Inside Julia and Martina’s Beautiful Love Story, Including Their Missed First Chance

Battling cancer, considering adoption, running a business — Julia Lemigova and Martina Navratilova have gone through many ups and downs on The Real Housewives of Miami, but their love for each other never wavers. The couple made Housewives history by becoming the first same-sex couple to be featured as the franchise. Since they appeared on the show during RHOM Season 4 in December 2021, Julia said the response for their relationship has been “overwhelming.”

“I am thrilled of creating this relationship with my fans, and with people in general, and shine the light on our life, how we live—again, love has no gender—and normalize what should have been normal, that is normal,” Julia said in an interview with NBC News.

So, we’re back at their beautiful love story, and where they stand during Season 6.

How did Julia Lemigova and Martina Navratilova meet?
Julia, a former Russian beauty queen, shared how the couple first met back on the RHOM Season 4 premiere. She explained how it actually wasn’t love at first sight.

“I looked at her and gave her a look across the bar: ‘You have to come and talk to me,’” Julia said of the 2000 meeting. “It was a second and I turned away. She received the message. She came to talk to me and introduced herself. But unfortunately, that was the end of our moment. Something could have happened, but it didn’t.”

Although Julia went on to have her daughters, Emma and Victoria, with other partners, a chance encounter brought her and Martina back together again.

“Exactly eight years later, on the day … déjà vu! During the French Open, I bump into Martina, and I said, ‘How about a breakfast?’” Julia said during the Season 4 premiere. “We had a breakfast the next day, and then the next day, and then the third day. And then she moved in.”

Julia felt nervous about going public with Martina, who is regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time. But she said support from her daughters made it worth it.

“When I saw my two girls standing up to their friends, and saying, ‘Yeah, we have two moms,’ and I saw them, and it’s like ‘Oh my god. My girls came out faster than me!’” Julia told NBC News. “And then it was like, ‘Boom, boom.’ I never, ever looked back.”

All About Julia Lemigova and Martina Navratilova’s Wedding
Julia and Martina had a very public engagement when Martina went down on one knee, with cameras capturing the moment, during the U.S. Open, according to The Daily Mail.

They then tied the knot in New York just before Christmas in 2014. The couple had been together for six and a half years, but decided to take advantage of same-sex marriage becoming legal in the U.S.

“I had to look at the ceiling to stop myself crying,” Julia told the Daily Mail of the ceremony. “And I thought Martina would cry, too. She has a reputation of being very tough—and she is on court. But away from that she has a really soft heart. When we were exchanging vows, the whole thing hit me—how incredible it was, how special.”

Julia and Martina took pictures at the Peninsula Hotel after the ceremony. Martina wore a white suit with orange and yellow flowers pinned to her lapel, along with nude heels. Julia, meanwhile, wore a crystal beaded mermaid gown, a heart locket, and carried a bouquet.

Julia shared a glimpse of the wedding on Valentine’s Day 2022 on her Instagram, and it featured a surprise member of the bridal party: Actress Brooke Shields served as the maid of honor for the couple.

During the March 10, 2022 episode of Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, Shields revealed how she knew Julia.

Julia Lemigova and wife Martina Navratilova photographed at event
Julia Lemigova (L) and her wife US-Czechoslovak former professional tennis player Martina Navratilova (R) arrive for the Netflix premiere of “The Politician” at the DGA theatre in New York City on September 26, 2019. Photo: Getty Images
“So, we met through a woman, rest her soul, named Terry Kramer, who was a really good friend of my dad’s, and she is Julia’s godmother,” Sheilds said.

How Julia Lemigova Supported Martina Navratilova Through Her Cancer Diagnosis
When Julia and Martina joined the show in 2021, Julia was excited to show her family to the world.

“I’m happy to share real things with people and show them highlights on how we live: our family, our kids, our multiple animals in our family,” Julia told Bravo.

Julia had a difficult time when her daughters prepared to study abroad in Europe and live with relatives in Paris, which was shown on Season 5 of the show, but it also gave her the chance to reconnect with Martina as empty nesters.

“I think our marriage is just like any other happy marriage,” Julia told Bravo. “We have each other, we have our life, we have a family.”

Their marriage was put to the test, however, when Martina was diagnosed with both Stage 1 throat and breast cancer after RHOM Season 5. Their RHOM castmates supported them through the battle, with Adriana De Moura writing, “Yes! Together we will win this battle,” on Julia’s Instagram post, while Nicole Martin posted, “Sending you guys lots of love and strength.”

Three months later, in March 2023, Martina shared she was cancer-free.

Daily Dish Rhom Julia Lemigova Martina Navratilova
“I am so proud of my champion for taking on two cancers and beating them triumphantly,” Julia told The Daily Dish in a statement.

Are Julia Lemigova and Martina Navratilova going to adopt?
Although Martina and Julia discussed adopting a baby during RHOM Season 5, as Julia struggled with her daughters leaving the house for school, those plans came to a halt when Martina was first diagnosed with cancer.

In Part 2 of Season 5’s reunion, Julia admitted the couple put adoption on hold as Martina battled cancer.

“When you’re adopting a child, it has to be about the child,” Julia said at the reunion. “And, right now, it’s everything about Martina, and for her getting healthy. So, we’re putting it on hold. You know, we were thinking any moment, the agency would call and give us happy news that we’re going to have a baby … instead we are fighting two cancers. Like one was not enough.”

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