JAY-JAY & MINOU'S JOY 'HE GETS TO STAY!'

The radio star and her Algerian boyfriend prove love knows no borders

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When Jay-Jay Feeney and her boyfriend Minou meet Woman's Day for lunch, the lovebirds look as sunny as the weather, wearing matching ear-to-ear grins.

“We've got some news!” teases the radio legend, 51, before revealing that after months of anxious waiting, her Algerian-born partner has been granted a visa that will let him stay in Aotearoa for another 12 months. “He's allowed to get a job, so he can pay his way, pay the bills and save up to go back home to visit. He can leave New Zealand and come back in!”

“I'm so happy,” smiles Minou, 33, who's proudly wearing an All Blacks jersey. “I'm really happy. I love the culture here, the beautiful nature and the people, who are so kind.” But he can't keep his eyes off Jay-Jay and it's clear she's the main attraction.

This marks a milestone in the couple's unconventional love story, which began when he slid into her Facebook DMs back in 2018. After meeting up for several romantic overseas holidays and a temporary split prompted by COVID border closures, Minou arrived in Auckland in June for a three-month stay - their longest stretch of time together - to see if he and Jay-Jay could make their relationship work in the real world.