Summary

• Most couples in Prison Brides met through pen pal programs while the men were in prison.
• Jessica and Craig couldn't make their marriage work, and their relationship ended in domestic violence charges.
• Svea and Joseph ultimately broke up after he got arrested again, leading to an emotional split.

Lifetime's unscripted series Prison Brides finished its inaugural season in late March 2024, and it's time to catch up with the couples to find out who's still together and who broke up. The show follows seven women from all over the world who have fallen in love with American federal prisoners. The seven men are all in prison for violent crimes, ranging from carjacking to armed robbery to second-degree murder. The series chronicles the journeys of these couples as they navigate their complicated relationships with the odds stacked against them.

Most of the women cast in Prison Brides season 1 had never been to the United States before traveling there to meet their incarcerated loved ones. They all met their men through pen pal programs for those who were in the American prison system. Some of the couples cast in the series are dating, engaged, or even legally married. Though some of the men remained in prison for the duration of the series, some were released as these women risked everything to be with them.

Jessica & Craig

Separated

Before ing the cast of Prison Brides season 1, Australian-born Jessica was already married to Craig for five years. At the start of the season, Craig secured an early release from prison and could walk out a free man to pursue his life with Jessica. For her part, she left her family and friends behind to move from Australia to Kansas to start a new life with the former inmate. The series documented the couple navigating the emotional, mental, and financial turmoil as they struggled to create a whole new life together in the United States.

"We both underestimated how difficult it was going to be coming out of doing 10 years in prison."

Though Craig and Jessica got pregnant early in the season, they couldn't make their marriage work. Between their financial issues and Craig's inability to manage his emotions, the couple couldn't overcome the challenges. Craig believed Jessica overspent, and was putting them in a bind financially, and he wanted no part of her perceived reckless spending.

Ultimately, Craig was arrested for domestic violence charges and is awaiting his trial. His very pregnant wife, Jessica, ended up moving back to Australia to have her baby. "We both underestimated how difficult it was going to be coming out of doing 10 years in prison," Jessica told producers. Jessica hasn't posted a picture wth Craig since June 2023.

All her recent Instagram activity involves her and Craig's son, Huddy, who just celebrated his three-month birthday. Jessica also has pictures with her family in Australia, and seems to be focusing on being a mom. She does not seem to be pursuing an influencer career, as many reality TV stars do. It is unclear what she does for work now that she is back in her native country or what kind of she has with Craig at this point regarding their marriage or their son.

Andreea & Cage

Married

Born in Romania,Andreea and Cage didn't get married during Prison Brides season 1 due to a lengthy prison lockdown, but Andreea still intended to move to the United States to marry Cage as soon as possible. Andreea's friends and family questioned how she could enter into a marriage without physical intimacy, but Andreea insisted that her spiritual connection with Cage was enough for her.

Andreaa got her wish to marry Cage, as she shared a picture from their prison-style wedding day in her Instagram on April 25, 2024.

"We finally did it!!!Officially married to the love of my life!! to infinity and beyond! Forever yours!"

Andreaa's home base still seems to be in London as she advocates for her incarcerated husband. Andreaa frequently lets Prison Brides fans know about her love for Cage and how she feels about the American prison system via podcast interviews or her social media posts. When she is not being her husband's biggest er, she is posting glam selfies or videos and enjoying her life in the free world.

Olivia & KJ

Married

Olivia, a dance teacher from the UK, met federal prisoner KJ online through a pen pal, and they were engaged just three days after meeting. During Lifetime's Prison Brides season 1, Olivia traveled to the United States and married KJ in an austere prison wedding ceremony. After the wedding, Olivia went back to the UK and resumed teaching dance, while KJ continues to serve the last year of his eight-year sentence for a still undisclosed crime.

About his prison sentence, KJ said, "I don't regret this because I would have never met Olivia."

Olivia and KJ share a private t Instagram commemorating their love, although it is likely only run by Olivia. Olivia has also dabbled in influencing, as she has started her own Etsy shop selling tumblers and sweatshirts with kitschy phrases on them. KJ did have his own Instagram , but it is now defunct.

