A FORMER Miss Europe beauty queen has claimed her celebrity chef ex-boyfriend headbutted her so hard it broke her nose.
French model Alexandra Rosenfeld, 38, alleged that Jean Imbert – head chef at multiple glitzy restaurants in France – smashed her face while they were together in 2013.
AFPAlexandra Rosenfeld representing France in Miss Universe 2006[/caption]
AFPAlexandra alleges that Jean Imbert broke her nose with a headbutt[/caption]
Getty Images – GettyThe model says that she was subjected to physical and emotional abuse[/caption]
The model also claimed that Imbert subjected her to emotional abuse in the form of “scorn” and “belittling” comments.
Imbert, 44, who shot to fame when he won the TV cooking competition Top Chef in 2012, denies the allegations.
He heads up the Michelin-starred Plaza Athenée in Paris – where he has welcomed the likes of Beyonce and Jay-Z.
The chef claims he was in fact the victim of Alexandra’s violent behaviour.
Alexandra won the Miss France competition in 2006, and was crowned Miss Europe later that year.
She is one of four women who have told Elle magazine that Imbert showed allegedly controlling behaviour while they were in relationships with him.
Their allegations add to a growing mound of claims that the French culinary industry is entrenched in sexism and violence.
Alexandra first made the allegations under a false name and gave no identifying information.
But this week, she posted a bombshell statement on Instagram along with the results of a scan reporting that her nose was broken.
The medical notes said she had suffered a “traumatism from a direct shock”.
Alexandra wrote: “Over 10 years ago, I was with someone. He headbutted me once. But strangely, that wasn’t what left a mark on me.
“The contempt, the belittling, the silences, the perfectly placed words to make me doubt myself, my worth. It was slow, insidious.
“I thought the problem was me. I stayed. Because I loved him.”
Alexandra said her relationship with Imbert because he left her for someone else.
GettyThe pair dated for around a year and a half from 2012-13[/caption]
GettyJean Imbert is head chef at a number of prestigious restaurants, including a Michelin star establishment in Paris[/caption]
But in January, he invited her and her family to the opening of La Forêt Secrète – a new restaurant at Disneyland Paris.
She wrote: “I was surprised, touched,” but added she suspects his intention was really to win her favour after learning of the Elle article.
Alexandra continued: “And then everything came back, this impression of being approached nicely in order to be placed in a hold.”
Imbert’s team has denied any allegations against him.
They said the headbutt happened 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.”
The chef’s publicists said the relationship had been “unsustainable, marked by insults and fits,” and that Alexandra had sent insulting texts when it ended.
They also denied the claims of jealousy and controlling behaviour made the other women in the Elle article.
GettyThe pair pictured at the French Open during their relationship in 2013[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
