James Argent looked more in love than ever with his new girlfriend Nicoline Artursson as the couple made their love official on Instagram during a lavish getaway in St. Tropez.
The former TOWIE star, 36, looked completely smitten with his former Miss Sweden love as the pair enjoyed a romantic date.
The couple looked happier than ever as they cozied up together at dinner, matching their purple outfits.
James looked handsome in a purple open-collar top, while model Nicoline, 31, stunned in a matching lilac plunging maxi dress.
The two couldn’t keep their hands off each other. In another video, they are seen dancing, then meeting in public and kissing.
James Argent looked more in love than ever with his new girlfriend Nicoline Artursson as the couple went official on Instagram during a lavish getaway in St. Tropez
The former TOWIE star, 36, appeared smitten with his former Miss Sweden love as the pair enjoyed a romantic date night
The reality star excitedly shared, “I honestly didn’t think it would happen to me, but I found you and everything changed! I love you.”
Nicoline won the Miss World Sweden beauty pageant in 2011 and modeled for Abercrombie & Fitch. She was also asked to participate in the French version The Bacherlorette, but declined to focus on her studies.
Rumors of a romance between the two surfaced after James posted a photo of Nicoline on her Instagram during the World Vision Gala last month.
Nicoline shared a photo of herself in a navy one-shoulder satin wrap dress with a high slit and wrote: ‘It’s such a pleasure to be part of this year’s WORLD VISION GALA so everyone can come together for a great cause!
‘A big thank you to everyone who was there for all the support and contributions! In 2011 I was crowned Miss Sweden and it is a title I will always cherish and honor for the deep purpose it holds.’
It is James’ first relationship since splitting from his ex Stella Turian in November last year.
In March, Arg spoke on the My Dirty Laundry podcast about how Valentine’s Day was really hard for him because of his single status, and he had to stay off social media because it was depressing him.
After overcoming his demons, staying sober for two years and losing 15 stone, James said: ‘I’m in a really good place. Everything in my life is perfect, except my love life. It would be nice if that could change.
The couple couldn’t keep their hands off each other as they were seen dancing in another video before taking each other’s public turns and kissing
The couple looked happier than ever as they enjoyed dinner and coordinated their purple outfits
The reality star excitedly shared, “I honestly thought it wouldn’t happen to me, but I found you and everything changed! I love you.”
Nicoline, 31, won the Miss World Sweden beauty pageant in 2011 and modeled for Abercrombie & Fitch
“I’ll be honest, this year I really struggled with Valentine’s Day. I remember waking up and thinking, I’m not going to look at social media.
‘It’s not that I’m sad or depressed, but I know it won’t make me feel good because I didn’t get a Valentine’s card, and I don’t have a girlfriend either.
“But I couldn’t help it. There were times when I just took a little look and all you saw were couples. Everyone’s madly in love. Everyone’s happy.
“Everyone’s on dates. There’s flowers, there’s balloons, there’s chocolate, there’s date nights or trips or happily married couples – and yeah, it started to affect me a little bit.”
But James has said that rather than wallow in misery, he went out to try to feel better, but a visit to the shops didn’t help at all.
He said: ‘I thought I’d get out of the house and do some shopping and I went to the local supermarket. What made the situation even worse was that in every aisle I saw a Valentine’s Day meal for two…
James broke up with Stella, who was 16 years his junior, in November after a year of dating. He said: ‘It’s not that I’m sad or upset, but I knew that social media wouldn’t make me feel good because I didn’t have a Valentine’s card, and I don’t have a girlfriend.
James previously dated his former TOWIE co-star Lydia Bright. They were childhood sweethearts and had an on-again, off-again relationship between 2008 and 2016. He now calls her one of his best friends (pictured in 2011).
‘It was starter, main, dessert and a drink for £20. And I thought, ‘oh no’, it just hit me.
‘But I went to bed that night, slept well and the next day I felt good again. I was happy again, I felt good again.
‘It just goes to show that you can have good days, bad days, days where you feel a certain way.
“If you sleep well, the next day is always a new day and that wasn’t so bad. For some reason, Valentine’s Day this year, I thought I wouldn’t even care, but it wasn’t a great experience.”