By Marta Jary, Showbusiness Night Editor, Australia
Published: 06:36 GMT, 25 October 2026 | Updated: 06:38 GMT, 25 October 2026
Australian model Jessica Hart has officially confirmed her separation from her fiancé, American race car driver James Kirkham, bringing months of intense speculation and relationship rumors to a definitive close.
The 40-year-old fashion model, who has spent years establishing her life and career in the United States, casually addressed the end of her romance during a recent interview. While discussing her future plans, her connection to her homeland, and the possibility of eventually moving back to Australia to raise her two young children, Hart opened up about her current family dynamic as a single mother.
"Bringing the kids to Australia is always in the back of my mind," Hart revealed in an interview with the Daily Telegraph, shedding light on her long-term aspirations.
"I think eventually I’ll end up back in Australia but, for the moment, the kids are in school here and, since I’m not with their father, I understand at their age taking them to Australia is a bit too far for them to maintain a relationship with him."
Jessica and the NASCAR driver share two young children together: their five-year-old daughter, Baby-Rae, and their four-year-old son, Glorious. Balancing international co-parenting and educational commitments has presented clear logistical challenges for the former couple, who are navigating life post-separation in the United States.
"The dream would be to live six months here and six months there, but current schooling systems don’t allow for that," Hart explained, before reiterating her deep affection for her country of origin. "I really want them to have Australian influence… Australia will always be my home."
Rumors regarding trouble in paradise had steadily circulated for well over a year, intensifying sharply after the high-profile couple were spotted involved in a heated argument in early 2025. The tense public altercation took place inside their luxury $368,000 Mercedes-AMG G-Class while navigating the streets of Hollywood.
At the time, exclusive photos obtained by Daily Mail documented the dramatic fallout of their roadside dispute. The couple were seen engaged in a fierce exchange of words while driving back to their Hollywood Hills residence. The situation escalated to the point where Jessica pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road and switched on her hazard lights.
Witnesses observed James wildly gesticulating in the air before burying his face in his hands in an apparent display of frustration and despair. According to onlookers at the scene, their stationary vehicle temporarily blocked passing traffic before James stepped out of the car. In a cinematic turn of events, Jessica then drove away without him, leaving the race car driver to hastily run after the moving automobile.
The tense public incident followed closely on the heels of other warning signs noticed by observant fans and media outlets. Just a day prior to the roadside argument, the Australian Victoria’s Secret stunner was spotted out in public looking visibly distraught while deeply engaged in a phone call, notably missing her engagement ring.
In the wake of the mounting tension, the pair quietly severed their digital ties, unfollowing and blocking each other on Instagram. Before the publication of the roadside confrontation photos, the couple had not been seen publicly together since attending the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, in October 2024.
The confirmation of their split marks the end of a relationship that began over seven years ago. Before her romance with Kirkham, Jessica was famously linked to Greek shipping scion Stavros Niarchos III, a relationship that nearly culminated in marriage before they parted ways.
In 2019, Hart crossed paths with James Kirkham. Bonded by a mutual appreciation for fast cars and automotive culture, the tattooed single father quickly won her heart. Their romance progressed rapidly, with Kirkham choosing a deeply personal and celebratory setting to propose—popping the question at Jessica’s own baby shower as they awaited the arrival of their first child.
Weeks following the engagement, the couple welcomed their daughter, Baby-Rae Kirkham. The family grew once again just seven months after Baby-Rae’s arrival, when Jessica joyfully announced she was pregnant with their second child. Their son, Glorious, was subsequently born in February 2022, cementing their family dynamic before the relationship ultimately began to unravel behind closed doors and, eventually, in the public eye.
