Jessi Draper’s the multimillionaire hair empire owner who became reality television’s most talked-about entrepreneur—and whose marriage just ended after years of public struggle on Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.
Born on May 25, 1992, Jessi is currently 33 years old and originally from Utah, coming from a pioneering Mormon family. She co-owns JZ Styles, a hair company with an estimated annual revenue of $14.6 million, runs a beauty academy, and stars on one of Hulu’s most-watched reality shows.
But beyond the business success and television fame lies a more complicated story—one involving leaving the Mormon church, navigating a rocky marriage that played out on screen, and building wealth while fighting to protect it from prenup drama that captivated millions of viewers.
On March 19, 2026, Jordan Ngatikaura filed for divorce after five years of marriage, ending a relationship that had survived multiple separations, an emotional affair scandal, and constant public scrutiny.
Early Life and Mormon Family Heritage
Jessi Draper was born and raised in Utah, coming from a pioneering Mormon family. The Draper surname itself carries significance—it’s the same name as Draper, Utah, a city her ancestors helped found during the Mormon pioneer era.
Growing up in a devout Latter-day Saints family shaped her childhood and early adult years. Utah’s Mormon culture creates tight-knit communities with strong religious and social expectations, particularly around marriage, family, and church participation.
Specific details about her parents’ names and occupations during her childhood haven’t been publicly shared, though they clearly instilled strong work ethic and business acumen that would serve her well later.
She noted during interviews that her family name Draper is ‘an easy name to remember’ and that half of her family had already left the Mormon church before she made her own decision in her mid-20s.
She has two sisters who now work alongside her in the family business, though their names and ages aren’t widely publicized. The family’s transformation from devout Mormons to ex-Mormons running a multimillion-dollar hair empire reflects broader cultural shifts in Utah.
Leaving the Mormon Church
When asked her reasons for leaving the religion, she told Live with Kelly and Mark: “It can be really toxic where we live and I just felt like it wasn’t for me. And half of my family had already left, so when I was in my mid-20s, I started stepping away”.
Jessi was placed in The Sinners subgroup of MomTok for being divorced and following less of the Mormon churches guidelines since leaving the organization. On the show, she represents ex-Mormons—those who grew up in the faith but chose different paths.
During an interview, she explained: “I represent an ex-Mormon on the show, which I love because every religion has people who are super devout and people who have left. I love that anyone in any religion can relate”.
Leaving the church meant losing some community connections but gaining personal freedom. Her decision came before reality television fame, reflecting genuine conviction rather than manufactured drama.
Ethnicity, Cultural Background and Religion
Jessi Draper is White American of European descent, with Mormon pioneer heritage dating back to Utah’s settlement in the mid-1800s. Her ancestors were among the families who migrated west with Brigham Young and established communities throughout Utah.
The Draper family name connects directly to Draper, Utah—a city founded by Mormon pioneers including William Draper III, after whom the city was named. This pioneering heritage carries significant cultural weight in Utah, where family lineage and pioneer ancestry create social status.
Regarding current religious practices, Jessi is not a practicing Mormon. She grew up in the religion, but doesn’t identify as one anymore. She hasn’t publicly discussed replacement spiritual practices or whether she follows any other faith tradition.
Her departure from Mormonism wasn’t quiet—it became central to her identity on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, where she openly discusses the toxicity she experienced and her journey away from organized religion.
Building JZ Styles: From YouTube to Multimillion-Dollar Empire
Alongside her gigs as an influencer and reality star, Jessi is co-owner of the successful hair company, JZ Styles. Her business began as a hair-focused YouTube channel, before she later transitioned to Instagram and TikTok.
What started as online hair tutorials evolved into something much bigger. Now estimated to have an annual revenue of $14.6 million and run by Jessi and her family, the company includes a Utah based hair salon, a brand of hair extensions, haircare products, accessories, and a hair school called JZ Academy which offers online and in-person instruction.
Her parents and two sisters all work in the family business, making JZ Styles a true family operation. Her mom and dad both serve as executives, according to business filings reviewed by Newsweek.
The business model is diverse—they don’t rely solely on one revenue stream. The salon provides steady income, the product lines create passive revenue, and the JZ Academy generates income from aspiring hairstylists seeking certification.
The Name Change: From Ngatikaura to Draper
Between season two and three, Jessi changed her professional name from “Jessi Ngatikaura” to “Jessi Draper”. She explained it was partly because of peoples inability to correctly pronounce it.
Saying that Ngatikaura would get butchered ‘more times than I can tell you,’ she explained on an episode of The Viall Files, ‘I was just like, if I’m gonna build a career in this industry, I should probably have a name that rolls off the tongue’.
Plus, turning JZ Styles into a family business by employing her mum, dad, and sisters, this now means the whole family are Drapers. The business decision made practical sense—one easy-to-pronounce surname for the entire family brand.
But there was another layer. According to her, the name change was “mainly for my career, just because [Ngatikaura] is such a hard name to pronounce, and it just didn’t make sense if I’m having a public career. But there was a part of me, too, that was like, ‘Things [with Jordan] are rocky, and if it goes this way, at least people already know me as Draper'”.
It’s worth noting that Jessi hasn’t legally changed her name. She’s still legally Ngatikaura, as are her children, but she just hopes to be known as Jessi Draper publicly.
First Marriage and Divorce
Before Jordan Ngatikaura, Jessi was previously married and divorced. Jessi has a blended family with three kids, including a daughter from her first marriage.
