A former French beauty queen has accused a celebrity chef of domestic violence during their year-long relationship.
Alexandra Rosenfeld, who was crowned as Miss France in 2006, broke her silence on Tuesday in an Instagram post in which she spoke about the horrific abuse she allegedly suffered at the hands of Jean Imbert.
Ms Rosenfeld, 38, said Mr Imbert, a head chef at several high-profile restaurants in Paris, headbutted her and broke her nose while they were in a relationship in 2013.
She also said the chef subjected her to ‘scorn, belittling [comments], silences [and] words perfectly placed to make me doubt myself’.
The former Miss France is among four women who spoke to Elle magazine in April about Mr Imbert’s controlling behaviour.
The beauty queen was originally quoted by Elle under a false name, but went public this week with a statement on her social media as she shared the results of the scan she had after allegedly being headbutted.
According to the report, Ms Rosenfeld suffered a ‘traumatism from a direct shock’, as well as a broken nose.
‘That was not what marked she’, she wrote, adding: ‘What damaged me was all that was around it. It was slow, insidious, the controlling behaviour. I didn’t even know it was called that. I thought the problem was me’.
Former Miss France Alexandra Rosenfeld (pictured in 2006) has accused celebrity chef Jean Imbert of domestic violence
Pictured: French chef Jean Imbert poses during a portrait session on the sidelines of the 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival at the Martinez Hotel in Cannes, southern France, on May 20, 2024
Jean Imbert and Alexandra Rosenfeld attend the ‘Malavita’ premiere at Europacorp Cinema on October 16, 2013 in Roissy-en-France
Ms Rosenfeld says her relationship with Mr Imbert ended after he left her for someone else.
Mr Imbert, who rose to prominence in 2012 after winning the Top Chef cooking competition, has denied her claims and says he was the victim of her violent behaviour.
His team has denied all allegations against him, The Times reports, and said the headbutt occurred during ‘a moment of violence to which Jean Imbert was subjected when he was grabbed by the wrist and freed himself. He profoundly regrets the consequences of this for her’.
They also denied the claims of controlling behaviour made by the other women interviewed by Elle.
Ms Rosenfeld’s accusations come as some female French chefs have recently spoken out about what they say is a culture of toxic behaviour and sexism in restaurant kitchens.
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Former Miss France accuses celebrity chef ex of violent and controlling behaviour during their relationship where he broke her nose