Isabel Preysler’s appearance on the set of the hit show ‘El Hormiguero’ became a true headline event, meeting all the public’s expectations. Host Pablo Motos welcomed the 74-year-old socialite with open admiration, calling her a “stunning woman.” Indeed, her entrance was striking: clad in an elegant blue ensemble and sky-high heels, she looked flawless. The biggest surprise came when she expressed her wish to join her daughter Tamara Falcó at the discussion table—fueling speculation about a possible new TV project. Preysler herself hinted that, although she had considered retirement, there is still one unrealized idea she’d like to pursue.
The conversation revealed a host of sensational details from her vibrant youth. Isabel shared the story of her first serious romance at 18, with the heir to a Philippine banking empire. That passionate affair had her flying on his private jet to his estate, after which, due to a supposed “aircraft malfunction,” she couldn’t return home. This incident prompted her parents to send young Isabel to Spain—forever changing her fate. Equally dramatic was her account of marrying Julio Iglesias. She admitted she walked down the aisle pregnant, and even cried at her own wedding. For both Isabel and Julio, it was a rushed decision—at that time, in 1970, getting pregnant out of wedlock was seen as a real catastrophe.
Preysler also touched on her relationships with men, noting that she always paid attention to the women they had dated before. In her view, if a man had interesting and attractive partners, it made him more appealing in her eyes. However, life alongside famous and influential companions such as Julio Iglesias, Miguel Boyer, and Mario Vargas Llosa had its downside. She candidly admitted that she never truly felt free because of their intense jealousy. For example, Iglesias forbade her to dance with anyone but him. She also recalled her friendship with Franco’s granddaughter, which gave her access as a young woman to the El Pardo residence, where she saw the dictator himself drinking orange Fanta instead of tea.
One of the most discussed moments was her decision to speak openly about her plastic surgeries. Isabel confirmed that she had a facelift at 50 and another one much later, but it was her nose that truly became her “ordeal.” She underwent several rhinoplasties, two of which were needed after accidental blows from her daughter and grandson. Doctors used cartilage and even a piece of rib for reconstruction, and although one operation in Dallas gave her the perfect nose shape, it left her unable to smile. In addition, Preysler for the first time clearly stated her political views, calling herself “a woman of right-wing beliefs”—something that once caused many problems for her husband, the socialist minister Miguel Boyer. Wrapping up the conversation, she shared how, thanks to her daughter Tamara, she was able to let go of her former sensitivity, learned to forgive, and was able to accept and love her current son-in-law, Íñigo Onieva.
