The man whose mugshot captivated the internet back in 2014 has revealed that becoming an overnight sensation didn’t magically fix all his issues.
Let’s rewind to 2014: a single mugshot circulated rapidly online for an unexpected reason. The individual was affectionately nicknamed ‘prison bae’ and ‘hottest felon’, among other complimentary titles, due to his striking appearance.
Jeremy Meeks’ image was shared on the Stockton Police Department Facebook page, quickly amassing millions of views and catapulting him to internet fame. Despite dealing with several gun-related charges and serving a 27-month prison term, Meeks managed to capitalize on his newfound celebrity status.
He secured a modeling deal with White Cross Management, later gracing the runway for prominent fashion labels, appearing in films, and signing lucrative fashion agreements.
While his journey from felon to fashion icon is remarkable, Meeks has mentioned that his looks didn’t always make life easier prior to his viral fame.
Just a few years after becoming an internet star, in 2017, Meeks spoke about the challenges he still faced due to his difficult upbringing.
In his first interview, he shared: “I heard all my life, ‘you’re so handsome, you have the most beautiful eyes’, and I heard it a hundred times a day. To where I would not even pay no mind to it.
“It didn’t fix it then. I still had a father in prison doing life. I still had a heroin-addict mother and me and my brother and sisters struggling through life’s tribulations.”
He remarked that having good looks didn’t provide an escape back then and acknowledged that even with some success, it wasn’t sufficient to change everything.
Meeks expressed his intention to apply the lessons learned from his past to navigate the complexities of fame and life in Hollywood.
During a podcast appearance in 2019, he delved deeper into his family background, sharing: “Both of my parents were heroin addicts. I was a heroin baby … My childhood was very dark. My dad committed a murder when I was nine months old and killed my mom’s best friend.”
Now at 41, Meeks continues to stand out with a polished, high-fashion image that solidifies his presence in the entertainment world.
In 2024, he published an autobiography titled, Model Citizen: The Autobiography of Jeremy Meeks, offering more detailed accounts of his early life and experiences, areas he had previously only briefly discussed.
Outside of his public life, Meeks is a father to two sons: Jeremy Jr. with his former spouse Melissa, and Jayden with Chloe Green, a Topshop heiress he was involved with for two years.