Details about her first husband, including his name, when they married, and why they divorced, have not been publicly shared. She’s maintained privacy around that relationship, likely to protect her older daughter’s father from unwanted attention.
The first divorce happened before reality television fame, so it wasn’t documented publicly. However, being divorced made her part of “The Sinners” subgroup of MomTok for not following Mormon church guidelines—divorce carries stigma in Mormon culture.
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Marriage to Jordan Ngatikaura: A Rocky Journey
Jessi Draper and Jordan Ngatikaura married on October 8, 2020 after a fast engagement. The couple welcomed their first child before the October wedding, suggesting a whirlwind courtship.
They have a daughter, Jovi, and a son, Jagger, together. Jordan also brought a daughter from a previous relationship into their blended family, making three children total.
From the beginning, their relationship faced challenges. They separated multiple times before this final split, with one separation lasting 90 days after Jessi’s emotional affair scandal.
A key issue in their fallout was Jessi’s emotional involvement with Marciano Brunette. She met him while filming in Vanderpump Villa. Subsequently, there was a major stir when everyone found that she had kissed him during a trip to Los Angeles and spent time with him at a hotel.
The relationship was marked by what Jessi described as emotional abuse, financial tension over her wealth, and constant public scrutiny from the reality show.
The Divorce Filing
On March 19, 2026, Jordan Ngatikaura filed for divorce in Utah court after 5 years of marriage. The filing came just days after Season 4 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives premiered, featuring extensive footage of their marital struggles.
Jordan released a statement: “This has not been an easy decision and it comes with a heavy heart. I’m grateful for the shared memories and the lessons. While our paths are now moving in different directions, my priority remains my children and ensuring they feel loved, supported, and protected through this transition”.
He added: “I am committed to handling this next chapter with kindness and respect. I kindly ask for privacy and understanding as we navigate this as a family”.
The divorce will likely involve custody arrangements for their two children together, child support, and potentially alimony—all complicated by the prenup drama documented on the show.
The Prenup Drama That Shocked Viewers
Season 4’s most dramatic storyline involved Jessi discovering her prenuptial agreement might be invalid. While Draper and Ngatikaura signed the prenup before they got married, they never had anyone witness it.
Under Utah law, a prenuptial agreement doesn’t need witnesses to be valid. However, without those witnesses’ signatures, the prenuptial agreement is more likely to be challenged by either party. The parties could claim the signature was forged or that they were coerced into signing it, which could make it invalid.
“This information has really rattled me. I just don’t know what this could mean for me, my business and the security of my family,” Draper said on the show.
The financial stakes are enormous. When explaining it to Taylor Frankie Paul, the women said it means that Ngatikaura could potentially get half what Draper is worth and be entitled to a significant portion of her business.
“I would owe him child support and I would owe him alimony,” Draper said—a reversal of typical divorce scenarios where men pay women.
Net Worth and Financial Empire
JZ Styles is estimated to have an annual revenue of $14.6 million. However, revenue doesn’t equal Jessi’s personal net worth—business revenue gets distributed among family members, reinvested, and taxed.
Conservative estimates place Jessi Draper’s personal net worth between $3-8 million, accumulated through:
- Her ownership stake in JZ Styles
- Salary as co-owner and operator
- Reality television income from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives
- Social media influencer income and brand deals
- Executive producer fees for Season 4
She noted on the show that she’s worth significantly more now than she was five years ago when they signed the prenup. Her wealth has grown exponentially due to the show’s success and JZ Styles’ expansion.
Draper’s business, JZ Styles, is a family-run company. Draper noted on the show that her dad is her business partner, meaning the business’s value is split among family members.
Draper also co-owns a house with Ngatikaura. The house is estimated to be worth $2.4 million, according to Zillow, and was listed for sale in the fall of 2025—a sign the divorce was already in motion before the official filing.
Reality television adds to her wealth. All of the main cast have been made executive producers for the fourth season. Usually, that comes with an additional per-episode payment on top of what they’re paid to be on the show.
Physical Appearance and Personal Style
At 33 years old, Jessi Draper maintains a polished appearance consistent with her role as a hair and beauty professional. As a hairstylist and salon owner, her personal presentation reflects her brand.
Jessi claimed in September of 2024 that she never had plastic surgery on her face, only botox and lip filler. She’s been transparent about cosmetic enhancements while denying more invasive procedures.
Her style tends toward trendy, Instagram-friendly looks—perfectly styled hair (naturally), designer clothing, and the polished aesthetic common among Utah influencers. She represents the aspirational lifestyle that drives much of social media engagement.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Success
Jessi was the last cast member to join The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives and joined after the series was restructured. She was recommended for the series by Mayci, who messaged Jessi on social media to ask if she was interested in filming for the new Pilot.
She agreed and attended the last-minute audition with half her hair done—an ironic detail for someone who owns a hair empire.
Draper has been rewarded for the success of the show; ABC decided to make her and her castmates executive producers for Season 4 after it landed an Emmy nomination.
Jessi won Page Six’s 2025 Boss Babe Award for her work with JZ Styles. She beat out Guerdy Abraira (Real Housewives of Miami), Bozoma Saint John (Real Housewives of Beverly Hills), Melissa Gorga (Real Housewives of New Jersey), and Kim Kardashian (The Kardashians).
Draper signed with CAA, one of Hollywood’s most powerful talent agencies, indicating serious career ambitions beyond reality television.
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