Mats Hummels’ ex-wife opens up on struggles before he moved on with Victoria’s Secret model 11 years his junior

MATS HUMMELS' ex-wife has opened up about her struggles with mental health, revealing she felt 'powerless' during bouts of depression.

TV presenter and influencer Cathy Fischer, 36, met Borussia Dortmund defender Hummels, 35, at the age of 19 and they married in 2015.

Their son was born three years later, but they separated in 2022 and the divorce was finalized by the end of the year.

At the Ballon d'Or ceremony in Paris last month, former Germany international Hummels – who now plays for Roma – went public with Victoria's Secret model Nicola Cavanis, 25.

It is understood the pair have been dating since last year.

Now Cathy has revealed the challenges she went through in her relationship with Hummels and how she struggled to love him during that time.

Speaking at BILD's Women's Mental Health Summit in Berlin, she said: “Who knows what it looks like inside me?

“Mental illness has no face, it hides behind the most beautiful curtain.”

Before adding: “I obviously had conversations with my ex-husband at the time and I often said, 'I'm sorry I'm acting so strangely at the moment, but I'm just not like that. I feel good. I can't show you love right now.” You feel numb.

“It does something to you when you realize that you are powerless against these emotions.”

Cathy previously posed for Playboy and was named German Wag of the Year in 2013.

She says she has now “learned to cope [her] nature” without resorting to treatment or medications to combat her mental health issues.

Meanwhile, Hummels' new partner Nicola shot to fame in her home country after starring in a Nivea advert in 2021.

Since then she has represented brands such as Victoria's Secret, Puma, MCM, New Yorker and Tchibo.

Nicola, an Augsburg fan, also has a huge social media following, with 1.9 million followers on Instagram and 500,000 on TikTok.