There’s news in the relationship department for The Real Housewives of Potomac’s Ashley Darby, and she’s manifesting big things in the coming year.
The former Miss District of Columbia, who sought love earlier this year on Bravo’s Love Hotel, admitted to having a new man in her life. In her exclusive interview with Bravo’s The Daily Dish, Ashley said she was looking into some serious prospects on the dating front, especially since her and Michael Darby’s divorce was finalized.
Shared the mother of two, “Well, as I am now officially divorced, I feel like I can actually start thinking about marriage to someone else. You know, like a real marriage and not just playing house. Like I was doing for a while. So, I think that I am manifesting at least getting engaged in 2026, and hopefully a marriage by 2027. If it all happens in 2026, perfect. But, at least an engagement next year.”
It begged the question whether Ashley had anyone in particular in mind, to which the Housewife teased that she had “a friend.” More specifically, a “very private” friend who “works in politics.” Continued Ashley, “Hopefully I will be able to have something concretely very soon.”
Audiences might recall that Ashley has long hoped to hear wedding bells. In fact, she selected her own engagement ring and shared plans for her future wedding just days after filing for divorce in late 2024.
Ashley Darby shares new details about her divorce from Michael
Ashley shared a little more about her and Michael’s divorce during a RHOP Season 10 premiere event, telling Entertainment Tonight it wasn’t quite cause for celebration. “Neither of us were super happy,” Ashley maintained, though her divorce attorney warned that such an outcome was a “sign of a good divorce.”
In fact, Ashley reported things were going really smoothly in her personal life, per ET.
“It’s actually amazing that I’m taking on this next chapter of life with so much more confidence. Before I was separated, I just didn’t know what life on this side was gonna look like, and I was so scared. I was like, ‘Am I ready for this? Am I making a mistake? Are my kids gonna be OK? Are they gonna feel like they’re different at school?’ You know, just all those what-ifs, they kept me up all night. But now your girl is sleeping peacefully.”
Related: Is Monique Samuels Coming Back to RHOP? See the Cast’s Reactions to the Big News (EXCLUSIVE)
When did Ashley Darbty and Michael get divorced?
Once it was over, she took to Instagram to state, “Never did I imagine when I started this journey on RHOP that I’d eventually end my marriage. I really made those vows with the purest heart and truest bliss. But alas – life had other plans. So like the nature of news, I’m rolling with the times and writing new headlines.”
A recap of Ashley Darby’s post-divorce relationships
After her and Michael’s separation, Ashley admitted to “dipping and dabbling” in the dating pool, including with some “lady friends,” as she confessed on the Feb. 4, 2024 episode of Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen.
Related: Ashley Unveils “Proof” Stacey Rusch is “Lying” About TJ in RHOP in Season 10 Preview: “You’re Fake”
Ever since, she has introduced audiences to a small handful of suitors. She briefly dated Summer House alum Luke Gulbranson in 2022 after meeting at BravoCon.
On RHOP Season 9, Ashley met Josh Gudenburr after she and Gizelle Bryant tried their hand at speed-dating, and by the finale, Ashley and Josh were reportedly “casually dating.” However, before episode aired on March 2, Ashley told Bravo’s The Daily Dish that she was single and looking for someone older.
Things also got hot and heavy between Ashley and Ralph from Love Hotel — which ended in June — but they called things off after filming.
Check out where Ashley said she wanted to move after her divorce was signed and sealed.
—Reporting by Stephanie Gomulka
