Converting to Judaism would not have worked for her career
Only a month after their break-up, the men's magazine pin-up has moved on - into the arms of a taller, and possibly richer, man.
The Times saw Liebenberg - who was said to have been "emotional and hurting" since her public split with Daniel "Danny K" Koppel - all over her new man, polo player and businessman Nicky van der Walt.
At the 13th annual Style Awards ceremony in Sandton on Saturday night, the two posed for photographs, fondled each other and kissed in front of other guests.
During the evening, Van der Walt placed his hands on his new girlfriend's breasts.
A close friend of the pair, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The Times that Liebenberg and Van der Walt had "been dating for a month, since Lee-Ann publicly broke up with Danny K".
"It's okay for her to move on. They are in love and they don't want to hide it anymore, which is why they were seen all over each other at the Style Awards," the friend said.
The reason Liebenberg and Koppel gave for their split - they spent too much time apart because of their hectic work schedules - appeared to be only part of the truth.
The Times understands from her friends that the swimsuit model's other reason for leaving Koppel was that she would have had to convert to Judaism to marry him and then observe the religion's rules on dressing "modestly".
"Lee-Ann never cheated on Danny, that was not why they broke it off. The major reason was that they barely saw each other because their jobs forced them to travel a lot," the friend said.
"Then it was the fact that she had to convert to Judaism, meaning she could not be seen without clothes, or posing for magazine shoots in a bikini like she is doing now.
"She was willing to convert to Judaism because she loved Danny, but it was not going to work for her career," said the friend.
The Times learned that Liebenberg met Van der Walt through mutual friends, nightclub owner Chris Coutroulis and his wife, former Miss South Africa Vanessa Carreira.
They began dating after Van der Walt broke up with his girlfriend, Lisa Gundelfinger, daughter of celebrity lawyer Billy Gundelfinger.
Liebenberg is not the only beauty queen whom Van der Walt has bagged.
His list of ex-girlfriends includes former Miss South Africa Claudia Henkel.
He appears to have parted on good terms with his former loves. The Times spotted Henkel and Gundelfinger chatting happily to Van der Walt and Liebenberg at the Style awards.
Said the friend: "Lee-Ann and Nicky have always known each other. But when Nicky broke it off with his girlfriend, Lisa, and when Lee-Ann was no longer with Danny, they fell in love."
Neither Liebenberg nor Van der Walt was available for comment.
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