Nicky Watson hooks up with more controversy

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RICH ROMANCE: Nicky Watson together with Justin Hemmes.

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Kiwi supermodel Nicky Watson has bagged herself another rich - and controversial - boyfriend.

Nicky - who was married to Warriors owner Eric Watson, and dated league legend Matthew Ridge - is now stepping out with Australian nightclub baron Justin Hemmes.

Hemmes has a $460-570 million property portfolio. But the Sydney entrepreneur is in hot water after police opposed the opening of his new $170m bar and hotel complex there, Ivy, fearing it will fuel alcohol-related violence.

Police claim Hemmes' other city centre nightspot, Establishment, is a hotspot for booze-related crime and antisocial behaviour.

If Ivy is barred, it could cost Hemmes a fortune.

"I am pleading with the police not to stamp out the dream," he told Sydney's Sun-Herald newspaper.

"I have had to invest the money myself, buy the site, build the site -it is a 100 percent risk I'm taking."

Nicky, 34, is no stranger to strong men.

Eric Watson hit the headlines when police were called following a brawl with Russell Crowe at a trendy London restaurant.

Nicky and Eric divorced in late 2003 - by which time the model was in a relationship with Ridge, who had been married to her close friend, TV host Sally Ridge.

Nicky's relationship with Ridge came to an end when she started dating hunky Blindspott drummer Shelton Woolwright. Then she competed in the 2005 series of Dancing with the Stars and was swept off her feet by judge Brendan Cole.

In August last year, Nicky told a women's magazine she was steering clear of men in a bid to become independent but by the end of the year she was linked to party pill millionaire Logan Miller. He had split with his Miss Erotica girlfriend of five years Michaiah Simmons. Nicky and Logan's relationship lasted six weeks. More recently Nicky was linked to All Blacks wild man Ali Williams.

In hooking up with Hemmes, Nicky has once again gone for someone who lives life in the fast lane.

The noted party animal is believed to have an on-off fiancee he's been seeing for over eight years and is reportedly also dating Australian designer Ruby Smallbone.

- © Fairfax NZ News