Jessica, 34, became a household name when she starred in the first season of Love Is Blind in 2020, a series which saw a group of singletons take part in a social experiment, all in the name of love. Unfortunately, she didn’t choose to marry her ex-fiancé Mark Cuevas, 27, in the final episode of the Netflix series. Two years after the scenes were filmed, the group reunited for three After the Altar episodes which updated fans on where the contestants were in their lives and what had changed since they were last on camera. Explaining why she didn’t go through with the wedding as well as reacting to the messages she’s received from the spin-off on her Instagram page, Jessica said she was left “crying” after an outpouring of comments from viewers of the show.
Posting a selection of pictures of herself on the social media platform, Jessica wrote a lengthy caption about the journey she has been on.
The reality television star shared: “For those sending these beautiful messages, I’m reading and most times crying getting through them.
“Thank you for being so kind and for the heartfelt apologies – I understand the initial judgment more than you know.”
Explaining how she was fighting through the tears, Jessica went on to explain how it was a “tough decision” to go back and film the reunion.
Stating her life was “getting back to normal”, the Love Is Blind star commented on how she went back to “share [her story] for every person who reach out” and had “[walked] away from situations that were not serving them”.
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The reality television star said she wanted to “share [her] side of the story with Mark” but the latter decided not to reunite with his former co-stars.
Jessica explained the one lesson she had learnt from being on the show was “it’s important not to seek a relationship or another person to make yourself feel whole or happy”.
She also added how “being alone and independent is incredibly empowering” and if she hadn’t stuck with those virtues, she wouldn’t be where she was now.
Concluding the post, Jessica urged her fans to stay true to who they are to never “lose sight of [their] own heart.”
Following the breakdown of her relationship with Mark, Jessica has gone on to find love away from the show.
Moving to California from Atlanta, the reality television star is now enjoying a romance with boyfriend Benjamin McGrath.
The pair have been together for a year and a half and have been sharing their lives together on their social media platforms.
Having met in March 2020, the pair decided to live together during the numerous lockdowns the coronavirus pandemic brought.
In the three After the Altar episodes, Jessica explained she did not date for quite some time after filming on Love Is Blind wrapped up.
During the spin-off instalments, the reality television star said: “After I left the altar, I didn’t date for a very long time.
“I wanted to take my time and memorialise the experience that I just went through,” Jessica told the camera.
It wasn’t until summer 2020 the reality television star went public about her relationship with Benjamin.
Love Is Blind: After the Altar is now available to stream on Netflix.
