Annette Roque

Annette Roque is a Dutch-born model and equestrian who achieved international fashion recognition in the 1980s and 1990s. Working professionally under the stage name Jade Roque, she appeared in major commercial print campaigns and prominent fashion catalogs across Europe and the United States. In addition to her career in modeling, she became widely known in media circles through her high-profile public life and her long-standing involvement in equine sports and horse farm management in New York.

Early Life and Modeling Career

Born in December 1966 in the Netherlands to a Dutch mother and an Indonesian father, Annette Roque spent her early youth in Europe before pursuing a career in fashion modeling. Relocating to Paris and later New York City, she adopted the professional name Jade Roque to establish her brand in the international modeling circuit. During the height of her career throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, she landed prominent commercial modeling contracts. Roque featured prominently in catalog spreads for major retail brands, including Victoria's Secret and J. Crew, and served as a featured spokesmodel for Revlon. Her editorial and promotional work appeared in multiple international fashion publications, showcasing her versatile appeal across high fashion and commercial print advertising.

Equestrian Pursuits and Business

Following her modeling career, Roque transitioned her focus toward equestrian activities and enterprise management. She became deeply involved in horse training, breeding, and competitive equestrian sports. Roque co-founded and managed Bright Side Farm, a premier horse facility located in Water Mill, New York. Spanning over forty acres in the Hamptons, the facility was designed as a state-of-the-art horse boarding and equestrian training venue equipped with indoor and outdoor arenas, custom stabling, and extensive riding paddocks. Through this venture, Roque established herself as a dedicated manager and active participant in the North American hunter-jumper equestrian community.

Personal Life

In 1998, Roque married television presenter Matt Lauer after meeting on a setup date in New York. The couple spent over two decades together and raised three children, including sons Jack and Thijs and daughter Romy. The family resided primarily in Sag Harbor and Long Island, New York. In September 2019, Roque and Lauer finalized their divorce after two decades of marriage. Following the separation, Roque maintained a relatively private personal life focused on her children, equestrian operations, and personal business interests in the Hamptons region.