Ashley Darby Has a *Major* Divorce Update — and Reveals Who She’s Dating Now

Since separating from her hubby, Australian real estate agent Michael Darby, in 2022, the mother of two has admittedly been in zero rush to sign divorce papers yet, a source of focus throughout RHOP Season 8. However, now she’s taking the plunge into the dating pool one season later, and it looks like she’s “optimistic” that things between her and Michael will go smoothly in the divorce arena.

Ashley Darby Makes Movements in Divorce

In Season 9, Episode 1, Ashley sat with her divorce attorney, Maria, and they discussed their hopes to have a mediation session with Michael before Labor Day.

“Before, I was kind of dragging my feet a little,” Ashley told her attorney, stating she was “content” with where things once stood with her husband.

Ashley posts a photo of herself on July 21, 2024 to Instagram. Photo: Ashley Darby/Instagram

It seems she is content no more. 

“Finally, I am ready to fully proceed with my divorce,” Ashley told producers. “I am very open. I feel like I gotta test drive some cars, and I’m ready to get in as many drivers’ seats as is necessary in order to find the right person for me.”

Throughout Season 8, the other Housewives expressed concerns over how separated they were, especially since Michael helped pay for Ashley’s new seaside-themed home and even joined the fam for a trip to the Bahamas. 

Is Ashley Darby dating?

Months before the Season 9 premiere, Ashley was already shifting into gear on the dating scene, as seen in several clips in the episode showing Ashley on dates.

One date, a soccer player named Bill, told Ashley she was “looking fit,” and Ashley didn’t seem to mind the compliment one bit. Another date, a political operations director named Jose, said the oldest woman he’d dated was 32 years old.

Ashley confessed she was 35.

“Vroom vroom, baby,” she later told producers. “Vroom vroom.”

Of course, it’s not Ashley’s first time going around the track since she and Michael put a pin in their relationship, as noted in the third part of the RHOP Season 8 Reunion. Ashley fessed up to seeing “a nice man,” but didn’t think it would evolve into anything very serious.

“I will be married again,” she admitted.

In February, Ashley sat for Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen and admitted she was “dipping and dabbling” in the dating pool.

She said her dating life wasn’t exclusive to men.

Ashley in The Real Housewives of Potomac Season 9. Photo: Phylicia J. L. Munn/Bravo

"I have some lady friends," she said. "And I do like to kiss and tell, so. I love to kiss and tell. Let's talk about it. I must say, I forgot how tenderly women kiss compared to men. I've missed that."

She also revealed on WWHL that she and Michael upgraded from “parallel parenting” to “officially co-parenting.”

Who will have custody of the Darby children?

Ashley expressed to her attorney that “a big thing” about any upcoming legal proceedings would be custody over the couple’s two sons, 5-year-old Dean Darby and 3-year-old Dylan Darby. The women claimed to be unaware of where Michael stood as far as the boys. However, Ashley was crystal clear about her intentions in the season premiere.

“But I know what I want,” said the Housewife. “And I want my children as much as possible in their home where they belong.”

However, the attorney said she felt like they were in “a good place” to continue working things out.

More to come on The Real Housewives of Potomac, airing Sundays at 8/7c on Bravo and streaming the next day on Peacock.

Now, Ashley is “ready to start dating,” she proclaimed in the recent episode.