he isn’t interested in growing up, that he’s living the life he was always meant to live… but soon he might have no choice.

Thierry and Katherine have a palpable chemistry. Anyone can sense their humor and spark from a mile away. Thierry’s biggest regret is cheating on Katherine. He feels he will never meet someone like her again (she agrees) and that he might have blown his chance at true love. This duo is actively navigating what it means to be divorced but friends. What it means to be divorced and dating other people. Both Thierry and Katherine know that they want to be in each other’s lives, but they also realize the truth of the matter is: they aren’t sure if they can be friends and date other people. Kristin is too good of a match for Thierry not to pursue, but will Katherine be okay with Kristin as a new fixture in their lives? It’s inevitable that the stunning Katherine will have suitors lining up to date her. How will Thierry, who already feels despondent about the divorce cope with seeing Katherine with someone new? And will Thierry ever be able to move past his love for Katherine?