Why Kylie Minogue and Andres Velencoso called it a day

When Kylie met Andres in 2008 the pop goddess was nursing a broken heart following the end of her four-year relationship with dashing Frenchman Olivier Martinez.

Neither she nor the Louis Vuitton model were looking for anything serious. As the Spaniard said to one magazine: "It started off as a fling."

But what started as a casual romance would soon blossom into a passionate love affair.

Andres' presence in her life caused quite a stir - not least because of his striking resemblance to the singer's actor ex, Olivier (pictured right).

Both dark, devastatingly handsome foreigners, the men are known for their chiselled cheekbones and sharp fashion style.

They did differ in one striking aspect. Andres is a decade younger Kylie and 13 years younger than the screen hunk.

This didn't bother Kylie, who once said in an interview: "I don't ever think about the age gap between us.

"It doesn't exist unless I say something like, 'Do you remember that song from the summer of '93?' And he says, 'No'."

"And I think, 'Is that because you are Spanish or because you were still at high school then?'"

Just three months after meeting the couple took a trip to Barcelona, the romantic Spanish city just a stone's throw away from the seaside resort where Andres grew up.

Not long afterwards, he moved in with her in London.

Kylie also took the momentous step of flying with her model boyfriend to Melbourne to meet her parents.

A source close to the All the Lovers singer said: "She is having the best year of her life and a lot of that is down to Andres. He's given her renewed zeal."

Her parents quickly took to the model, who can speak Spanish, English, Italian and Catalan.

The source said: "Ron (pictured) and Carol Minogue welcomed him with open arms.

"He is charming and witty but also has a sensitive side and that really shone through."

Their next trip was to Paris - significant because that was where Kylie had lived with Olivier Martinez when she was fighting cancer.

Taking him to France was a sign that she was ready to move on.

The pair relaxed by hitting the golf course, proving they suit each other to a tee.

In a grand gesture of love Andres gave Kylie a rose for St Jordi's day - the Catalan equivalent of St George's day - a present usually reserved for fiancés and newly-weds.

When asked about the gift, Kylie teased: "It was a wonderfully sweet thing to do. It's a nice tradition and yes, perhaps it meant more than just Jordi's Day"

She added: "Let's just say I know what that rose means now and I know more about the true meaning of that tradition!"

With their romance growing stronger, rumours circulated that marriage was around the corner.

However, the Aussie beauty put a stop to this by admitting: "Maybe it's a path I'll never go down."

Despite this, it's clear the couple were more loved-up than ever.

Andres said: "We complement each other really well. I've found a woman who loves me and I love her. Happy, that's how I feel!"

In June 2010 rumours of cracks in the relationship began to emerge. When Kylie was promoting her album Aphrodite, unaccompanied by Andres, some sections of the press were quick to assume they were fighting.

And one paper reported that the model had walked out on his girlfriend following an argument.

In response Kylie tweeted: "Wowza… love life rumours have gone mad."

"Please pay no attention peeps. My birthday was magical with AV (Velencoso) and friends."

Opening up to HELLO! magazine the same month, Kylie revealed that despite his looks, she was attracted to him because he's "such a clown".

She added: "He makes me laugh because he's not afraid to make a fool of himself.

"It's really endearing when a man is that confident about himself that he’s happy to just goof around."

The star also revealed how her other half had prompted her to learn Spanish and to give up Botox.

When she went on the road in 2011, Kylie made sure to include a stop in Barcelona.

Showing they were very much on, the singer gave her love a passionate embrace from the stage.

Speaking in halting Spanish and referring to the title of her song, she told the 24,000-strong crowd: "I'm so happy to have family here tonight, especially my Cupid Boy."

The pair continued to go from strength to strength, with Andres telling HELLO!: "We're in it for the long haul."

Meanwhile, asked in February 2011 about the possibility of a wedding, Kylie replied: "I have a very special man. I might get married, you never know…"

She also revealed she was considering adoption or using a surrogate mother: "I would absolutely look into those options because children and family are very important to me."

Not surprisingly given this sentiment the end of their relationship came as a shock.

Even at the last red carpet event, which was Cannes in May, there were no clues that the end was coming.

Kylie, who has been in this situation before, will do what she always does - throw herself into her work and seek comfort from her sister Dannii and a close circle of friends.

And for one of the most hardworking women in the business, the show will most definitely go on.