The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Jessi Draper is giving her fans a “life update,” speaking candidly about her healing journey and experience dating after divorce.
“I know that you guys see a lot of headlines and videos and photos about my life, and something that I have learned from being on reality TV is that everyone has an opinion,” Jessi, 33, said in a “get ready with me” video shared via Instagram on Saturday, April 25. “But healing after divorce is so interesting because everyone’s process is different.”
Jessi and her estranged husband Jordan Ngatikaura — who share kids Jager, 5, and Jovi, 3 — called it quits after making their reality TV debut on the hit Hulu show in September 2024. Their marriage issues were documented on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, including Jessi’s emotional affair with Marciano Brunette.
Following the news of their split, Jessi broke her silence on their divorce during a March episode of the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, claiming she experienced “emotional abuse” from Jordan.
On Friday, April 24, Jordan clapped back, telling a fan that his “wife’s acting like a complete psycho [and] manic person.”
“So for me, I did a lot of mourning in my relationship,” Jessi continued on Saturday. “I don’t know if anyone can relate to that. I know a lot of people don’t understand that I’m dating and hanging out and just having fun and when you’re in a relationship where you don’t feel valued and you don’t feel like you were treated well, it feels so nice to just talk to people who make you feel valued and treat you well.”
She added, “And I think one of the biggest comments I see is, ‘Go heal and focus on your children.’ And what I want to say to that is: two things can be true. I have my kids 50 percent of the time now, so I am focusing on healing and spending time with them but when I don’t have them I’m also focusing on myself and reprioritizing being happy, honestly. And it’s been really fun to just be happy and to be giddy and to just let loose and kind of see that men don’t have to be what I have experienced for so long.”
Jessi went on to say that while she does believe that “being alone,” going to therapy and “journaling” are all “ a big part of healing,” she also believes that “another part of healing is dating.”
“Because I am definitely jaded when it comes to relationships now and I am really scared,” she explained. “So it’s been kind of nice just to, like, be happy again and experience other things. I do plan on being single for a long time and just hanging out with different people and having fun and finding connections while also focusing on myself.”
Jessi — who admitted she hasn’t been “single since I was 19 or 20 years old” — also addressed comments she has made about her previous relationship, saying that she doesn’t want to “talk badly” about her failed marriage.
“I already said my piece on that,” she added, claiming that she lived in “fight or flight” mode for years. “But there is an element of, like, when you do get divorced you kind of unwind what you’ve been through.”
The reality TV star acknowledged that there are “going to be plenty of judgments” about the decisions she makes moving forward, but despite the online hate and criticism she is “so happy just to be in this new phase in life.”
“Divorce is so freaking scary and so hard and so heartbreaking,” she continued. “I am so excited to film again and show that process for me.”
Filming on season 5 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives was briefly paused after star Taylor Frankie Paul and ex Dakota Mortensen were engaged in an alleged domestic dispute. After local authorities decided not to pursue charges against Taylor, production on the season resumed and producers welcomed Taylor to return.
The former Bachelorette is said to be focused on her mental health after her split and legal issues with Dakota, and will reportedly “not be involved” in the show moving forward.
