Samantha Armytage’s glow up! TV star undergoes glamorous makeover as she prepares to reenter the dating pool after her split from Richard Lavender

Samantha Armytage has undergone quite the shine as she prepares to re-enter the dating pool following her divorce from her husband Richard Lavender.

Ny Breaking Australia exclusively revealed on Thursday that the TV presenter, 48, and her equestrian husband, 61, have gone their separate ways.

The couple tied the knot at Richard’s 100-acre estate in the NSW Southern Highlands on New Year’s Eve in 2020, but have ‘amicably’ split on the eve of their four-year wedding anniversary.

Although news of the split has just emerged publicly, it is understood that Samantha’s TV star friends have been comforting her behind the scenes for some time now.

And Samantha has already undergone quite the makeover as she adjusts to her single life, making a series of very glamorous appearances in recent weeks.

The ex-Farmer Wants A Wife presenter was last photographed with Richard on September 5, when she showed off her very relaxed style while walking through Sydney Airport.

As Samantha returned from her 48th birthday trip to Noosa, she showed off her unique style in beige trousers and a cream blouse, which she teamed with a wide-brimmed straw hat.

However, it would be the last time they were photographed together publicly before their marriage ended, with Samantha seen solo in recent weeks.

At the 2024 Melbourne Cup, Samantha proved she was embracing her single life when she went all out with a glamorous outfit for a day out at Flemington Racecourse.

Samantha attended the festivities without her husband Richard – who works in the equestrian industry himself – and instead socialized with a host of Australian stars.

For the fun day out on November 5, Samantha presented herself very stylishly in a beautiful red off-the-shoulder dress with dramatic puffed sleeves.

Keeping with tradition, the upcoming Channel Nine presenter attached a red-hued fascinator to her golden locks to complete her dazzling ensemble.

Still wearing her wedding ring, Samantha fully embraced the race day dress code as she posed up a storm for the cameras and stood tall as she stepped out solo at the glitzy event.

She was a regular on the race day circuits this year and had also stepped out in style at Flemington Racecourse for Derby Day a few days earlier.

The former Sunrise host showed off her fashion credentials in a stunning black midi dress with sparkling buttons and white collar detailing.

She completed her fashionable outfit with a pair of pointed heels and packed her essentials into a chic white handbag.

A few weeks earlier in October, Samantha started teasing her big fashion makeover as she hit the Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney.

On October 19, she looked elegant in a black dress with a pleated skirt as she dressed to the nines for a day out on TAB Everest Day.

Samantha completed her look with a pair of pointy black shoes and added a straw hat with a very dramatic bow on top of her golden locks to complete her outfit.

The TV star is known for making bold fashion statements and does not shy away from showcasing her designer wardrobe during her numerous public appearances.

Her husband Richard has rarely accompanied her at public events over the years, but they notably stepped out together at the Royal Randwick Racecourse for the 2021 races.

However, Samantha ushered in her new chapter during the 2024 racing season with her bold and glamorous outfits as she stepped out solo as she ushered in her single era.

Samantha and Richard’s divorce was meant to be leaked to a Sydney newspaper on Friday, but sources confirmed the news to Ny Breaking Australia in advance.

‘Yes, Richard and I have broken up. All breakups are difficult, but it is somewhat mitigated by the fact that it is amicable and we wish the best for each other,” Samantha told the media late Thursday night.

‘I appreciate you respecting our privacy. I will make no further comment.”

It is understood she has already moved out of Richard’s sprawling home in the Southern Highlands and is now living in an apartment in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

The couple first started dating in April 2019 and announced their engagement in June 2020 before tying the knot six months later at his property in rural NSW.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, only a small number of guests attended the intimate ceremony, with Richard’s daughters believed to have been present.

Amid her failed marriage, Samantha has also undergone a huge career change after stepping down from Channel Seven after 21 years at the network.

She described the departure as “sad and bittersweet” and said she felt her time had come to an end.

‘I love instinct. I listen to my instincts. I know when the time comes. “I’m proud of the fact that I stand behind myself enough to say, ‘I’ve done what I can do here’ and I’ll move on,” she said.

‘This is not the end. It’s just the end of this chapter.’

Instead, she has moved to rival network Nine and has been signed up to host brand new reality dating show The Golden Bachelor.

The Golden Bachelor is a spin-off of the series The Bachelor, but differs in that the participants in the reality dating show are singles in their 50s and 60s.