If you’ve ever fallen down the rabbit hole of TLC reality drama, you know the name. 90 Day Fiancé Larissa Santos Lima isn't just a former cast member; she is basically the blueprint for the "polarizing" reality star. She arrived from Brazil in 2018 with a suitcase and a personality that immediately set the franchise on fire.
She was loud. She was unapologetic. She demanded flowers at the airport.
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Most people remember her for the explosive arguments with her now-ex-husband Colt Johnson and his mother, Debbie. But if you think her story ended when the cameras stopped rolling for TLC, you’re missing the most interesting part of the narrative. Larissa’s journey from a K-1 visa hopeful to a self-made (and controversial) independent creator is a wild ride of legal battles, extreme physical transformations, and a messy breakup with the network that made her famous.
The "Queen" of Las Vegas: Where It All Started
Larissa Dos Santos Lima made her debut on Season 6 of 90 Day Fiancé. The setup felt familiar: a man living with his mother meets a beautiful woman from abroad. However, the chemistry between Colt and Larissa was more like a chemical spill than a romance.
The phrase "Who is against the queen will die!" became an instant meme. It wasn't just reality TV gold; it was a signal that Larissa wasn't going to play the "grateful immigrant" trope that producers often lean into. She wanted a specific lifestyle. She wanted "biggie" things. When the reality of a modest house in the Nevada desert clashed with her expectations, the fallout was spectacular.
The marriage lasted less than a year. Within that window, Larissa was arrested three times on domestic battery charges. While the first two sets of charges were eventually dismissed, the third resulted in a misdemeanor conviction for disorderly conduct. This legal baggage is important because it shaped everything that followed, especially her precarious immigration status.
The Plastic Surgery Transformation and the TLC Fire
After the divorce, Larissa didn't crawl under a rock. She rebranded.
She began a series of cosmetic procedures that would eventually cost upwards of $70,000. We’re talking rhinoplasty, breast augmentation, liposuction, and fillers—lots of them. She wasn't just tweaking her look; she was building a brand-new persona.
Then came the turning point.
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In September 2020, Larissa participated in a live-streamed lingerie show on CamSoda. It was a bold move, likely intended to capitalize on her "bombshell" image. However, it violated the morality clauses in her TLC contract. The network fired her almost immediately.
"I was shocked," she later admitted on social media. She claimed she wasn't given a warning. In a single day, she lost her primary platform and the protection of a major production company while still dealing with ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement).
Most people thought that was the end. Without the show, how would she stay in the U.S.? How would she pay for her lifestyle?
Honestly, she did better without them.
Life After the Cameras: The OnlyFans Success
Larissa is one of the few cast members who actually saw their income skyrocket after being fired. By moving her content to OnlyFans, she cut out the middleman. She reportedly started making more in a month than she did for an entire season of 90 Day Fiancé.
It’s a fascinating case study in creator economy dynamics. She used the notoriety from a "family-friendly" (or at least family-adjacent) network to fuel a career in adult-oriented entertainment.
But it hasn't been all glamour and paychecks.
In late 2020, she was briefly detained by ICE while preparing to move to Colorado with her then-boyfriend, Eric Nichols. The threat of deportation has hovered over her for years. Because she was convicted of a crime involving domestic violence—even if reduced to a misdemeanor—her path to permanent residency became a legal labyrinth.
What Most People Get Wrong About Her Kids
One of the biggest criticisms leveled against 90 Day Fiancé Larissa involves her children back in Brazil. Viewers often accused her of "abandoning" them to chase fame in America.
The reality is more nuanced than a 42-minute episode suggests.
Larissa has two children: a son named Aris and a daughter named Luana. Her son lives with his father, and her daughter lives with Larissa's father. She has stated in multiple interviews and social media posts that her goal was always to bring them to the United States once she was settled and financially stable.
