Who is Sylvia Tamsma?
Sylvia Tamsma is a former Dutch model famously known as the ex-wife of veteran formula one driver and three-time world champion Nelson Piquet. Sylvia was born in 1956 in the Netherlands. She grew up in her home country, where she attended and graduated from Willem de Zwijger College. There are no records of what year she graduated from college, but she began her modeling career right after school.
Below are facts to know about her:
Sylvia Tamsma is a Model by profession
Sylvia Tamsma began her modeling career in her teenage years. With a height of 1.77 meters, brown hair, and dark brown eyes, Sylvia quickly became the industry favorite. She soon appeared in both local and international publications and magazines.
At the peak of her modeling career, Sylvia worked with famous brands like Elle, Vogue, and Marie Claire. She also graced several fashion events and walked the runway for brands like Chanel, Versace, and Yves Saint Laurent.
Sylvia, now 67 years old (in 2023), accomplished so much at her peak as a model. Besides her modeling career, we can not find any record confirming she ventured into any other business.
Sylvia Tamsma and Nelson Piquet are still good friends after their divorce
The exact year Sylvia Tamsma and Nelson Piquet got married is unknown, but their marriage lasted long enough for them to have three children. Sylvia and Tamsma welcomed their first child Nelson Piquet Jr. on July 25, 1985, their second child, Kelly Piquet on December 7, 1988, and Julia Piquet on May 8, 1992.
After their third child in 1992, Sylvia Tamsma and Nelson Piquet separated in 1993. They divorced the same year. Despite their divorce, Tamsma and Nelson Piquet are still good friends and occasionally protect each other’s interests online.
Sylvia Tamsma had three children with Nelson Piquet
Sylvia Tamsma’s first child, Nelson Piquet Jr., real name Nelson Angelo Tamsma Piquet Maior, was born in Heidelberg, West Germany. He is a Brazilian stock car racing driver and a former Formula One and Formula E driver, where he was a champion in the 2014-2015 season.
Nelson Piquet Jr. moved from Monaco, where he lived with his mother, to Brazil with his father at 8. He attended the American School of Brasilia until age 16 when he decided to pursue his racing career. Since the start of his career, Nelson Pquet Jr. has won three championship titles, 2014-2015 Formula E, 2004 British Formula 3, and 2002 Formula Three Sudamericana. He also won awards such as 2003 Autosport National Racing Driver of the Year and 2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Most Popular Driver.
Nelson Piquet Jr. has an exquisite taste for beautiful women, and his dating history is glamorous. He dated Virgilia Landrain in 2015, Gabriella Constantino from 2007 to 2008, Poliana Soares in 2007, Helena Bordon from 2005 to 2007, and Bia Anthony from 2002 to 2005.
Kelly Piquet
Kelly Piquet, real name Kelly Tamsma Piquet Souto Maior, was born in Homburg, Germany. She spent most of her childhood in the South of France but moved to Brazil at 12. She returned to France at 15, stayed for one year, and moved to England to study at a boarding school. At age 17, she returned to Brazil to attend her senior year of high school. Kelly Piquet also attended Marymount Manhattan College in New York, where she majored in international relations.
As an influencer, blogger, and model, she posed for PatBO and Lucas Boccalao. She also walked the catwalk in several fashion shows. In 2015, Kelly became responsible for Formula E’s social media coverage.
In 2017, Kelly Publicly disclosed she was dating Russian Formula One driver Daniil Kvyat. The couple dated for a few months and broke up in December 2017. They had a child together. Kelly is currently dating Dutch two-time Formula One World Champion Max Verstappen. They have been dating since 2021.
Julia Piquet
Julia Piquet is an MBA graduate from the University of Miami School of Business. She is currently working for Global Business Development at DNS Racing, LLC. She also worked as an operations research analyst for Motorsport Network from 2017 to 2020.
Julia Piquet is currently dating Mexican stock car racing driver Daniel Suarez.
Sylvia Tamsma’s Former Husband won the World Driver’s Championship three times
Nelson Piquet Soutor Maior is a retired Brazilian racing driver and businessman who won World Drivers’ Championship three times in 1981, 1983, and 1987. Nelson Piquet was born on August 17, 1952, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
At 14, Nelson began his racing career, although his father disapproved. He dropped out of the university in 1974 to work in a garage to finance his career since none of his family was willing to help. He made his Formula One debut for Ensign in Germany.
Throughout his career, Nelson Piquet raced for Ensign (1978 to 1 GP), McLaren (1978 – 3 GPs) and Brabham (1978-1985), Williams (1986-1987), Lotus (1988-1989), and Benetton (1990-1991). He has won 23 races and 3 world championships in Formula One.
After his divorce from Sylvia Tamsma in 1993, Nelson Piquet married Viviane de Souza Leao and had four more children. In total, he has seven children, five sons and two daughters.