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Kelly Fisher: The Woman Dodie Fayed Was Engaged to Before Princess Diana
Kelly Fisher, the woman who was engaged to Dodie Fayed before he met Princess Diana, has gained renewed attention with her appearance in Season 5 of The Crown.
But who exactly is she?
Born in 1967 in Louisville, Kentucky, Fisher spent her early years in the United States and Canada.
Her modeling career took off while she was still in high school when she worked for a local business in Toronto.
This opportunity led her to join an agency in Paris, where she spent three months during the summer.
Fisher's modeling career flourished, as she graced the covers of popular fashion magazines and worked with renowned brands like Calvin Klein and Victoria's Secret.
It was in Paris that Fisher crossed paths with Dodie Fayed in the summer of 1996.
At the time, Fayed was involved in various business ventures, including film production, owning a car dealership, and serving as a board member of Harrods department store.
Despite his busy schedule, Fayed received a monthly allowance from his family and had a reputation for extravagant spending.
Fisher became Fayed's first serious romance in nearly a decade, and it seemed like they were ready to settle down.
However, their relationship began to unravel in the summer of 1997 when Fayed developed a connection with Princess Diana.
The sparks flew between them during a trip to Fayed's father's vacation home in Saint-Tropez, where Diana had been invited.
On August 10th, 1997, Fisher discovered through a photograph published in the Sunday Mirror that Fayed was having an affair with Princess Diana.
Their planned marriage on August 9th had already been called off, but Fisher confronted Fayed about the affair.
Their conversation revealed their differing perceptions of their relationship, with Fisher expressing confusion and hurt while Fayed claimed they had already broken up.
Fayed's father, Mohamed, denied that Fayed was ever engaged to Fisher, likely because he supported his son's relationship with Princess Diana.
According to a friend of Fayed, Mohamed changed his financial support for his son when it came to Diana, providing him with money for extravagant gifts.
Despite this denial, Fisher maintained that she and Fayed were engaged, even possessing a large sapphire and diamond ring as evidence.
Their relationship had become serious enough that Fayed had asked Fisher to give up her career, offering her $500,000 as compensation.
The revelation of the affair and Fayed's dismissive attitude prompted Fisher to take legal action against him.
She hired celebrity attorney Gloria Allred and held a highly publicized press conference.
Fisher filed a breach of contract lawsuit, claiming that Fayed owed her the majority of the promised compensation for quitting modeling.
However, before the lawsuit could progress, tragedy struck.
Just a couple of weeks after Fisher's press conference, Fayed and Princess Diana were killed in a car crash in Paris.
The incident occurred as they were trying to escape aggressive paparazzi, with their driver, Henri Paul, being intoxicated and speeding.
Fisher, still processing the aftermath of her broken engagement, had to cope with the sudden loss of her ex-fiancé.
In the wake of the tragedy, Fisher dropped the lawsuit and kept the engagement ring, valued at $233,000.
While she did not attend Fayed's funeral due to logistical challenges, Fisher mourned his loss and forgave him for past injustices.
She moved on with her life, transitioning into property development and marrying a pilot named Mikel Movshina.
They settled in Aitken, South Carolina, where they embraced the sense of community.
In 2011, Fisher and Movshina welcomed their daughter, Alexandra Grace.
Reflecting on the deaths of Fayed and Princess Diana, Fisher expressed empathy for Diana's children, recognizing the impact her own absence would have on her daughter.
Despite maintaining a low profile in recent years, Fisher's life has garnered renewed interest due to her portrayal in The Crown.
While the series takes creative liberties, it explores the events surrounding Diana's life and her relationship with Fayed.
Kelly Fisher's story is one of love, loss, and forgiveness.
Though her engagement to Dodie Fayed ended tragically, she has found happiness in her new life, cherishing her family and embracing the tight-knit community in South Carolina.