Meet Michael Phelps’ former beauty queen wife, Nicole Johnson: she met the Olympian as his escort for the ESPY Awards, supported him through his mental health struggles – and they had 3 weddings
- Of course, 28-time Olympic medallist Phelps would have choice words for the US men’s swimming team at the Paris Olympics, which he watched with his wife Nicole Johnson and infant son Nico
- The couple met in 2007, when Johnson was working for ESPN, and had an on-off relationship until they finally got married in 2016 – they now share 4 sons together
Johnson wore red and blue, and even had her nails painted in patriotic colours, in support of the American team against Nigeria at the August 7 quarter final. Team USA defeated their opponents and went on to win the gold medal.
The former Miss California is often seen at sporting events seated beside Phelps, with one or more of their four sons in tow.
Apart from being married to an Olympian legend, here’s everything we know about Nicole Johnson.
Nicole Johnson is a former beauty queen
Johnson, 39, was 17 when she saw an advertisement for Miss Teenage California, a scholarship pageant that could help fund her education. She finished as first runner-up out of 304 contestants, per Thousand Oaks Acorn newspaper.
From then on, Johnson went on to compete in several pageants, finding success when she was crowned Miss California USA in 2010.
“I love being onstage and competing in pageants,” said Johnson during a 2010 interview with Thousand Oaks Acorn. “It’s an empowering position to be in, where you’re comfortable in your own skin.”
Johnson went on to compete in the Miss USA 2010 pageant where she placed ninth.