Jessi Draper Shares Her Journey Through Divorce and New Beginnings in a New Home
Jessi Draper Reflects on New Beginnings Amid Divorce
Star of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Jessi Draper, has publicly defended her recent move to a new home, a transition she is navigating during her divorce from Jordan Ngatikaura.
In an Instagram post on April 1, Draper, 33, expressed optimism about her fresh start. “New beginnings,” she wrote, adding that her sisters had helped her settle into her new living space, stocking it with food and essentials.
Draper took a moment to express her gratitude for her support network. “Grateful to have family and friends that remind me that even though I’m not perfect & I make mistakes, I’m worthy of being loved and I’m just a human being like everyone else. Here’s to a new chapter,” she noted.
Jordan Ngatikaura, 32, filed for divorce on March 19 after five years of marriage. In his statement to Us Weekly, he described the decision as challenging and expressed his commitment to honoring their shared experiences: “This has not been an easy decision, and it comes with a heavy heart. 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.”
Ngatikaura emphasized the importance of navigating this personal chapter with kindness and respect, requesting privacy for the family during this time.
The couple shares two children: a five-year-old son, Jagger, and a three-year-old daughter, Jovi. Their divorce proceedings have drawn media attention, particularly when Ngatikaura filed for a restraining order against Draper, which was ultimately denied. Reflecting on her emotional state during the marriage, Draper shared her experiences in a Call Her Daddy podcast episode on March 25. “I felt so trapped in that marriage. I couldn’t do anything right. I was so beaten down emotionally, and I was just so deeply unhappy,” she revealed, explaining how her husband’s influence contributed to her feelings of helplessness.
Draper described a pivotal moment when she realized it was time to end the marriage. “In the last year, I’ve told him, actually, a few different times [that] I want to get divorced. But he always calms me down,” she recounted, emphasizing the emotional toll of living in a state of limbo.
In the podcast, she also alleged that Ngatikaura had been emotionally abusive, a claim he has not officially addressed. Draper stated, “I think Jordan wants someone submissive. I was kind of like that in the beginning. Then it started to this place where I’m like, ‘No,’ and I would fight back,” attributing this struggle as a factor leading to the couple’s separation.
As the two work through their divorce, the focus on their children’s well-being remains paramount, illustrating the complexities of navigating familial relationships in the public eye.
