It is said that beauty
is in the eye of the beholder. It is also said that some must march to the
beat of a different drummer. Both of these aphorisms apply to Society Diva Jocelyne
Wildenstein. Dubbed "Tiger
Woman" and "The Bride Of
Wildenstein" by a uncomprehending public startled by her
exotic looks, her husband might have found the nickname "Kitten
With A Whip" more appropriate, locked as he was in a
bitter divorce battle with a woman he deeply loved, but began to remind him
more of an extra from "The Curse of The Cat
People".

Mrs. Wildenstein, like
many in society, was not born to riches, but at an early age knew that she
should have been. Originating from a middle class family in Lausanne,
Switzerland, Jocelyne realized early in life that her good looks were her
ticket out of a dead end existence in a small city that promised no great
rewards. Using her Nordic good looks and feminine charms, Jocelyne eventually
learned to become a skilled hunter and pilot of small planes. This combination
of skill and womanly wiles eventually provided her with the introduction she
had long sought; a shooting weekend at the 66,000 acre Kenyan estate of Alec
Wildenstein, heir to a 10 billion dollar art fortune.
Wildenstein had been born in Marseilles, France, but moved to New York for his
education, and remained there to escape the whisper of scandal that followed
him everywhere in Europe. The Wildensteins, a Jewish family, had been accused
of both buying and selling art from the Nazis during the war. Naturally, there
are some accusations for which even a great deal of money cannot provide a
shield. So impressed was he with Jocelyne's lion hunting ability that he asked
her out for a motorcycle ride through his estate the following day. They
exchanged a kiss in a moment of unguarded passion, and the sparks immediately
flew.

With the success of
this initial contact, Jocelyne returned to Paris and her boyfriend, only to be
confronted with massive bouquets of orchids from her new, very wealthy
admirer. It wasn't long before the two embarked on a whirlwind romance, and
they were married within a year in a lavish Las Vegas wedding ceremony. The
happy newlyweds then settled into Alec's spacious Park Avenue apartment, and
Jocelyne began to learn the role she was born to play: Society Wife.

While Alec managed the
affairs of the art business and his Kenyan estate, Jocelyne busied herself
with the upkeep and maintainence of their many houses around the world,
including a Paris apartment, a Carribbean beach estate, a chateau in France,
and another house in Lausanne, so that Jocelyne could be near her family. The
happy couple made their home base the New York townhouse, a 5 story affair
with priceless art, many bedrooms, and an indoor swimming pool.

Always loving exotic
animals, Alec bought Jocelyne a rare monkey as a household pet, and they had
special enclosures built in their various houses for the beast, as he
travelled with them throughout the world in the Wildenstein's private jet. For
animal company of the more usual sort, Alec bought his wife 5 purebred
greyhounds.

Being a society wife
is hard work, and by necessity one must look one's best. With Jocelyne, this
was no exception. Alec bought her a complete Chanel wardrobe, as well as
Chanel gowns designed expressly for her and no one else. Of course, with such
a beautiful wardrobe, the acessories, too, must be of matching quality; so
Alec bought his blushing bride a jewelery collection valued in excess of $10
million.

Marriage with anybody
can be difficult. Marriage to the very rich can be impossible, at times. Alec
Wildenstein was no exception. Though Jocelyne tried as hard as she could, and
eventually provided her husband with two fine children, it was sometimes a
thankless task to jolly her husband out of his somber moods. He was subject to
fits of depression at the control his father still exercised over him, in
spite of his advancing years. The only consolations, it seemed, were the lions
in his private jungle and his priceless, exquisite art collection. An insecure
Jocelyne could not be blamed for feeling somewhat jealous. When Alec's eye
began to wander after many years of marriage, Jocelyne knew that drastic
measures were called for.

Pushing
fifty and insecure about her looks, Jocelyne visited a renowned plastic
surgeon who was a friend of the family. She wanted to revitalize her
appearance in order to recapture the Alec she was so desperately in
love with. The first surgeries were successful, and Alec was so
impressed with the results that he began to have a few alterations of
his own. This happy state of affairs lasted quite some time, and
Jocelyne had the feeling that things were once again back on an even
keel. So it was with both shock and sadness that she learned Alec
wanted to sleep with other women. Not knowing what to do, a desperate
Jocelyne formulated a plan that was so audacious in its daring that she
may be forgiven for failing to see its drawbacks.

