At 74, Isabel Preysler, a style icon and one of Spain’s most talked-about personalities, is preparing to take a bold new step. Following her widely publicized separation from Nobel laureate Mario Vargas Llosa, she is enjoying her independence, surrounded by the warmth of her large family, and getting ready to share her memoirs with the world. The book, titled “Mi verdadera historia,” will be released on October 22 and is intended to put an end to years of rumors and speculation that have always surrounded her name. She promises to reveal everything without holding back, finally dispelling longstanding myths.
Throughout a life marked by dizzying highs and painful lows, Isabel has always been able to rely on something unshakable—the support of her closest friends. The publishers of her biography describe her as courageous, self-critical, and a fierce defender of personal freedom. But behind this public persona stands the quiet strength of her inner circle—six women whose loyalty has stood the test of decades. Aristocrats and wives of influential businessmen and politicians, they form a true bastion, safeguarding Preysler’s peace of mind.
A special place in this constellation belongs to the sisters Kari and Miriam Lapique. Their acquaintance with Isabel dates back to 1969, when the young Preysler had just arrived in Madrid from Manila. At that time, the circle of the capital’s elite youth was small, and a meeting between its brightest representatives was only a matter of time. This friendship, which began at social gatherings, grew into a deep bond. Miriam, the former wife of influential businessman Alfonso Cortina, stood by Isabel during her darkest days—after the death of her husband Miguel Boyer and throughout her difficult breakup with Vargas Llosa. A recent tragedy, the passing of Kari’s daughter Cari Goyanes, once again demonstrated the strength of their ties—Preysler interrupted her holiday in Miami to personally support her friend in her grief.
In addition to the Lapique sisters, Isabel relies on the support of four other women. She has been friends with Ana Cristina Nasi, wife of industrialist Carlo Nasi, since their teenage years. Ana Cristina once admitted in an interview that she considers Isabel one of the smartest and most cheerful women—a person you can always count on. Nuria González, widow of Fernando Fernández Tapias, has repeatedly shown her public support, maintaining stoic composure by her friend’s side even when the media was actively discussing the crisis in her daughter Tamara Falcó’s relationship. The other two members of this close-knit circle are Princess Tessa of Bavaria, cousin of the honorary King Juan Carlos, and Amalia Amusátegui, wife of the former president of Banco Santander. Isabel and Tessa shone at parties in Madrid and Marbella as far back as the eighties, while the discreet and private Amalia remains her loyal companion at family gatherings, whether it’s a concert by her son Julio José Iglesias or an intimate dinner away from prying eyes.
