Erika Girardiis ready to change things up when it comes to her love life.After filing for divorce from her 82-year-old ex-husbandTom Girardi,The Real Housewives of Beverly Hillsstar tells PEOPLE, “I’m not doing the older thing anymore.““I’m 50, so maybe somebody in my age range, but I’m not doing [it] anymore,” Erika says during a recent celebration for herPretty Mess Luxury Hair Extensioncollection atTatel in Beverly Hills.“I love intelligent men and I like people that are confident,” she adds. “And I want to have fun. I would really like to have a nice conversation. I’m technically still married, so I’m in a very weird place.“For more onErika Girardi, listen below toour daily podcast on PEOPLE Every Day.Tom and Erikamet in the late ’90s at Chasen’s restaurantin Los Angeles, where he was a regular and she worked as a cocktail waitress. After only six months of dating, Tom proposed and the pair tied the knot in 1999 at the same restaurant where they met.After 21 years of marriage, Erikafiled for divorce in November 2020. A month later, the pair weresued for allegedly using the split to embezzle moneyand have since faced aslew of other legal controversies.Erika and Tom Girardi.Steve Eichner/APErika’s attorney has sincedenied her involvementin the embezzlement suit, while Tom has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and dementia, andplaced under a temporary conservatorship.Fans ofRHOBHsaw Erika deal with those issues head-on during season 11, which sparked many fights between the women. From being questioned about her knowledge of Tom’s business transactions to the grilling over the status of her marriage, the drama seemed to never stop.So it’s no surprise that Erika wants to keep her personal life under wraps as she heads into the next season.“I’m choosing to keep my personal life a little private right now,” she explains, before slyly adding, “It’s not exactly tumbleweeds, but there are some hot moments. I don’t kiss and tell, so I’m not telling.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Steven SimioneWith season 12 having recently wrapped and viewers anxiously awaiting a premiere date, Erika had no problem giving a cryptic tease of what drama is to come onRHOBH.“Well, everything’s not hunky-dory,” she says. “Look, I’ve had a hard time. My life was turned upside down last year, and this is where I’m at and picking up the pieces.““And I’ve struggled and I’ve stumbled, and I can admit that, and I can go on with my life. Actually watching me rebuild my life,” she continues. “And some days I wish you weren’t watching rebuild my life, but it’s true. It’s what happens.““I’m human,” she adds. “I’m here to tell my story, and it’s not always perfect.”

Erika Girardiis ready to change things up when it comes to her love life.

After filing for divorce from her 82-year-old ex-husbandTom Girardi,The Real Housewives of Beverly Hillsstar tells PEOPLE, “I’m not doing the older thing anymore.”

“I’m 50, so maybe somebody in my age range, but I’m not doing [it] anymore,” Erika says during a recent celebration for herPretty Mess Luxury Hair Extensioncollection atTatel in Beverly Hills.

“I love intelligent men and I like people that are confident,” she adds. “And I want to have fun. I would really like to have a nice conversation. I’m technically still married, so I’m in a very weird place.”

For more onErika Girardi, listen below toour daily podcast on PEOPLE Every Day.

Tom and Erikamet in the late ’90s at Chasen’s restaurantin Los Angeles, where he was a regular and she worked as a cocktail waitress. After only six months of dating, Tom proposed and the pair tied the knot in 1999 at the same restaurant where they met.

After 21 years of marriage, Erikafiled for divorce in November 2020. A month later, the pair weresued for allegedly using the split to embezzle moneyand have since faced aslew of other legal controversies.

Erika and Tom Girardi.Steve Eichner/AP

Erika Jayne, Tom Girardi

Erika’s attorney has sincedenied her involvementin the embezzlement suit, while Tom has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and dementia, andplaced under a temporary conservatorship.

Fans ofRHOBHsaw Erika deal with those issues head-on during season 11, which sparked many fights between the women. From being questioned about her knowledge of Tom’s business transactions to the grilling over the status of her marriage, the drama seemed to never stop.

So it’s no surprise that Erika wants to keep her personal life under wraps as she heads into the next season.

“I’m choosing to keep my personal life a little private right now,” she explains, before slyly adding, “It’s not exactly tumbleweeds, but there are some hot moments. I don’t kiss and tell, so I’m not telling.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Steven Simione

erika jayne

With season 12 having recently wrapped and viewers anxiously awaiting a premiere date, Erika had no problem giving a cryptic tease of what drama is to come onRHOBH.

“Well, everything’s not hunky-dory,” she says. “Look, I’ve had a hard time. My life was turned upside down last year, and this is where I’m at and picking up the pieces.”

“And I’ve struggled and I’ve stumbled, and I can admit that, and I can go on with my life. Actually watching me rebuild my life,” she continues. “And some days I wish you weren’t watching rebuild my life, but it’s true. It’s what happens.”

“I’m human,” she adds. “I’m here to tell my story, and it’s not always perfect.”

source: people.com