Jocelyne realized that
Alec loved his jungle estate, and the cats that inhabited it, more than
anything else in life. So armed with this information, she returned to her
plastic surgeon with an unusual request: She wanted to be transformed into one
of the giant Cats that Alec loved so much. Though surprised at this unorthodox
request, the surgeon did his best to comply.

After countless
surgeries - no one can say with certainty just how many - Jocelyne the Nordic
beauty disappeared, and "The Queen Of The
Jungle" took her place. Her lips had been enlarged, and
her face pulled back at the eyes to simulate a cat-eye effect. Jocelyne's
appearance was indeed striking - especially as she had had her pigment
darkened as well. The first time Alec saw his new wife, it is said he screamed
at the sudden appearance of this startling creature that confronted him.
Indeed, court documents of the divorce proceedings reveal that he said he "couldn't
even recognize my own wife up close. She seems to think that you fix a face
the same way you fix a house". Naturally, Jocelyne was
disappointed, and returned to her plastic surgeon for more work. It is rumored
that several prospective patients ran screaming from the office, so concerned
were they that they would end up looking like Jocelyne. As the reader may well
imagine, this did nothing to improve the poor socalite's anxiety. However,
massing her ample reserves of courage, Jocelyne persevered, and hasn't stopped
to this day. When questioned as to the precise number and types of surgeries
she's had, she merely replies with a smile "no
more or less than any other woman".

Alec was even more
depressed than ever, though he had a supportive wife who had done everything
she could to please him. He began to see an exotic Russian model, and the
marriage irretrievably broke down. Though he blamed the affair on his wife's
startling new appearance, it is clear that this is a "chicken and the
egg" scenario; and Jocelyne has many well founded grievences of her own.

At the beginning of
the divorce, it must be said that both partners did their best to be civil.
But divorce is war, and all is fair in love and war; so it was a shocked
Jocelyne who entered her New York town house one day, only to be confronted by
a strange woman in a towel, and a maniacal husband that threatened to shoot
her - all the while aiming a gun at her heart. Knowing what a good shot he
was, Jocelyne departed in haste, and returned with the police. Charges were
filed, and the relationship grew even more complicated. Neither of the two
wanted to vacate the premises, presumably so as not to influence the divorce
settlement; so they drew up a plan giving each sole access to certain areas of
the house. Alec also meanly had her servants reduced from a staff of seven to
only one. War is Hell.

Jocelyne was not about
to take this lying down, and countersued Alec for a 200 million dollar
settlement, as well as tens of millions of dollars in art treasures, various
houses, and $200,000 a month in interim support. If the truth is to be spoken
here, both marital partners became somewhat petty and entrenched in his or her
position. Reacting to Jocelyne's demands, Alec reduced her further use of
their jet, and she was forced to remain in isolation in New York, without the
solace of her monkey - but just around the corner from her plastic surgeon.

The two now bitter
enemies, it was decided that their lawyers could better do the talking for
them. After a lengthy court hearing, an understanding judge awarded Jocelyne
tens of millions of dollars, on the grounds that she had been unfairly cast
aside by Alec while he gave his attentions to the Russian model. Though
joyous, Jocelyne would have to wait a long time to see any compensation. Alec
was already behind on the ordered interim support payments, and he and his new
flame departed the USA for parts unknown.

Very unhappy at this
state of affairs, but now officially a free woman, Jocelyne sought comfort in
the arms of her financial advisor. She eventually decided to break with her
past and begin anew. Thus, she auctioned off all of the jewels that Alec had
given her over the years - especially the ones that reminded her of their
shared passion for jungle cats. This didn't work out as she had planned, and
although the auction netted her much appreciated funds, she couldn't forget
the man she loved so much. Still pining for Alec, she prayed for a miracle -
and was at last rewarded.

Alec, it seemed, could
not get Jocelyne out of his mind or heart, and this author is happy to report
that as of the beginning of July, 2000, the wayward man has at last returned
to his senses and the woman he loves. Though there is still much to resolve,
and both partners could clearly benefit from marital counseling, Jocelyne has
triumphed in society and at love, proving that she is, indeed, "The
Queen Of The Jungle".