‘I’m an Open Book:’ Jessi Ngatikaura on ‘Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ Season 2 and Fame (EXCLUSIVE)
The mom of three also shared her favorite thing to do with the other Momtok members
Hairdresser and influencer Jessi Ngatikaura stole viewers’ hearts during Season 1 of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (SLOMW) thanks to her humor and no-nonsense approach to drama. Reality fans also loved how open and honest she was about all the plastic surgery work she had done, and how even with the show, she still managed to continue her “hair empire,” JZ Styles. First for Women recently sat down with the mother of three to discuss how she balances it all and what SLOMW fans can expect from the highly anticipated second season. Scroll on for more.
Jessi Ngatikaura talks ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives debuted on Hulu in September 2024 and starred Jennifer “Jen” Affleck, Taylor Frankie Paul, Mayci Neeley, Mikayla Matthews, Whitney Leavitt, Layla Wessel, Demi Engemann and Ngatikaura, but according to her, that wasn’t always the case.
“I was in the friend group. I knew Mayci, Whitney, Demi and a bunch of the girls, but I wasn’t in the original cast,” she shared with First for Women. “The original cast was pretty small. I think it was only about five of them. And I think they were going to add more people as time went on, but then, when the show kind of got put on pause [due to Paul’s arrest], they decided to add three more, and that’s when me, Layla and Jen came on.”
Once she got on the show, though, Ngatikaura said it was “surreal.”
“During the first season, no one knew who we were or what we were doing. So, when we were out filming in a restaurant or whatever, no one really cared,” she continued. “Season 2 was a different experience because everyone knew who we were, and people were excited when we were out. So it was kind of a shock, because overnight, people knew about the show and actually cared about what we were doing.”
“The cast has ups and downs through Season 1, as you can see, and that continues throughout Season 2. There are some friendships that I think people will be surprised to see break apart, and other people get closer,” she continued. “ I think that fame went specifically to one person’s head and the audience will see that as time goes on.”
When she’s not filming, Ngatikaura can often be found hanging out with Neeley and Matthews at “The Cheesecake Factory.”
“We just binge eat and gossip,” she joked. “We like to have off-camera dinners so we can just decompress and relax. So we like to eat. Honestly, that’s what we bond over.”
Jessi Ngatikaura on owning JZ Styles and how she finds balance
Aside from being in “Momtok,” Ngatikaura also owns and operates JZ Styles, which is a Utah-based hair salon, extension company and hair school rolled into one.
“I’ve been doing it for almost 10 years, and it’s been my biggest passion,” she said. “I think the hardest thing is balancing filming and this new life—all of that is difficult, but I’m lucky that I got my business to a point where it’s sustainable with the employees I have. My family all works for me and they keep it going so that I can step away and do things like this, but it’s so fun. I love teaching hair. I love doing hair. Sometimes I do miss the days when I just did hair and life was a little more simple. But now, when I do it, it’s just for fun and I can really enjoy it.”
Between JZ Styles, her online presence, the show and her kids, though, Ngatikaura is clearly quite busy. According to her, the only way she is able to balance it all is because she “has a village behind me.”
“I have family and friends, nannies and everyone who helps me out. But I would say my biggest thing, knowing what your first, second and third priorities of the day are, making sure I focus on those and also understanding that life has different seasons,” she continued. “Right now I am so, so busy with the show and press and my business. But in the summer, when we have a break from filming and Mayci and Mikala are having their babies, I’m gonna have a lot more time with my kids, because we’re off. So I’m excited to soak that in. So I know right now I have to give 100% to the show and in a few months I can give 100% back to my kids.”
Jessi Ngatikaura spills on her plastic surgery
One thing Ngatikaura hasn’t been shy about posting online is her plastic surgery procedures. These have included a nose job, CO2 lasers, a labiaplasty, veneers, a boob job and more. And while many people might be shy about posting it online, she isn’t.
“I’m an open book for better or for worse. I’ve always just talked about everything in my life, good and bad. So I never really thought about hiding it, especially because I live my life online,” Ngatikaura explained. “If I were getting procedures done and hiding it, I couldn’t post for weeks at a time and it would be weird. My business thrives on my social media being active, so it was just never a question for me. And I knew I’d probably get hate and criticism, but I just was, like, ‘You know what? If other people want to get these things done and my videos help them, then this is great.’”
Be sure to check out Jessi Ngatikaura on Season 2 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Thursday, May 15, on Hulu.
This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan.
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