Ashley Darby says she and Josh Gudenburr have finally put a label on their relationship: friends.
“Josh and I had a bit of a turbulent time,” The Real Housewives of Potomac mom recently told Parade magazine. “That happens over the course of [Season 10]… Josh and I are really good friends. We’ll put it like that, OK? We’re friends.”
Why Ashley Darby & Josh Gudenburr put their romance on “pause”
Ashley provided the update more than a year after she and Josh met at a speed-dating event in RHOP Season 9, Episode 10. The pair immediately hit off and appeared to be going quite strong, that is, until Ashley decided to leave the country to film Bravo’s Love Hotel — a dating reality series in which she and other single Housewives searched for romance among a pool of eligible bachelors.
Ashley further addressed her and Josh’s relationship in RHOP Season 10, Episode 2, which saw her reconnect with her former flame.
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“Josh and I had a pause,” Ashley explained. “I was very forthcoming with him that I needed to do Love Hotel, and he didn’t like that conversation.”
Ashley went on to say she still had feelings for Josh, as he had everything she was looking for in a partner: “Someone who’s family oriented, understands the idea of responsibility and commitment. Someone who’s very attractive, well-endowed.”
“Josh is a great guy, and I would definitely want a guy with Josh’s quality, some of his qualities,” she told Parade. “But I don’t know… In February, it’ll be a year that I’ve been divorced, and I think that’s enough time for me to actually start looking for a real, permanent life partner.”
Ashley Darby shares updates on her post-divorce dating life
Ashley and her ex-husband, Michael Darby, confirmed their marital split in April 2022 but did not finalize their divorce until this past winter. The mother of two recently told The Daily Dish that there was a new man in her life, but declined to share his identity because he’s a “very private” figure who “works in politics.”
The Potomac ‘Wife later indicated that she and the mystery man had yet to establish anything serious, as she was still on the lookout for potential suitors.
“I’m actively taking applications,” she joked to Parade.
RELATED: Ashley Darby Reveals How She and Josh Gudenburr Got Back Together After a “Pause”
Is Ashley Darby moving out of her family home?
It’s clear the former pageant queen is thriving in her new chapter, which may soon include a big home move. Ashley and her young sons — 6-year-old Dean and 4-year-old Dylan Darby — have been living in their Arlington, Virginia, home for more than three years. Ashley recently told The Daily Dish that her house “checks all the boxes,” but she can’t help but wonder if it’s truly her forever home.
“I feel so blessed to have it,” she said. “But over these last couple of weeks, I’ve really been thinking, like, is there a place that’s more suited for me?
“I have my kids, obviously, my little roommates,” she continued. “So it’s all just really started to settle in that, yes, this was my first house, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be my permanent house.”
Get more details about Ashley’s single life and how she and Michael are coparenting.
