Newly-elected French president Emmanuel Macron has dominated international headlines with his sweeping victory yesterday over rival presidential candidate Marine Le Pen. But his successful bid isn’t the only thing making headlines.

Macron, 39, married his school drama teacher in 2007, who is 24 years his senior and a mother of three from her previous marriage. Brigitte Trogneux directed Emmanuel Macron’s stage debut in a school play at the age of 15, and many years later, mentored and advised him during his presidential campaign.

Macron, who often referred to his wife in the media as his intellectual soulmate and confidante, the Telegraph reports, has expressed that he will govern more effectively with his wife by his side, because it means he’ll be happy.

The new French president reportedly describes himself as “a convert to feminism”, and has promised to defend equal pay as well as maternity leave, making him a popular figure within the political arena and well beyond.

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