Despite appearances to the contrary, Simon Cowell does have a heart — and it appears he has given it to a new woman in his life.
Contestants on “American Idol” and Cowell’s other reality competition shows could stand to learn from Mezhgan Hussainy, who called the cranky judge “a piece of cake,” and says, “His bark is worse than his bite,” according to the U.K.‘s Daily Mail.
Cowell, who is normally as private about his love life as he is tough on budding performers, has been spotted in PDAs with Hussainy, a makeup artist on “American Idol.”
They were out together over the weekend in London, where Cowell is holding auditions for “Britain’s Got Talent,” and were even seen smooching at tryouts for the show, according to the U.K.’s Mirror.
She has been by his side throughout the auditions, according to sources for the British tabloid.
“This is serious. He is head over heels in love. The fact he’s happy to show his affection in the most public manner says it all,” a friend of Cowell’s told the Mirror.
Indeed, Hussainy, described as beautiful, funny, warm and charming, may prove finally to be a match for perennial grouch Cowell.
Hussainy, 36, was born in Afghanistan and fled the country in 1981 with her family, who were afraid her older brothers would be conscripted into the Taliban army, according to the Daily Mail.
After nine months in Pakistan, they were allowed to move to the United States.
She began her career in Hollywood as an actress, playing roles on soap operas “Sunset Beach” and “The Bold and the Beautiful” before shifting to behind the scenes.
She and Cowell met when she began working as a makeup artist on “Idol” in 2003, the Mail reports. But it was working together on a makeover of “Britain’s Got Talent” contestant Susan Boyle that really brought them closer, according to the Mirror.
The two have been rumored to be an item since the summer, when she flew to London to be a personal guest of Cowell at the reality TV mogul’s 50th birthday bash.
But it’s only recently that they’ve become more open about their romance.
Her last boyfriend, the head of a Web design company, attributes their breakup a year ago to her growing attachment to Cowell.
For his part, the “American Idol” judge split with his romantic partner of six years, model Terri Seymour, in 2008, after it was reported he didn’t want to settle down and have a family.
Perhaps this time he has found lasting love.
“She is everything Simon wants in a woman. They are blissfully happy,” his friend told the Mirror.
