Honestly, if you only remember Fernanda Flores as the teenager who threw a drink in a club or sobbed over Jonathan Rivera's "betrayal" in a South Carolina parking lot, you’ve missed the best part of the story. Most people think reality TV is where careers go to die. Or they assume every 90 Day Fiance star is just chasing a green card. But Fernanda? She basically flipped the script.
It’s 2026, and the girl from Celaya, Mexico, is no longer that 19-year-old following a realtor around a small town.
The Breakup That Actually Made Her
When Fernanda and Jonathan Rivera split back in early 2019, the internet was brutal. People called her a gold digger. They said she used him to get to Chicago. But if you look at the timeline, the reality is a lot more nuanced. Their divorce was finalized in March 2020—she famously posted a video of herself dancing outside the courthouse in a white suit. It wasn't just "reality TV drama." It was a kid realizing she’d signed up for a life that didn't fit.
Jonathan was 32; she was barely out of high school. That age gap wasn't just a number; it was a lifestyle chasm. He wanted a wife who would stay in Lumberton; she wanted the world.
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Why the Chicago Move Mattered
Most fans think she ditched Jonathan for Chicago. In reality, Chicago was where she found her feet. She didn't just move there to party. She started grinding. She took acting classes, worked on her English, and actually started booking real modeling gigs. This wasn't the "influencer" life where you just post tea ads. She was signed by Select Model Management, a legit agency that doesn't care about your TLC follower count if you can’t walk a runway.
Fernanda Flores: Beyond the "Single Life"
You might have caught her on 90 Day: The Single Life. That was a weird era. We saw her date Noel Mikaelian, a professional boxer. It seemed like the perfect "power couple" setup. They were living in Miami—the ultimate destination for anyone who wants to be seen—and sharing gym selfies that made everyone feel lazy.
But as of 2026, the vibe has shifted. While she and Noel had a high-profile run, Fernanda has leaned heavily into her own brand. She’s not just "the girlfriend" anymore.
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- Modeling: She’s still on the books with Select Miami. Her portfolio isn't just reality TV headshots; it’s high-fashion editorial work.
- Fitness: Boxing became more than a hobby. It’s a core part of her identity now. She’s often seen training at high-end gyms in Miami, focusing on the discipline of the sport rather than just the "fitspo" aesthetic.
- Social Media: She’s sitting at over 400k followers on Instagram, but the content is different. It’s less about the show and more about high-production fashion content and her Mexican heritage.
The Truth About the Green Card Rumors
Let’s address the elephant in the room because people still bring it up in every Reddit thread. Did she marry Jonathan for a green card?
Jonathan himself actually defended her on this. He explicitly stated in interviews that her feelings were real and she wasn't a "gold digger." She didn't need him to stay in the U.S. indefinitely; she had the drive to build a career that justified her being here. In 2026, she’s a self-made woman living a life that Jonathan’s real estate salary in North Carolina probably couldn’t have sustained anyway.
What She's Doing Right Now
Fernanda is currently focusing on entrepreneurship. She launched an online clothing store that taps into her personal style—think "Miami chic meets Mexican roots." It’s a smart move. She knows the reality TV fame has a shelf life, so she’s converting that attention into a tangible business.
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She also spends a lot of time back in Mexico. Unlike some cast members who never look back, Fernanda is constantly bridging the gap between her life in the States and her family in Celaya. It’s clear that the "divorcee" label doesn't define her anymore. She’s a model, a business owner, and honestly, a survivor of the TLC machine.
Takeaways for the Fans
If you're following Fernanda's journey, here’s the reality:
- Don't believe the edit. The "angry teenager" persona was a snapshot of a girl in a high-stress, intercultural marriage.
- Watch the business moves. She’s one of the few cast members who transitioned from "reality star" to "professional model" successfully.
- The Miami era is real. She’s fully integrated into the Miami fashion scene, which is a far cry from the suburbs of Chicago or North Carolina.
If you want to keep up with her real-life updates, skip the tabloids and check her agency portfolio or her direct social feeds. She’s much more active in the professional space than the "90 Day" gossip mill these days.