90 Day Fiance couple Michael Jessen and Juliana Custodio de Sousa tied the knot on Season 7 of the TLC reality series, but did they stay together or break up? What's the latest on the 90 Day Fiance couple's relationship?
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[90 Day Fiance Spoilers Warning: This article contains major spoilers about the current status of 90 Day Fiance couple Michael and Juliana's marriage.]
Michael, a 41-year-old independent and self-employed wine entrepreneur from Greenwich, CT, and Juliana, a 23-year-old from Goiania, Brazil, were one of the couples who starred on 90 Day Fiance's seventh season, which just wrapped on February 9 TLC. (The Tell-All special has yet to air).RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY KNOW? (PHOTOS)
Michael, who imports and distributes wine and works at wine auctions, met Juliana, an international model, during a big yacht party in Croatia.
"I remember when I first saw her," Michael said on the debut episode. "She's beautiful, amazing body -- I don't necessarily believe in love at first sight, but it's like we were kindred spirits."
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Once Michael and Juliana got to know each other, Michael said he realized she was funny, thoughtful and smart. He was amazed she was only 20 years old.
"There are certainly a lot of people that may pass judgment [and] may think I'm just an old sleazy, rich guy going after a young hot woman," Michael said. "It doesn't bother me at all. I don't really care."
Michael pledged to support Juliana, a former seamstress who grew up very poor, financially in any way he could.
Michael therefore gave Juliana access to his credit cards. Michael admitted he had spent no small amount of money on her, but he simply wanted to give Juliana the world. (When a producer later asked if the amount was around $150,000, Michael refused to comment. Juliana even purchased a car on Michael's credit card.)
Michael was hoping Juliana could visit him in the United States shortly after they met, but that plan apparently fell through because her intentions were questioned and they were both denied Tourist Visas.
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Michael realized obtaining a K-1 visa would be the only way she could come to America -- so he proposed marriage and planned to marry her within 90 days of her visit.
RELATED LINK: 'MARRIED AT FIRST SIGHT' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO BROKE UP? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
It took a long time for the K-1 visa to be approved, and both individuals almost lost hope because Michael could never move and leave his two children, Max and Cece, behind whom he had welcomed with his ex-wife Sarah Jessen.
When Juliana had her interview in Rio de Janeiro for the K-1 visa, both Michael and Juliana were nervous because Juliana was apparently in a "high-risk" category and had a lot of stamps in her passport.
There was a concern Juliana wanted to come to America so she could be involved in "illicit activities."
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Cameras were not permitted inside the consulate, but after the interview, Juliana said it was "bad" and they had insulted her.
"They just asked stupid questions. They asked me if I had been working as a prostitute the last 10 years," Juliana revealed in a confessional.
Michael called it "ridiculous" and planned to consult with his lawyer over that "upsetting" interview.
"What does that make me? A pimp?... I don't need to [pay for sex]," Michael vented to Juliana, before she called the process "a nightmare."
But after providing a police-clearance document to show Juliana had no criminal history, Juliana's K-1 visa was approved.
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Michael wanted Juliana's arrival in the United States to be as special as possible, so he bought a bouquet of flowers, champagne, and a $4,000 necklace, and headed to the airport in a big white Hummer limousine.
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: BEFORE THE 90 DAYS' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
Juliana said she felt like the luckiest girl in the world, and her first meeting with Michael's children went beautifully. She also got along with Sarah, who turned out to be very gracious and kind to Juliana.
Sarah said while most ex-wives would probably be intimidated by such a tall, sexy, gorgeous, exotic, smart and well-traveled girl, she wasn't -- because she didn't have the need, energy or time to be jealous.
Sarah apparently asked Juliana "not to parent" at first, but the women slowly became close and Juliana seemed to take on a stepmother role in Max and Cece's lives as they grew to love and respect her.
Michael and Juliana planned a small, intimate wedding with good food, good wine, some dancing and about a 40-person guest count. But Michael was still quoted $50,000-$100,000 for a wedding at their new home by the wedding planner.
But things between family members became tense when Sarah asked Michael if he and Juliana had a prenuptial agreement in place to ensure their children would be well taken care of financially in case something were to go wrong in their marriage.
