Home

Business and pleasure: Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest caught sharing passionate kiss with Moroccan minister

Max CorstorphanThe Nightly
Andrew Forrest with reported to be Moroccan Energy Minister Leila Benali, sharing a kiss. Unknown
Camera IconAndrew Forrest with reported to be Moroccan Energy Minister Leila Benali, sharing a kiss. Unknown Credit: Unknown/Daily Mail

Recently single Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest has been photographed sharing a passionate kiss with a new woman in a Paris park.

The images, originally published by The Daily Mail, come less than a year after announcing his shock separation from then-wife Nicola Forrest after 31 years of marriage.

The woman in the images that Mr Forrest is kissing is believed to be Moroccan Energy Minister Leila Benali.

The World Bank describes Ms Benali as: “an international expert in the field of energy and has over 20 years of specialised experience in strategy, finance, and engineering.”

Ms Benali welcomed Forrest and a Fortescue delegation in the capital of Morocco in February of this year. In January, the pair also reportedly bumped into each other in Davos, a town in the Swiss Alps.

It is understood that Ms Benali was in Paris on ministerial business, which appears to have coincided with Mr Forrest’s movements.

Mr Forrest, the second richest Australian behind Gina Rinehart, was spotted enjoying a romantic walk with Ms Benali in Paris’ historic Marais district on Saturday.

The ‘couple’ strolled along Rue de Francs-Bourgeois on the Right Bank of the River Seine, with an onlooker telling the publication that the duo smiled at each other and appeared “very affectionate” as they enjoyed the sights of the French capital, hand in hand before sunset.

Mr Forrest was even reportedly seen sacrificing his jacket to help keep his new companion warm.

The lady believed to be Ms Benali initially declined the offer but later accepted as they shared a kiss in the Place des Vosges.

Mr Forrest was easy to identify from the photographs, wearing his signature blue shirt, RM Williams chinos, and Cuban-heeled RM boots.

Andrew Forrest with reported to be Moroccan Energy Minister Leila Benali, sharing a kiss. Unknown
Camera IconAndrew Forrest with reported to be Moroccan Energy Minister Leila Benali, sharing a kiss. Unknown Credit: Unknown/Daily Mail

After sharing a smooch in the city of love, the two were seen entering a luxury boutique hotel, the Pavillon de la Reine, which dates back to the early 17th century.

A room at the luxury hotel starts at the eye-watering price of $1300 a night.

A suite in the luxury hotel.
Camera IconA suite in the luxury hotel. Credit: Instagram/ pavillon_de_la_reine

Fortescue’s undertakings in Morocco have picked up after Mr Forrest and Ms Benali caught up in the Moroccan capital earlier this year.

In April, Fortescue announced a joint venture with OCP Group that would see them supply green hydrogen, ammonia and fertilisers both domestically and throughout Europe.

A spokeswoman for Mr Forrest declined to comment on the photographs, citing privacy reasons.

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails