After Divorce, Ricky Martin Became a Single Father of 4 Children. And Now He’s Happier Than Ever

The public adores tracking the lives of their idols. As they hit the red carpet, they smile for the cameras and look like the happiest people in the world. However, once the curtain falls on the event, numerous celebrities retreat to their homes, shedding the veneer of felicity, confronting the verity that fame coerces them into inhabiting a life scarcely their own.

Such was the fate of Ricky Martin — a man endearing millions, yet grappling with solitude over protracted years. Yet, at a certain juncture, he orchestrated a transformative revolution.

The most attractive man in the world

Since his childhood, Ricky Martin has been immersed in the world of stage performances. At the tender age of 12, he was already journeying and captivating audiences as a member of the boy band Menudo. Progressing swiftly, by the time he reached 19, he had ascended to stardom through his roles in soap operas, and at the age of 26, he graced the cover of a glossy magazine, anointed as “the most attractive man in the world.”

This pivotal moment transpired in 1997. Notably, in the ensuing decades, the singer would consistently garner accolades, being lauded as the epitome of allure and attractiveness on numerous occasions. They said about him, “Ricky looks like the model in the magazine ads you stare at in awe thinking, ‘There’s no way he’s that perfect in person.’”

Despite being regarded by the public as one of the globe’s most coveted vocalists, his talent was never a subject of doubt. Quite the opposite, journalists frequently extolled him as an exceptionally gifted singer, possessing “a beautiful soul” coupled with a splendid voice. Naturally, curiosity abounded regarding the personal life of this “Latin heartthrob.”

Martin tried to avoid this private topic for years because the situation was quite complicated. Once, he met a man at a radio station, and they began dating. Ricky’s mother knew about it and supported him. However, the affair ended soon, and the singer locked his feelings deep inside not being ready to open up to the world that he liked men, “I already felt it was hard to be a Latino in Hollywood; what could have been more difficult than being Latino and gay?”

Relationships with women

But even the most desired man in the world can be heartbroken. This happened when Ricky was 21 years old. The woman he loved left him for another man.

The femme fatale was Mexican singer Alejandra Guzmán. Years later, she revealed in an interview that Martin’s mother didn’t really like her, and they had to hide their relationship.

During the late 1990s and early 2000s, a ceaseless stream of narratives concerning Ricky Martin’s romantic partners graced the press. This was not without cause. The tennis luminary Gabriela Sabatini, the supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio, and the actress Ines Misan — these resplendent women all strode the red carpet alongside Ricky Martin.

Among these liaisons, the lengthiest was with the Mexican host Rebecca de Alba. Their relationship oscillated between breakups and reconciliations, a cycle that endured for a decade. After weathering this tumultuous journey, marred by the sorrow of a pregnancy loss, they ultimately opted to sever ties permanently.

Accepting himself

Unable to find a life partner, Ricky decided to become a single dad at 37. He had twins born via gestational surrogacy. This was a pivotal moment in the singer’s life. He wanted Matteo and Valentino to be proud of him. So Martin had to be honest with himself and admit who he really was.

For years, the singer grappled with an inability to embrace his own homosexuality. Journalists’ queries went unanswered. Moreover, the notion of divulging his sexual orientation appeared to threaten the very foundation of his world. Once, he had scoffed at individuals in similar situations, only to find himself in their ranks now. A declaration, shared on his website, bore witness to his transformative journey: “I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who I am.”

But despite his worries, the world wasn’t destroyed the morning after he came out. On the contrary, fans admired his sincerity, and many of them were inspired to accept themselves too. Ricky wrote, “I want people to look at me and see a family and say, ‘There’s nothing wrong with that.’”

On the other hand, the singer stressed that his relationships with women were not a disguise or lie. He really loved and admired them. “You can’t fake chemistry,” Martin says. Our world is not black and white, it’s filled with colors, and you can’t fully understand it sometimes.

The long-awaited wedding

Ricky Martin met the love of his life at the age of 45. Where? On Instagram! The singer saw the paintings of artist Jwan Yosef and loved them. Only later did he find the artist’s photo. The two texted each other for 6 months before meeting in person. As soon as Ricky saw Jwan, he immediately realized he wanted to marry him.

And his dream came true. In 2017, Ricky and Jwan got married. The artist adopted Martin’s children, and soon the couple had 2 more kids. This big family now has 2 homes in the United States and Puerto Rico. But the former “Latin heartthrob” says, “Our kids are stable when we are together. Wherever we happen to be, that’s home.”

Single dad

However, the happiness didn’t last long. In the summer of 2023, the couple filed for divorce. According to Martin, they thought a lot before they decided to do this. The separation made the relationship of men wonderful. Former spouses are still communicating, together engaged in the upbringing of children.

Ricky Martin says he and his ex-husband were able to explain their decision to their children. That’s why the family still lives in harmony. As for the singer himself, despite the heartbreak of a failed marriage, he still believes in love. Martin says he is not giving up on his personal life. He hopes that one day he will meet someone (no matter if it’s a man or a woman) with whom he will finally be happy.

We’ve been hearing too much about celebrity breakups lately. Joe Manganiello and Sofía Vergara, Elliot Page and Emma Portner. It breaks our hearts! However, who knows, maybe these couples will still be together? After all, we definitely know of several cases where lovers have reconciled even after decades.