Rizia Moreira is a 35 year old socialite, model, and ex common law wife of Cirque du Soleil founder and CEO and professional poker player Guy Laliberte. Rizia was a part time model and college student, when she met Guy Laliberte at 17 in 1991 while he was vacationing in Rio de Janeiro Brazil. When she decided to move to Canada to be with him, Rizia’s father disapproved of the relationship because of their age gap, and that he was paying for her to attend college. When Rizia went against her father’s wishes, he had cut her off of any money due to her break from family tradition.

During their 10 year relationship, Rizia and Guy had three children together. After the birth of their children, she could maintain her pre baby weight and modeled from time to time to keep her career. Rizia and Guy broke off their relationship in 2001 and during this time, they were not legally married to one another. Though Laliberte does not believe in marriage, the province of Quebec does not recognize the legal stance of common law marriages, though they were together for several years and had children together.

Rizia gained custody of her children and lived in a home that was purchased for 2.4 million dollars provided by Guy. He was also ordered to pay for the children’s schooling, personal cook, childcare, tutoring services and child support while Rizia provided the children with the attention in which they needed.

Rizia had met and began dating Herbert Black, a well known metal magnate from Quebec in 2004. Herb is also well known for his successful lawsuits against major corporations, such as Sotheby’s when they have wronged him. He has become involved in Rizia’s life in recent months because he is the man paying Rizia’s attorney fees for her lawsuit against Guy Laliberte. Guy is being sued for spousal and more child support in the lump sum of 50 million dollars and for 56,000 dollars a month in child support for their children. Rizia filed the lawsuit because she feels that there is an obligation to treat her the same as the Canadian courts would do if she and Guy were legally married.

Canadian law states that common law marriages that is absolved without due support for the spouse who has a lesser income. When the petition was filed for spousal support, she decided to challenge Canada’s constitution. Due to the ongoing pursuit, a gag order has been put into place where everyone must keep mum about the proceeding case. There is not a lot of information out there about Rizia, but there is a great concern about the case, which will be most likely make it to the Canadian Supreme Court.