One Powerful Method Jessica Simpson Used for Self-Rediscovery Post Nick Lachey Divorce
Jessica Simpson reveals her empowering journey to rediscover her true self post-divorce, sharing how a refreshing haircut and revamped wardrobe played a pivotal role in regaining her sense of identity and confidence
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Jessica Simpson made a major hair change to gain back confidence after her split from ex-husband Nick Lachey.
"I cut it all off," Simpson, 43, revealed in a December 5 interview with Footwear News. "I was going through a divorce and wanted to wear something that felt true to myself."
During the interview, the singer reminisced about her iconic Y2K looks, including her short blonde bob and purple dress from 2006, worn while promoting her album A Public Affair. She completed the ensemble with boots from her own footwear brand.
"And then I wore a boot from the Jessica Simpson Collection," she shared. "I just thought it was cool that you could fold them over, you know? Maybe that trend will come back someday, but it feels a bit Renaissance-y or something."
At 18 years old, Simpson began dating Lachey in 1999. After an on-and-off relationship, they got married in October 2002. Their marriage was then documented on MTV's Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica, which aired for three seasons from August 2003 to March 2005. Nine months after the show's finale, Simpson filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split.
In her memoir Open Book, released in February 2020, Simpson candidly described her relationship with Lachey and the challenges of living under public scrutiny. She reflected on the unique experience of dating a 98 Degrees singer, noting that she was not the only one vying for his attention. Simpson also acknowledged her own efforts to maintain the facade of a flawless relationship when cameras were present.
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Simpson expressed, "I didn't care if I appeared foolish, but I desired others to perceive the enchanting qualities in Nick. In our relationship," she added, "I had the Instagram-girlfriend syndrome before it became popular, and I wanted everyone to see my husband in the most positive way because I was deeply in love with him."
Simpson revealed that as filming for Newlyweds progressed, it began to feel like she and Lachey were playing a role rather than living authentically. She admitted, "We had become actors in our own lives, playing ourselves. Worse, we slowly started acting out our parts even when cameras weren't rolling."
As season 3 production got underway, Simpson expressed feeling fed up with pretending about her marriage. She recalled Lachey frequently asking the crew to stop filming, resulting in the show's final episode being merely a collection of clips. "It was strange, and I never watched it," she remarked. "We completed our tenure and fulfilled the contract."
In April 2022, when asked if she had any regrets about filming the reality series with her ex, Simpson responded that she wouldn't change a thing. She described it as great TV, very authentic, and mentioned that she and Nick had a lot of fun. Simpson also noted that the experience allowed them to do things they might not have otherwise.
Following her divorce, Simpson moved on with Eric Johnson, and the couple got married in July 2014. They welcomed Maxwell and Birdie in May 2012 and March 2019, respectively, and had their son Ace in June 2013. Lachey married Vanessa Lachey in July 2011, and the couple shares three children: Camden, Brooklyn, and Phoenix, ages 13, 8, and 6.
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In November 2014, Lachey expressed his relief that he and Simpson didn't have children together before parting ways, stating that this was the best outcome for both of them. "You're always going to love your kids regardless of your feelings towards their other parent, but all in all, it was probably the best thing for both of us to move on with our lives," he told Jenny McCarthy during a November 2014 appearance on her SiriusXM show. "She's now happily married with two kids, and I'm happily married and about to have two, so everything worked out as it was meant to."
