Virginia Vallejo, a woman who engaged in a five-year romantic relationship with infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar, recently shared her only regret from their time together.
Vallejo admitted to being lured into the extramarital affair by the charming and sentimental words of the Colombian drug trafficker before his death at the hands of the police in 1993 at the age of 44. The 76-year-old former model and TV host expressed admiration for Escobar and their bond, emphasizing that she has never regretted “loving a man, never.” However, despite her lack of remorse over their affair, she lamented not seizing a potentially life-altering opportunity that Escobar once presented to her.
During an interview leading up to the release of her upcoming memoir, Vallejo disclosed that she harbors no regrets regarding her relationships with any of her previous “awful” ex-husbands or Escobar, whom she described as evolving into a “monster.” While she initially detailed her involvement with the drug lord in her 2007 book ‘Loving Pablo, Hating Escobar,’ she has now unveiled additional secrets about their lengthy liaison.
Speaking from her residence in Miami, where she resides in exile following her testimony against several of Escobar’s associates, Vallejo expressed regret for not capitalizing on his wealth.
She recounted, “He once told me, ‘Ask for whatever you desire,’ and I foolishly replied, ‘I don’t need anything, Pablo.’ That decision is one of my life’s regrets; I should have requested everything from him!”
Vallejo first crossed paths with Escobar in 1982 at his estate, Hacienda Nápoles, located in Medellín, the largest city in Colombia’s Antioquia province. At that time, she was romantically involved with Aníbal Turbay, the nephew of then-President Julio César Turbay, when she was rescued by Escobar after a sudden whirlwind incident.
The pair commenced a relationship six months later, with Vallejo admitting that she succumbed to his “sweet and sentimental words.” She stated, “I didn’t conquer Pablo; he conquered me. We both understood that our affair had to remain completely confidential.”
Vallejo elaborated, “Our encounters were always private, mostly at the Hacienda or his penthouse.” She emphasized her indifference to his role as a “drug kingpin” and his financial dealings due to his purported intention to elevate Medellín out of poverty. Vallejo also credited Escobar with facilitating her divorce from her second husband, Argentine producer David Stevel, after he issued a threat.
Following this, Escobar sent her a thousand orchids and settled all her debts. Vallejo challenged skeptics, stating, “Do you think all I’m saying about Pablo is nonsense?
“He rescued me, cleared my debts, sent me a thousand orchids, and separated me from a wretched person.” She further clarified, “I wasn’t exclusively Pablo Escobar’s lover; I was one of his many lovers, and he was one of mine. Our relationship was built on equality.” She recalled how he affectionately referred to her as his “little panther” and later as his “pure soul” towards the end of their affair.
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