Life moves fast in the hills. Honestly, it feels like only yesterday we were watching the slow-motion train wreck of a marriage on The Valley, wondering if anyone was actually happy. Now? Jesse Lally is dating Lacy Nicole. They've been a thing since early 2024, and while the reality TV cameras are usually everywhere, this relationship has been a bit of a different beast.
Jesse didn't just jump into another TV romance.
Actually, he did the opposite. He and Lacy made a conscious, somewhat surprising choice to keep her off the screen for Season 2 of The Valley. Why? Because navigating a divorce from Michelle Saniei while being a dad to their daughter, Isabella, is already a circus. Adding a new girlfriend to the televised mix? That’s basically asking for a headache nobody wants.
The mystery of Lacy Nicole: Who is she?
If you're wondering who is Jesse Lally dating and why she looks familiar, you've probably seen her on a red carpet rather than a Bravo confessional. Lacy Nicole isn't a "reality star" in the traditional sense, though she hangs out in those circles. She's an Orange County-based philanthropist and a bit of a powerhouse in the wellness space.
She runs the Shame to Sparkle Foundation. It’s not just a catchy name; the organization focuses on helping people deal with trauma and PTSD.
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Lacy’s own story is heavy. She’s been incredibly open about surviving a horrific kidnapping and human trafficking situation in her 20s. She’s also dealt with chronic health battles, including endometriosis and autoimmune diseases. Basically, she’s a survivor. Jesse has called her a "beautiful soul" and says she "grounds" him. Given how high-strung things got during his split from Michelle, "grounding" is probably exactly what the guy needed.
Why she isn't on The Valley
It’s the question everyone asks. If you're dating a main cast member on a hit Bravo show, you usually end up with a drink in your hand and a microphone clipped to your shirt within ten minutes.
Not Lacy.
She and Jesse decided together that she wouldn't film for the second season. Part of that was about protecting their "new" energy. But another huge part was Isabella. Introducing a child to a new partner is a minefield. Doing it on national television? That’s a minefield with live grenades. Jesse told People that they wanted to be "stable and sophisticated" about how they handled the transition.
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A quick look at the timeline:
- March 2024: Jesse and Michelle announce their split.
- April 2024: Jesse and Lacy make their red carpet debut at a charity drag event.
- May 2024: Jesse confirms they are "newly" dating but avoids labels like "boyfriend/girlfriend" at first.
- Late 2024/2025: The relationship gets serious. Lacy is spotted at major events and becomes a fixture in Jesse's life.
- October 2025: Jesse and Michelle officially settle their divorce.
The drama with the exes
You can't talk about Jesse’s dating life without mentioning the shadow of his marriage. The divorce from Michelle was... a lot. It involved a "war of attrition," as Jesse put it. While he was moving on with Lacy, Michelle was dating a financial advisor named Aaron Nosler.
Things got messy.
There were accusations that Aaron "grabbed" Lacy at a party after cameras stopped rolling. There were rumors about who started dating whom first. It was typical The Valley chaos, even if the partners weren't all on screen. Despite the friction, Jesse has been adamant that Lacy is an "incredible influence" on his daughter. He’s even praised her for being a "real inspiration."
Living in Orange County vs. Los Angeles
One of the biggest friction points in Jesse’s new life is geography. Lacy lives in Orange County. Jesse... doesn't. During the show, he floated the idea of moving closer to her, maybe even sending Isabella to school in Newport instead of LA.
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Michelle was not having it.
She reportedly threatened to file for full custody if he tried to move their daughter. It’s a classic post-divorce struggle: trying to build a new life with a new partner while your old life keeps you anchored to a specific zip code. For now, it seems Jesse and Lacy are making the commute work.
What's next for the couple?
Lacy has been very public about her health journey lately, specifically her decision to freeze her eggs for a second time. She’s shared this on podcasts like Infertile AF, talking about her battle with endometriosis and her desire to be a mother again despite being told she had a "0% chance" in the past.
As of early 2026, the two seem solid. They’ve moved past the "no labels" phase into a full-blown partnership. While fans keep hoping Lacy might finally make a cameo on The Valley, she seems content to stay on the sidelines, focusing on her foundation and her health.
If you’re following the cast’s social media, keep an eye out for group trips. Even if she isn't "on the clock" for Bravo, she’s clearly part of the inner circle now.
To stay updated on Jesse's journey and his co-parenting dynamic, you can follow his official social media pages or watch the latest episodes of The Valley to see how the fallout from his divorce settlement plays out in real-time.