Between her wife’s cancer battle, friendship drama, and family issues, Julia Lemigova has experienced her fair share of lows over the past few years. But the former model says she’s currently at a high point, as she’s gone all in on one of her biggest passions: operatic performance.
The Real Housewives of Miami cast member confirmed she is now enrolled in the opera program at Florida International University’s School of Music. Julia told OK! Magazine that she was motivated to pursue the degree after RHOM Season 6, Episode 5, in which she surprised her wife, Martina Navratilova, with an opera performance.
Julia Lemigova returns to school for opera: “Never felt more alive”
“I’m a really curious person. When I started opera two years ago, I hated when I would hit so many wrong notes,” she explained. “When I got this opportunity on the show (RHOM), I said to myself, ‘I don’t want to stop. I want to go back to basics and study it.’ Now I’m with 18 and 20-year-old kids studying and taking so many different classes, but I love it. It’s exhausting, but I’m working this muscle in my brain, and I’ve never felt more alive.”
The former model said she was studying opera full-time while balancing her home life with Martina and their adopted sons. Although she’s undoubtedly busy with mommy duties, Julia insisted she was fully immersed in the college experience and was enjoying every second of it.
“I’ve never felt more inspired to go back to school in this phase of my life,” she said. “It feels incredibly empowering. It’s something I wanted to pursue for a long time, and I’m doing it purely for me.”
She told the outlet her curriculum includes English diction, voice, literature, and fundamentals of music.
“And yes, I’m showing up every day to class in person,” she clarified. “When I walk into the classroom, I’m not a Housewife. I’m not a mom. I’m just simply Julia, the student. I also want to set an example for my boys to show them that learning never stops.”
Julia Lemigova makes a shocking claim involving Adriana de Moura
The update came fresh off Julia’s bombshell claim involving her former bestie Adriana de Moura. During Part 1 of the RHOM Season 7 reunion, Julia addressed her unexpected tensions with Adriana, saying it all stemmed from their “affair” several years ago.
RELATED: Adriana Confronts Julia Backstage at the Reunion After *That* Bombshell: “You Are Such a Fool”
“I would like to say something that will bring clarity, hopefully, on why we are with Adriana where we are,” Julia said before suggesting that the “one-night stand” occurred during a RHOM Season 4 cast trip. “In the Hamptons, Adriana and I slept together.”
Julia alleged she and Adriana “slept together once” and “fooled around” on a separate occasion; however, Adriana pushed back on the claim, saying she and Julie only kissed and engaged in “heavy petting.”
“I feel horrible, but I was not me for four years,” Julia said in Part 2 of the Season 7 reunion. “I couldn’t speak the truth. I’ve never betrayed Adriana.”
Julia Lemigova recalls Martina Navratilova’s emotional reaction to “affair” bombshell
Julia explained that the alleged hookup occurred during a time when her “marriage was not great.” She said she told Martina about her infidelity just six months before the reunion, and that Martina “cried” when she revealed her intention to bring up the affair on camera.
“Martina knows. I told her. And I told her why,” Julia continued. “And she did tell me, like, ‘Why, Julia, are you going to say it?’ I said, ‘Darling, because we have to say the truth. Because I can’t lie. I cannot pretend.'”
RELATED: Andy Cohen Says “All Hell Breaks Loose” at the RHOM Reunion After That Julia & Adriana Moment
Where does Julia Lemigova’s marriage stand today?
So, where do the couple stand today? Julia shared a glimpse at the relationship on October 15, when she and Martina went out to dinner with RHOM’s Larsa Pippen and Kiki Barth. A photo posted to Julia’s Instagram showed her donning a big smile while hugging Martina from behind.
“When it’s real, you don’t need to prove it!” she captions the post.
Julia shared more insight into her marriage in an October 17 interview with People magazine, saying she and Martina were working to move past the alleged affair.
“It made us more committed to repairing what was slightly fractured, and definitely communicate better — because that’s where, maybe, the fracture started,” she explained. “And today, we’re in a really great place. Our focus is on each other and on our family. My marriage to Martina is the most sacred part of my life. I hurt her, and I take full responsibility for that. But I’ve asked her for forgiveness and she’s forgiven me.”
Get more details about Julia’s marriage and her secret to keeping “the romance going.”
