News broke yesterday that Jermaine Jenas is dating the Parisian high-end estate agent, Anne Leplaideur, 31.
While fans were quick to share well-wishes, others noticed something a little bit more eerie… Anne’s uncanny resemblance to the former football player’s ex-wife, Ellie Penfold.
And he’s not the only one to date a person who strongly resembles a former flame, with psychologist and founder of Thought Reader Phil Macleod revealing that it’s not as uncommon as you might think.
‘It’s all about subconscious familiarity-seeking, driven by several psychological factors – mainly the imprint of an ideal match formed through past positive experiences.
‘In love, people often seek versions of the same type of person. This is why you sometimes see patterns in people’s relationships.’
In the public eye alone, Macleod pointed to Lewis Hamilton dating Nicole Scherzinger before the similar-looking Kim Kardashian, as well as Kanye West dating the Skims founder and her lookalike junior, Bianca Censori.
Then there’s musician Gavin Rossdale’s girlfriend, Xhoana X, who could easily pass as his former wife of almost 13 years, Gwen Stefani.
‘From an attachment theory perspective, the brain and nervous system become associated with familiar emotional patterns, traits, and dynamics,’ Macleod explained.
Fans have pointed to the fact that Jermaine Jenas’s new girlfriend looks like his ex-wife, Ellie Penfold (Jermaine and Ellie picture in London in 2024)
Anne works for estate agency Laforet Guy Moquet, based in Paris’s 17th arrondissement
‘These associations can come from their initial caregiver(s) or previous relationships, family dynamics, repeated positive reinforcement, or even unresolved emotional experiences.
‘In psychology, this can create what’s often called a “relationship template” or a “love map”, where the subconscious mind uses past emotional imprinting as a future reference for attraction. That’s essentially where the idea of someone having a certain “type” comes from.
‘Some people believe in the law of attraction, the belief that our dominant thoughts, wants, needs and expectations influence the people that we are drawn towards.
‘As mentioned, psychology believes this to be conditioning and familiarity; both ideas are that attraction is often shaped long before we consciously realise it.
‘Regardless of whether it’s Law of Attraction or pattern matching, the brain is always evaluating people on a subconscious level for cues based on attraction, safety, energy, humour, confidence, to name but a few, as we connect and interact with them.
‘On a human level, being loving and loved is one of the key contributors to emotional balance in your life.’
It was revealed yesterday that Jermaine Jenas’s new girlfriend is a glamorous Parisian high-end estate agent with a love for high fashion and fast cars.
Anne Leplaideur, 31, works for estate agency Laforet Guy Moquet, which is based in the 17th arrondissement in central Paris.
Kim Kardashian filed for divorce from Kanye West in February 2021 (pictured in New York in 2015)
Pictured: Kanye West and his girlfriend Bianca Censori at Milan Fashion Week in February 2024
Gwen Stefani and singer Gavin Rossdale (pictured together in Hollywood in 2014) were married for 13 years
Gavin Rossdale with his girlfriend Xhoana X at the MTV EMAs in Manchester in 2024
Lewis Hamilton and former Pussycat Dolls lead, Nicole Scherzinger, dated for almost eight years (seen together in London in 2012)
Lewis Hamilton and Kim Kardashian (pictured in New York in May) confirmed their relationship earlier this year
The former One Show presenter, 43, is said to be ‘happier than ever’ with his new relationship.
A source confirmed: ‘Jermaine has been dating Anne since December. He has tried to keep a low profile with their relationship. His circle just know he’s dating a woman who works in Paris in property.
‘At the start, he would drop hints on social media – like posts of Anne’s Chanel handbag when they were on dates. But now he’s in Paris so much, it is clear it’s serious.
‘Jermaine is always posting pictures from Paris and says he’s happier than ever. Anne has been to visit him in London too, but because his work schedule is less regimented now, he can spend more time in France.’
The Daily Mail has contacted Jermaine’s representatives for comment.
