Lala Kent Dating Update: Why She Swapped Romance for a "New Man" and a Podcast

Lala Kent Dating Update: Why She Swapped Romance for a "New Man" and a Podcast

Lala Kent doesn't do boring. If you’ve followed her since the early "BJ’s for PJ’s" days on Vanderpump Rules, you know she’s a hurricane in a Gucci headband. But lately, the question of who was Lala Kent dating has become a lot more complicated than just spotting her at Catch with a movie producer.

Honestly, the landscape of her love life shifted the second she hauled her bags out of that Bel Air mansion in 2021. For years, her identity was tied to a "mystery man" who eventually became her fiancé, Randall Emmett. Then it all blew up. Now, in early 2026, Lala is navigating a world that looks very different from the one where she was planning a million-dollar wedding.

The Randall Era and the Fallout

We have to talk about the elephant in the room. You can't understand who Lala is dating now without looking at the wreckage of her five-year run with Randall Emmett. They met in 2015. She was a waitress at SUR; he was a producer who allegedly sent a scout to find "the pretty girl in the back."

It was scandalous from the jump. People called her a homewrecker. She called them jealous. Eventually, they got engaged in 2018 with a massive ring that later turned out to be... well, not exactly what it was advertised to be. They had a daughter, Ocean, in March 2021. By October of that same year, photos surfaced of Randall in Nashville with two women, and the house of cards collapsed.

Lala didn't just leave. She scorched the earth. She started selling "Send It to Darrell" merch and basically turned her heartbreak into a business empire. But since that split, she hasn't had a "main character" boyfriend. She’s been very vocal about the fact that her trust is basically in the negatives.

Who Is the New Man?

Wait, there’s a twist. Just this week in January 2026, rumors started swirling again. On a recent episode of The Valley (where Lala has been making waves), she actually hinted that there’s someone new in the picture.

"I have a man in my life," she teased. She didn't give a name. Typical Lala. She’s gone from oversharing every detail of her sex life to being a total vault.

📖 Related: Is There Actually a Wife of Tiger Shroff? Sorting Fact from Viral Fiction

Here is what we know about her current dating vibe:

  • She’s not looking for a "provider" anymore.
  • The "new man" is reportedly someone outside the reality TV bubble.
  • She’s keeping him away from the cameras—at least for now.

It’s a massive pivot. After the Randall documentary and the endless legal battles over custody (which finally settled in March 2025), she seems terrified of letting the public "own" another one of her relationships. Can you blame her?

The Most Unlikely Duo: Lala and Ambyr Childers

If you want to talk about "who was Lala Kent dating" and the mess it left behind, you have to look at her relationship with Randall’s ex-wife, Ambyr Childers. This is the part of the story no one saw coming.

In a move that is honestly kind of iconic, Lala and Ambyr have teamed up. They launched a podcast together called Unlikely Affair in early 2026. Think about that. The woman who was accused of breaking up a marriage and the woman whose marriage was broken are now co-hosting a show.

They’re talking about everything. Ambyr recently admitted on the pod that she actually watched the infamous sex tape between Lala and Randall back in the day. "My whole life kind of stopped," Ambyr said. It’s raw. It’s uncomfortable. And it’s the most "Lala" way possible to handle a past dating trauma. They aren't fighting over a man who cheated on both of them; they're cashing checks together.

The Solo Path and Baby No. 2

Lala’s dating history took a back seat to her motherhood journey recently. She was very clear: she wanted more kids, but she didn't want another father involved.

👉 See also: Bea Alonzo and Boyfriend Vincent Co: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes

"I know for a fact there will not be a dude involved if I choose to have another baby," she told People.

And she meant it. Lala welcomed her second daughter, Sosa, via a sperm donor. This move effectively decoupled her desire for a family from her desire for a romantic partner. By removing the need for a man to "build a family," she’s approached dating in 2025 and 2026 with a lot more cynicism—but also more freedom.

She isn't looking for a stepfather for Ocean and Sosa. She’s looking for a good time, or maybe just someone who doesn't have a secret life in Nashville.

What People Get Wrong About Lala’s Type

There’s this misconception that Lala only dates "big fish." You know, the guys with the private jets and the movie credits.

After the split, she went on a few dates with a guy she described as "built like Superman" with a lot of tattoos. She likes a certain aesthetic—tall, rugged, maybe a little bit of an edge. But the "Superman" guy didn't last. Neither did the random flings she’s hinted at on her own podcast, Give Them Lala.

The reality is that Lala Kent is a "love bomber" in recovery. She’s admitted to falling hard and fast, which is why she’s currently acting like a secret agent regarding her private life.

✨ Don't miss: What Really Happened With Dane Witherspoon: His Life and Passing Explained

The Current Status: It's Complicated

So, where does that leave us? As of mid-January 2026, Lala Kent is technically "seeing someone," but don't expect a red-carpet debut anytime soon. She’s focused on:

  1. Her two daughters (Ocean and Sosa).
  2. Her podcast empire with Ambyr Childers.
  3. Staying sober (she’s over seven years in now).

Dating is a secondary hobby for her these days. She’s been burned by the "Big Man in Hollywood" trope, and she’s clearly opting for someone who provides peace rather than a "Geezer Teaser" movie role.

If you're looking for the name of the guy, you're going to have to wait for the season finale or a very specific Instagram story slip-up. For now, the "man in her life" is a ghost, and honestly, that’s probably the healthiest relationship she’s ever had.

Actionable Insights for Fans:

  • Watch the Podcast: If you want the real tea, listen to Unlikely Affair. Lala is much more candid there than she is on Bravo.
  • Check the Credits: Lala is moving more into production and hosting. Her dating life is no longer her only storyline, which is a huge win for her longevity in the industry.
  • Look for "The Valley": That’s where the most current breadcrumbs of her romantic life are being dropped.

Lala is proof that you can survive a public dating disaster and come out the other side with a better brand, a better bank account, and a much tighter circle. She's done being the "mystery man's" secret; she's the CEO of her own chaos now.