Jemima Khan

Known around the globe through a variety of venues, the name Jemima Khan is associated with her former marriage to Imran Khan, her position as a prominent socialite, her various business ventures, her stay as a British ambassador to UNICEF, and a very high profile relationship with Hugh Grant.

Jemima Marcelle Goldsmith was born January 30, 1974 in London, England. Her father was Sir James Goldsmith, a billionaire, while her mother was Lady Annabel Vane Tempest Stewart. Her parents, both married to other people, engaged in a torrid affair that resulted in the birth of Khan. When her brother Zac Khan was born in similar circumstances, Sir James and Lady Annabel each divorced their spouses and married each other in 1978.

Proving to be a chronic philanderer, Khan’s father did not stay faithful to her mother. He eventually left Lady Annabel and their three children, moving to America with his mistress, Laure Boulay. Despite the scandal and embarrassment, Khan’s mother never granted her father a divorce.

Raised by her mother, Khan was always a bright student. She performed very well at Francis Holland School and showed a particular affinity for horsemanship. Rather than pursue that avenue professionally, she opted to attend Bristol University where she majored in English.

She met future husband, cricket player Imran Khan, in 1995. Curious and taken with Islam, Khan converted before the two married in May of 1995. They moved to Pakistan where Imran began to pursue his political career in earnest. Khan stood by his side and threw her energy into charity work such as various events to promote literacy in Pakistan. She even became fluent in Urdu.

Their family expanded in 1997 when she gave birth to their first son, Suleiman. Two years later, Qasim was born. Not content to be the politician’s wife, Khan pursued several business ventures of her own. These included a brand of ketchup as well as a self-titled fashion line, which went under in 2001. A socialite to the extreme, Khan was not in need of money, and therefore donated all proceeds from these endeavors to Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer hospital.

Khan’s ancestry, however, would prove hard on the marriage. Imran’s political adversaries attacked Khan’s Jewish heritage, and they went so far as to call for the revocation of her citizenship. They also incited numerous investigations into illegal activities by the couple, all of which were looked into by the police and dismissed. The marriage was delivered its final blow when it turned out Imran had fathered a child with Sita White, albeit before he married Khan. Although the paternity was never publicly confirmed, Khan returned to London in 2003 without her husband.

Alone, she studied Comparative Religion at the School of Oriental and African Studies. In June 2004, the couple’s divorce was finalized and made public.

Khan continues to live in the United Kingdom, while her children split their time between London and Pakistan.

Khan has made headlines over the past three years for her high profile relationship with actor Hugh Grant, although the latest reports indicate the couple called it quits after three years together.