Nadia Bartel Opens Up About Split from AFL Star Ex-Husband Jimmy: ‘I Was in a Bad Place’

Nadia Bartel has recalled ‘the most intense experience’ she had following her devastating split from her AFL star husband, Jimmy Bartel, back in 2019.

The Henne designer, 40, revealed new details about their break-up with best friends Bec Judd and Jess Roberts on their new podcast Vain-ish.

Nadia said she turned to meditation and breathwork to ‘recentre’ herself in the wake of her divorce because she was not coping at all.

‘I got into that after the split from my marriage,’ she told the pair.

Speaking of her breathwork journey, Nadia said that the recommendation came from a mate who ‘knew I was struggling’. 

From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail’s new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 

Nadia Bartel has recalled ‘the most intense experience’ she had following her devastating split from her AFL star husband, Jimmy Bartel, back in 2019 

The Henne designer, 40, revealed new details about their break-up with best friends Bec Judd and Jess Roberts on their new podcast Vain-ish 

She turned to Jess and Bec, saying: ‘I was in a bad place, as you guys knew.’

Nadia’s friend said that her brother had recently gone through a break-up too and had turned to breathwork as a means of therapy. 

‘When you’re going through something, you’re willing to do anything,’ Nadia added about the experience.

Despite saying she probably wouldn’t have tried if she had Googled it beforehand, Nadia said the experience was ‘incredible’.

‘It was three hours of the most intense experience,’ she said, adding that the instructor taught her how to get into a meditative state through breathing in and out. 

‘It was almost hard to do it. You’re having all these intense thoughts when you’re doing it,’ she said.

‘And then my whole body and fingers started cramping and tears were pouring…

‘It was like an out-of-body’ experience.’

The Aussie model (right) sat down with Bec Judd (centre) and Jess Roberts (left) on their podcast Vain-ish, where she discussed some of her go-to beauty treatments and hacks, as well as her self-care regimen

Nadia and Jimmy, who were once considered the glamour couple of the AFL, separated in 2019 after five years of marriage.

The couple married back in 2014 and share two sons, Henley and Aston. 

Nadia said at the time: ‘It’s been a very difficult month for me and the boys.’

‘My single focus now is to continue to protect, care for, and provide for my two beautiful boys as this is a personal matter. I am so thankful for my very supportive family and friends.’

Jimmy, famous for his tenure with the Geelong Football Club, welcomed a baby girl with his now-girlfriend Amelia Shepperd on April 4, 2023. 

Nadia and former footballer Peter Dugmore went public with their relationship at the 2024 Australian Open tennis and the couple are still going strong.