The conversation upset Juliana because she never wanted to get a divorce, and she feared Michael would have all the power and control in their marriage.
Juliana had stopped working a few months prior, so she didn't have much money to bring into the marriage. Michael allegedly also broke up with Juliana once before -- and the split lasted for three months -- and Juliana couldn't afford her rent.
Juliana worried that might happen again and then she'd be left with nothing. She cried about the situation and said she felt like "a loser" with no independence.
RELATED LINK: 'BIG BROTHER' SHOWMANCES NOW: WHO'S STILL TOGETHER? WHICH COUPLES HAVE SPLIT UP?? (PHOTOS)
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After seeing Juliana so distraught over the prenup, he decided not to go through with it. After all, Michael said he was in love and had every hope his marriage to Juliana would last forever.
"We're not doing it. No prenup. It doesn't make sense. It's stupid. No matter what happens, you're going to be okay and the kids are going to be fine. That's not why we're getting married -- to have a business transaction," Michael finally shared with his fiancee.
Later on, Juliana and Sarah bonded when the girls went to a wedding shop so Juliana could pick up her altered gown.
Sarah told Juliana to not let Michael control all of their money, and she told the future bride not to be nervous because she was about to become a member of a wonderful family.
It then became time for Juliana and Michael's wedding.
Juliana was sad she never heard from her family members that day and cried, but she ultimately decided not to let anyone ruin her wedding since she was going to marry the man she loved.
She therefore wiped her tears and walked down the aisle in her beautiful long-sleeve, lace ballgown with a tiara and veil on her head.
Michael felt he and Juliana had conquered so much together, and he was emotional because they had remained in love through it all.
"You look amazing. Oh my gosh, you're a princess," Michael told his bride at the altar.
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: HAPPILY EVER AFTER?' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
The ceremony was officiated by Sarah, who gushed about how her children were happier than ever with Juliana in their lives.
Michael was so proud of his children and felt like they were an extended family "all in this together."
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The wedding reception included cake and dancing, and Michael noted in a confessional, "It's more perfect than I could ever picture perfect being."
Juliana was also on Cloud 9, telling the cameras Michael was "even better" than the man of her dreams and he was stuck with her forever. Juliana said even if Michael wanted a divorce down the road, she wouldn't allow it.
Are Michael and Juliana still together? Has the 90 Day Fiance couple's wedding bliss lasted?
Juliana and Michael got married on October 12, 2019, and photos from the wedding leaked online late last year.It is evident, based on this family's social media accounts, that Michael and Juliana are still a couple and remain happily married.
On February 13, Juliana posted a video of Michael sitting at a table with their cute black dog -- wearing a red sweatshirt -- in his arms.
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' FRANCHISE COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER?? (PHOTOS)
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In early February, Juliana posted a photo with Michael and fellow 90 Day Fiance couple and Connecticut residents Tania Maduro and Syngin Colchester. She captioned it, "Love these people."
Around the same time, Michael shared photos from the wedding and wrote, "No longer the worst kept secret on #90dayfiance Season 7. The most beautiful and happiest day of our lives.... Watching last night's episode was like reliving the moment.... We woke up this morning feeling like newlyweds."
"Thank you [to] everyone [who] made it so special. #married #wedding #love #family #friends #greenwich #michaelandjuliana #notasecretanymore #worstkeptsecret #october12 #2019 #2020."
In mid-January 2020, Michael posted several photos of Juliana in a bathing suit hugging and kissing her little black dog in their house.
"This is love," Michael captioned the image, adding "#love #puppies #puppiesofinstagram #puppy #puppylove #heartmelting #90dayfiance #2020 #michaelandjuliana #love."
And Juliana confirmed around the same time she's currently living in Connecticut.
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"First winter of me in Connecticut and hard get use to the cold," Juliana captioned a photo of herself in a bikini. "Thinking of summer being here. #summer #bikinilife #babyitscoldoutside #90dayfiance #michaelandjuliana #tlc."
The 90 Day Fiance couple has remained close with Michael's ex Sarah
Juliana has also remained very close with Sarah, and it appears she gets along beautifully with Max and Cece.Juliana revealed she was hanging out with Sarah in her Instagram Stories on January 14, and she captioned one photo of them both growling, "Men don't control us."
