Several of the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives stars have walked away from the hit reality series — but will Jessi Draper be next?
“I don’t know because I love it so much and it’s not just a show. It’s my real friend group, right? It’s our real lives, and so it’s weird to be like, ‘Well, I’d leave,’ ‘cause those are my friends,” Jessi, 34, said on the Tuesday, September 15, episode of the “Just Trish” podcast. “But, at the same time, being on reality [TV] is hard, like, it’s a lot. It’s our life and it’s so exposed and everyone has opinions.”
She continued, “So there are times when I’m like, ‘I want to quit just because it’s a lot to have the constant opinions and comments’ … but when you meet the [fans] in real life, it is the best experience to know you can make someone’s day by taking a photo with them.”
The JZ Styles founder was among the OG cast on Mormon Wives when the series premiered in 2024. Nearly two years and five seasons later, several of Jessi’s fellow MomTok members have left the show. Demi Engemann walked away after season 3, two seasons before Whitney Leavitt called it quits herself. Jen Affleck, for her part, moved to California this year to star on the show’s Orange County-based spinoff, while Mikayla Matthews revealed earlier this month that season 6 will be her last amid Taylor Frankie Paul’s continued involvement. (Production was briefly halted in March over Taylor, 32, and now-ex Dakota Mortensen’s alleged domestic violence dispute and custody battle.)
Costars Layla Taylor and Mayci Neeley have also hinted via social media that they might not be part of the series forever.
As for Jessi, she told podcast host Trisha Paytas that her own future on Mormon Wives is still up in the air.
“I don’t know how long [I’ll stay],” she quipped. “We’ll see how hard it gets.”
Jessi recently filmed season 6, which has yet to be released, following her divorce from Jordan Ngatikaura.
“Jordan and Dakota are both done filming, which is good, because once you’re an ex, there is no need, I don’t think. I think it’s OK. Wish them the best, but let’s just keep it with the women,” she said. “I think it’s good for both of them to be able to move forward. Like, here’s the thing. Even though me and my ex have had a tumultuous relationship [and] Dakota and Taylor had their thing, I still believe everyone deserves to, like, heal and move on. So, if both of them want the chance to do that, I want that for them.”
News broke this month that Jessi and Jordan, 32, finalized their divorce, agreeing to share custody of their two children. The hairstylist has since moved on with Vanderpump Villa star Marciano Brunette.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is available to stream on Hulu.