Emma & Curtis

Seemingly Not Together

Emma, a postal worker from the UK, moved to the United States to marry Curtis, who is in prison for carjacking and possession of a firearm. Despite all the red flags, Emma insists to her concerned parents that she is madly in love with him. Emma and Curtis got married while he was still in prison to hurry along his application for a UK port. They planned to move Curtis to the UK with Emma to start a family together. Curtis's release date was on the horizon during the show, and he has finally made it to the outside world.

Emma and Curtis have had the most drama since the show wrapped. Emma started posting real-world pictures with Curtis starting March 2024. However, those stopped as of mid-June 2024. Emma is very active on Instagram where she has posted stories seemingly dissing Curtis. She has posted videos out with friends, and appears to no longer be with Curtis. Emma recently shared her intentions to start an online store. Curtis does not appear to be on Instagram, and his current whereabouts are unknown post-release and Prison Brides.

Svea & Joseph

Broken Up

Like the other couples cast in Prison Brides, Svea, a midwife from , and Michael, a federal prisoner incarcerated in Michigan, met as online pen pals. During the first episode of the season, Svea finally met Joseph as he was released from prison and started his new life out in the world. He struggled to make ends meet as he pursued his dream of being an artist. With Svea still living in , the couple couldn't work through the separation.

At the end of the season, parolee Joseph was arrested for getting into a physical fight with a roommate. Svea, who had made it clear that she'd end the relationship if he ever got arrested again, kept her word and broke up with Joseph immediately. Svea is back in , working and raising her daughter.

All charges were dropped against Joseph, who now lives and works in Michigan while still pursuing his dream of being an artist.

Regarding the split, Joseph told producers, "Am I devastated? Yes. But one thing I can tell you is that it was worth it."

Joseph's Instagram is unknown, while Svea has a private Instagram .

Gabriella & Jamal

Married

Gabby, a former model from , started corresponding with Jamal, a convicted murderer, online through a prison pen pal program. Despite their differences, the pair fall in love and got married in a jailhouse ceremony during Prison Brides season 1. After the wedding, Gabby is living in the U.S., advocating for Jamal's release. Jamal is serving the twelfth year of his 22-45-year sentence and wrote a book about this life, which debuted in March 2024.

Gabby and Jamal seem as in love as ever.

Gabby shared a recent Fourth of July picture, and Jamal could be found in the comments leaving a fire and heart emoji for his wife. Gabby also urges fans to donate to Jamal's GoFundMe to "Help to get Jamal his freedom back." The GoFundMe has only raised $1,005 in the last five months it's been live. Jamal has his own Instagram where he promotes his love for Gabby, his new memoir, and his GoFundMe page.

Erin & Michael

Separated

Erin, a single mom from Australia, left her child behind to move to Ohio to be with her career criminal boyfriend, Michael. Michael was incarcerated for armed robbery and had spent most of his adult life in jail. In the first episode of Prison Brides season 1, Michael was released from prison and proposed to Erin. She accepted, but things didn't go smoothly for Michael in the outside world. After a tumultuous season, Michael landed back in prison after a domestic violence charge and is awaiting trial. Erin ended the relationship and went back to Australia to be with her son and is not on social media.

Michael's sister, Sherrie Taylor, made a viral TikTok about her brother and how she felt about him. Almost everything Michael said and did on the show was a lie according to Sherrie.

"Everything everyone is saying about his unfortunately true. Michael has done all of wrong his entire life. My heart breaks for Erin because he is a master manipulator."

In Prison Brides season 1, viewers watched a lot of heartbreak between the brides who were in impossibly difficult relationships with inmates. Months after the show's final episode airing, Emma and Curtis seem to have had the most surprising outcome. The other brides who are still in their marriages will have to continuously face an uphill battle and judgment from fans and those around them.

Prison Brides season 1 is currently streaming on Lifetime.

Source: Jessica Silvey/Instagram, Andreea/Instagram, Lifetime/YouTube, Olivia and KJ/Instagram, Emma Bradford/Instagram, Gabby Moore/Instagram, GoFundMe, Jamal Moore/Instagram, Sherrie Taylor/TikTok