Remember me
The former wife of Ralf Schumacher has found love again with a male model who previously spent three months awaiting trial on domestic violence claims.
Cora Schumacher, 49, went Instagram official with American Steven Bo Bekendam, 43, over the weekend, some 18 months after the Formula One driver came out as gay.
The German television personality shared a photograph of herself with her new partner in his hometown, Wichita Falls, Texas.
The caption read: 'He gives me peace, he gives me hope, he makes me believe again.
'He’s the Bible by my bed, the T-shirt I’m wearing, the song stuck in my head. He’s solid, steady, and he’s truly one of the good ones..'
Their relationship comes after months of public feuding between Cora and her ex-husband Ralf, 50 - the younger brother of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher - which saw Cora burn her designer wedding dress on television, accuse the former racing driver of psychological manipulation, and claim she felt 'used' throughout their 13-year marriage.
Former racing driver Cora opened up about her new partner's troubled past this week, confirming that Steven recently faced serious allegations including claims of domestic violence. He denies all allegations and the case ended without conviction.
'Steven was in pre-trial detention for 100 days,' she told German newspaper Bild. 'Such situations arise when people are confronted with too many overwhelming events at once and can no longer bear the burden alone, causing them to almost break.
Cora Schumacher has found love again with former male model Steven Bo Bekendam, who previously spent three months awaiting trial on domestic violence claims
Cora who was married to Formula One driver Ralf Schumacher for 14 years until 2015. Pictured: The couple in 2007
Formula One family: Michael Schumacher is pictured celebrating with his brother Ralf in 2004
'This can happen to anyone. I also had to process difficult experiences for which I was neither responsible nor did I cause them.'
She added: 'In his case, this breakdown led to actions that landed him in prison.
'He is very caring, a true gentleman. He's simply a 10 out of 10.'
Steven himself acknowledged their shared struggles, telling the newspaper: 'We've both been through a lot, and life has tested us. We understand each other's challenge of overcoming old burdens that still linger.'
Ralf publicly revealed he was in a same-sex relationship with French business manager Etienne Bousquet-Cassagne, 36, in July 2024.
Cora, who was married to Ralf for 14 years until 2015, reacted furiously to the announcement, claiming she had learned about his sexuality through his Instagram post and felt she had 'wasted her best years' on him.
The bitter fallout saw Cora burn her designer Escada wedding dress on German television, with the charred remains of the gown shown during an appearance on the show 'Uber Geld spricht man doch!' in January last year.
'This is the rest of my wedding dress from Escada,' she said at the time. 'I don't even know why it's still here.'
The bitter fallout between Cora and Ralf resulted in her burning her designer Escada wedding dress on German television. Pictured: Ralf and Cora at their wedding in 2002
Cora entered therapy to process what she described as 'old wounds' reopened by Ralf's announcement, and claimed she felt 'used' during their marriage
Schumacher, the younger brother of F1 icon Michael, came out as gay in 2024 when he revealed he was in a relationship with French business manager Etienne Bousquet-Cassagne
Cora also entered therapy to process what she described as 'old wounds' reopened by Ralf's announcement, and claimed she felt 'used' during their marriage.
The former model accused Ralf of psychological manipulation during their relationship, saying he had dismissed her suspicions about his sexuality by suggesting she needed 'psychological help'.
'When he announced it, it was like a stab in the heart,' she told Der Spiegel in August 2024. 'Today I feel used during the marriage. I ask myself many questions. Was he honest with me? Did he love me?'
The feud escalated further when Ralf reportedly took legal action against his ex-wife in an effort to stop her from making statements about their relationship and his sexuality on social media.
Cora made a public plea for Ralf to 'leave her alone' so she could 'heal in peace', with her lawyer describing her emotional state as dire.
The couple's racing driver son David, 24, sided with his father and issued his own emotional statement telling his mother to 'leave us alone', claiming she had 'mental problems'.
Cora also faced persistent speculation that her marriage to Ralf had been a sham arrangement, with rumours suggesting she had been paid to marry him on a ten-year contract.
She firmly denied these allegations, saying: 'I'd be rich by now if that had been the case.'
David Schumacher announced two months ago that he is engaged to Vivien Keszthelyi - though Cora notably did not appear to interact with the post
Despite the acrimony, Cora has retained the Schumacher surname, telling reporters: 'Why should I? I'd be stupid. As long as I can still make money from it.'
Ralf raced in Formula One between 1997 and 2007, winning six Grand Prix races.
Cora herself had a racing career, competing in various championships including the Mini Challenge, SEAT Leon Supercopa, and the Dubai 24 Hours, before retiring in 2018.
Her announcement comes just two months after David became engaged to fellow racing driver Vivien Keszthelyi, though Cora notably did not appear to interact with the post.
She and David no longer follow each other on social media.