Julia Haart says dating for the first time in her 50s is ’empowering’ but vows never to get married again following two divorces.
The star of Netflix series My Unorthodox Life, 52, told MailOnline that after years of being ‘obedient’ and ‘subservient’ growing up in an extreme orthodox Jewish community that she relishes in the chance to say ‘no’ to men on dating apps.
She is officially playing the field following the end of her three-year marriage to tech entrepreneur Silvio Scaglia, 64, who Julia claims ‘blindsided’ her by filing for divorce in February last year.
And Julia, who previously compared her first marriage to ‘prison’, insists that she ‘never wants to put a contract on love again.’
In an exclusive interview, the mother-of-four emphasised that there is no ‘shame’ in divorce and ‘not everything has to be eternal.’
Julia Haart says dating for the first time in her 50s is ’empowering’ but vows never to get married again following two divorces
The My Unorthodox Life star told MailOnline that after years of being ‘obedient’ living in an orthodox Jewish community that she relishes in the chance to say ‘no’ to men on dating apps
Julia, who previously compared her first marriage to ‘prison’, insists that she ‘never wants to put a contract on love again’
Julia said: ‘I absolutely believe in marriage, and I understand why people get married, especially when you are younger, marriage is great.
‘But at my age, I have my children, I support myself, it isn’t about me… it is about love and companionship.
‘Do I think I’m ever going to get married again? No, I don’t… I don’t think I ever want to put a contract on love again. But I want someone to every day choose to be with me.’
She added: ‘I am dating… I love it. I am in my 50s and for the first time in my life, I am dating, like officially dating and going out to meet someone.
‘When I left the community, the first nine months were about sexual exploration and then I met a guy, and he became my boyfriend, and I met my husband. This past year at 52 is the first time I’ve been properly dating.
‘I have found dating very empowering. I have never said ‘no’ to men… whatever guys wanted in my community, that’s what they got. I was obedient and subservient so now it’s amazing to go, “no, not you”, “not today.”
Julia lived in an orthodox Jewish community until she was 40 and has spoken on her Netflix series about women being treated as ‘second class citizens’ in the society she grew up in.
After selling insurance without her first husband Yosef Hendler’s knowledge, Julia eventually saved enough money to break free from the life she knew.
Julia lived in an orthodox Jewish community until she was 40 and has spoken on her Netflix series about women being treated as ‘second class citizens’ in the society she grew up in
Julia is the owner of shape wear brand +Body, which she models alongside her daughters Batsheva and Miriam
Julia is passionate about creating a product for women that makes them feel and look sexy following years of believing that her own body didn’t belong to her
Julia says her shape wear is unique because unlike competitor brands, her designs are colourful, desirable and available in a range of sizes
She has since established herself as a key figure in the fashion industry, as the former creative director of luxury lingerie brand La Perla and co-owner of Elite World Group, who represent the largest number of modelling agencies in the world.
Julia’s dedication to her craft saw her win an Icon Award at London Fashion Week, where she was recognised for her ‘impact’ and ‘innovation’ in the industry.
Now as the owner of shape wear brand +Body, which she models in these new pictures, Julia is passionate about creating a product for women that makes them feel and look sexy following years of believing that her own body didn’t belong to her.
She said: ‘I have a very personal and emotional feeling about this because my entire life my body hasn’t been my own.
‘I was just another human that was supposed to have babies and take care of people and be this quiet, obedient and silent wife… that was my job.
‘So, a woman not feeling comfortable in her own skin… that matters and is so important to me.’
Julia says her shape wear is unique because unlike competitor brands, her designs are colourful, desirable and available in a range of sizes.
She added: ‘The problem with shape wear is that it was ugly and beige, white and black.
Julia, whose children Batsheva, Miriam, Shlomo, and Aron star alongside her in My Unorthodox Life, was not able to confirm whether the Netflix show is being renewed for a third series
Indeed, she hinted that the second instalment, which was released in December 2022, may well have been the last (Julia pictured with daughters Miriam and Batsheva)
‘We are the only company where our shape wear is not only sold by dress size but by cup size too.
‘You can buy your size in a range A-F, so it really recognises every curve of a woman’s body.
‘One of the models told me it is like liposuction, a tummy tuck and boob job in a $198 outfit because it pops up your breasts and holds them into place in a bra that fits you and everything else is smoothed out and flattered and you’re not embarrassed to take it off.’
Julia explained that she has formulated a new way of dying clothing, which is why her designs for +Body feature vibrant colours such as a seductive red and cyan blue.
She said: ‘Shape wear is so ugly because it is a compression garment… the minute you compress something, the fabric stretches, and the pattern is distorted because when you dye clothing, you can’t stretch it… it’s meant to be whatever size it is made in.
‘To make the shape wear beautiful I had to change the way we put dye into clothing, so we don’t just dye our clothes we heat fuse them, which is a new process.’
Her biggest competitor is arguably Kim Kardashian, who owns shape wear brand Skims – but Julia insists that she isn’t threatened by any other designs on the market.
She said: ‘I love a challenge and I love competition… competition is the spice of life. It’s not really here in this particular situation, I am not competing with anyone because this is a new product.
‘All other shape wear, Skims, Spanks, the compression garment, the shape wear itself all looks the same.
‘Mine is such a different product, it is its own… we have created a new market almost.’
Julia, whose four children Batsheva, Miriam, Shlomo, and Aron star alongside her in My Unorthodox Life, was not able to confirm whether the Netflix show is being renewed for a third series.
Indeed, she hinted that the second instalment, which was released in December 2022, may well have been the last.
She said: ‘Legally, I am not allowed to say anything, but I am so grateful to have the opportunity to share my story and I can’t say anything else.
‘Netflix is great and they’re such lovely human beings. I know there are issues in the industry… I am ignorant, this is new to me all of it, but I pray and hope that everyone succeeds and has the rights they need.’
- Julia’s shape wear range +Body is available to buy on her website now
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