Erika Jayne, also known by her legal name Erika Girardi, says she's looking to date people her own age after having her relationship with her estranged husband Tom broadcast on Erika was just 27 when she met Tom, who was then 59, while she was a waitress at Chasen's in West Hollywood. Two years later, they were married; from the moment Erika ed the RHOBH cast in 2015, her unconventional relationship raised the eyebrows of not just viewers, but the other ladies. One of the first things the housewives noticed about Erika and Tom was their display of extravagant wealth; Eileen Davidson was quick to comment on Erika's giant panther ring—simply saying, "Big, big, big,"—while Lisa Rinna summed up what everyone seemed to be thinking: "I see money!'
Erika filed for divorce from Tom, a former attorney who famously worked with Erin Brockovich, in late 2020 after 21 years of marriage; just one month later, the pair were named in a lawsuit for allegedly embezzling funds meant to go to families affected by the 2018 Lion Air plane crash, which killed 189. Since then, Erika and the controversies surrounding her personal life have become a hot topic of conversation on RHOBH. Grilled throughout season 11 by the other women—especially Garcelle Beauvais and Sutton Stracke—Erika has attempted to distance herself from Tom as much as possible, especially after his diagnosis of Alzheimer's in 2021. Tom has since been placed under a conservatorship and axed from the California bar.
Now that her divorce from the 82-year-old is underway, Erika tells People that she only plans to date others who are close in age to her, saying, "I'm not doing the older thing anymore." Celebrating the recent launch of her hair extension business Pretty Mess Luxury, Erika repeated that she is "not doing it anymore," and, at 50, is looking for somebody more on the young side compared to her last relationship. Although she is technically still married, Erika describes what she looks for in a potential partner. "I love intelligent men and I like people that are confident," she continues telling People. "And I want to have fun. I would really like to have a nice conversation."
Although Erika will star on RHOBH season 12, that doesn't mean that the television personality plans to be fully transparent. "I'm choosing to keep my personal life a little private right now," she says, although she did hint, "It's not exactly tumbleweeds, but there are some hot moments. I don't kiss and tell, so I'm not telling." With the cast trip to Aspen, Colorado, already piquing viewers' interest due to multiple housewives allegedly serious drama went down, Erika is the latest to drop hints about its intensity. "Well, everything's not hunky-dory," she alluded, before continuing, "I'm human. I'm here to tell my story, and it's not always perfect."
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills does not have a season 12 premiere date yet, but fans already know that they have a lot in store. With Bosnian refugee, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Diana Jenkins ing the cast, the tension between the housewives continues to grow as Erika's legal and personal issues develop. While Erika may be ready to move on from Tom after years of ups and downs, she doesn't seem to have plans on letting viewers into that side of her life—even if she makes a living on television.
Source: People