"The haters don't know my arrangement," she once snapped back on Instagram. She maintains that she sends money home regularly and stays in contact. Whether you agree with her choices or not, the narrative that she simply forgot they existed is factually incorrect. She is currently working through the legalities of their visas, which is a slow, agonizing process made worse by her own legal history.
The Health Scare and the "Botched" Procedure
In 2022, Larissa shared a harrowing update that reminded everyone of the risks involved in her "plastic" journey. She revealed that a botched abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) had left her without a belly button.
"My belly button was removed and disposed of without my consent," she claimed.
She shared photos of the scarring and the painful recovery process. It was a rare moment of vulnerability from a woman who usually presents a "perfect" filtered image to the world. It sparked a massive conversation about the dangers of "medical tourism" and the pressure reality stars feel to maintain an impossible standard of beauty.
She eventually underwent revision surgery to fix the damage, but the ordeal changed her tone. She became slightly more vocal about the importance of researching surgeons and the mental toll of body dysmorphia.
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Why She Still Matters in the Reality TV Ecosystem
Larissa represents the "New Wave" of reality stars. These are people who don't see the TV show as the destination; they see it as a launchpad.
- She broke the fourth wall. By going to CamSoda, she essentially told TLC that she owned her image, not them.
- She leaned into the "villain" edit. Instead of trying to prove she was "nice," she doubled down on being the "Queen."
- She survived the "cancel" culture of the network. Usually, when a 90 Day star is fired, they fade away. Larissa stayed relevant through sheer force of will and a very active Instagram presence.
Her relationship with Eric Nichols was another rollercoaster that kept fans engaged. They broke up and got back together so many times that even the most dedicated Redditors lost track. They moved to Colorado, moved back to Vegas, and eventually seemed to go their separate ways for good—though with Larissa, "for good" is always a flexible term.
The Legal Reality of Her Immigration Status in 2026
As of now, Larissa is still in the United States. This surprises a lot of people who assumed her arrests would lead to immediate deportation.
The U.S. immigration system is incredibly slow. Because she fulfilled the requirements of her court mandate—paying fines and completing community service/domestic violence classes—her legal team has been able to file various petitions to keep her in the country.
She has often spoken about her desire to become a citizen, but it remains a steep uphill battle. Any interaction with the law as a non-citizen is a major red flag for USCIS.
Navigating the "Larissa" Brand
If you're following her today, you'll see a mix of high-glamour photoshoots, updates on her pets, and occasional rants about the "fake" nature of reality TV. She has been open about her struggles with anxiety and the isolation of being a public figure who is widely disliked by a segment of the audience.
Is she a victim or a mastermind?
Honestly, she’s probably a bit of both. She was a woman in a foreign country with no support system who made some very poor choices. At the same time, she is a savvy businessperson who turned a messy divorce into a multi-million-dollar digital empire.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Content Creators
If you’re looking to follow the Larissa Santos Lima saga or understand the broader context of her career, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Don't take the TV edit as gospel. 90 Day Fiancé is known for "franken-biting"—editing clips together to create a conversation that didn't happen. Larissa has frequently called out specific scenes that were staged or manipulated.
- Follow her direct channels. If you want the real story, her Instagram and OnlyFans are where she speaks without a producer’s filter. However, remember that this is also a curated version of her life.
- Understand the legal stakes. If you are interested in the immigration aspect, look up "Crimes Involving Moral Turpitude" (CIMT). This is the legal standard that often determines whether someone like Larissa gets to stay in the U.S. or is forced to leave.
- Research cosmetic safety. Larissa’s "botched" experience is a cautionary tale. If you’re considering similar procedures, use resources like RealSelf to check board certifications and patient reviews.
Larissa Santos Lima remains one of the most successful "graduates" of the 90 Day franchise, not because she found a fairy-tale ending, but because she figured out how to thrive in the aftermath of its collapse. She proved that in the world of modern celebrity, being "liked" is optional, but being "watched" is everything.