On January 13, it appears Juliana did a "closet challenge" with Sarah's new husband Sean Naso and Michael's daughter Cece in which Sean had to pick out feminine clothes blindfolded from a closet and then try them on.
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY KNOW? (PHOTOS)
Michael also posted photos of Juliana meeting a guitar craftsman he finds remarkable on January 9, and four days earlier, he shared a photo of his love and gushed about her on Instagram.
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"I think this is now my all-time favorite photo of my wonderful and beautiful {word redacted}, @julianacustodiooo.... and she took it herself," Michael captioned the image of Juliana looking naturally beautiful and posed.
"#lovehersomuch #nofilter #mensdoesntcontrolher #90dayfiance #2020 #homestudio #selfportrait #michaelandjuliana #beautiful #thankful #grateful."
On January 4, Juliana and Michael both shared photos from when they celebrated a friend's 50th birthday at what appeared to be a fancy black-tie affair.
Michael also took to Instagram on December 25, 2019 with photos of Juliana, his children and their dog.
"Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones from the Jessen/Naso family @maxwell.jessen @julianacustodiooo @keathley76 @the_real_naso @howardthedog87 @dogpercythe #gusgusthedog," Michael captioned the slideshow.
"We wish you a wonderful and safe holiday season and hope that you enjoy much love, happiness, and health in 2020."
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Michael has lashed out at 90 Day Fiance and TLC
After the episode aired earlier this season in which Michael and Juliana met with a mediator to discuss a prenuptial agreement, Michael slammed TLC and the show's production company on Instagram for alleged "bullsh-t" editing that painted himself in a bad light."It's something where I feel like I need to call a little bit of bullsh-t because it's not really who we are. It's not really reflective of our reality," Michael said in a series of videos posted to his Instagram Stories in mid-December, according to In Touch Weekly.
RELATED LINK: 'MARRIED AT FIRST SIGHT' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO BROKE UP? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
"I think we're all a little upset that it's kind of cut out the kindness that we truly share together and it was something that was a part of the narrative of our 90 Day Fiance experience that was departing from who we really are... We're all upset about the harshness for which we were portrayed. It hurts our feelings... We're not paid actors. This is still our real lives."
Michael also shot down criticism he's selfish in his relationship with Juliana.
Michael and Juliana are adopting her niece and nephew from Brazil
In the process of defending himself in the video clips, Michael revealed he and Juliana had decided to adopt her niece and nephew from Brazil and bring them over to the United States!ADVERTISEMENT
"Juliana and I, today, just initiated the process of adopting her niece and nephew from Brazil," Michael reportedly shared on December 15.
"They're 8 and 6 years old. And they're in [a] dire situation. The only way to give them a chance at a good life is to bring them to America. We've reached out to my lawyer, we're bringing them over here."
For Juliana's part, she posted a video on Instagram Stories of herself walking around New York City with Michael at the time. The couple was shown hugging and then the video ended with the pair lying in bed together with Michael shirtless.
Juliana also gushed about Michael and defended him following the episode of their prenup dispute.
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: BEFORE THE 90 DAYS' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
"I love this guy. I just wants to share how much I love this man, and so many sacrifices he made just to be with me, isn't fair he being attacked just for what people seem on tv, the fact that I haven't been smart with my own stuff have nothing to do with him," Juliana wrote on Instagram.
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"He doesn't deserve all this hate, he is a prince, I'm so happy that on the real life he is the most amazing human being I have ever met and has a beautiful soul, love you @michael_jessen_77 #90dayfiance."
Michael later re-posted the video and wrote, "Here's the real love that isn't being shown on TV."
Michael and Juliana even attended Sarah's wedding
As for Sarah, she re-married and tied the knot with Sean in early December, and based on a photo Max posted on Instagram, Michael and Juliana attended the small and intimate wedding reception at a waterfront restaurant in Greenwich, CT, together.And when Sarah posted an Instagram photo of Sean, Max, Cece and herself on her wedding day, she tagged Michael and Juliana in her post.
On November 27, Juliana confirmed she no intention of returning to Brazil. While standing next to an American flag, she wrote, "At home in the USA."
More pictures of Juliana, Michael and their blended family date back to November 2019.
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RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY KNOW? (PHOTOS)
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