The face that broke the internet: Where Jeremy Meeks’ unexpected fame took him?

Jeremy Meeks’ life changed forever after a single mugshot turned him into an unexpected internet sensation.

Known worldwide as the “hot felon,” Meeks rose to fame in 2014 when his booking photo, shared by the Stockton Police Department in California, went viral online.

The image quickly spread across social media, gaining thousands of reactions and turning the then-inmate into a global headline.

At the time, Meeks was arrested on felony firearm possession charges after police found a semi-automatic handgun and extended magazines during a traffic stop.

He was later convicted of felony firearm possession in 2015 and sentenced to 27 months in prison.

However, after his release in March 2016, Meeks leveraged his unexpected fame into a new career path.

The Washington native went on to become a model, actor, and fashion designer, working with major fashion names and appearing on runways for designers including Philipp Plein and Tommy Hilfiger.

Before his rise to fame, Meeks had a troubled childhood and spent years involved in the criminal justice system.

He previously opened up about growing up around violence and addiction, describing his early life as difficult.

Following his release from prison, Meeks said he wanted to use the opportunity to change his life and provide for his family.

“If anyone would've told me 10 years ago that I was gonna be traveling the world, walking fashion shows, acting in movies — I don't know what I would've done,” he said while reflecting on his transformation.

Meeks later expanded his career into entertainment, appearing in films including Trigger (2020), Secret Society (2021), and other acting projects.

He also launched fashion ventures and reportedly developed his own clothing collections.

In 2024, Meeks released his autobiography, Model Citizen: The Autobiography of Jeremy Meeks, where he shared more about his journey from incarceration to rebuilding his life.

“I’m in a place in my life where I am extremely vulnerable and want to tell my story, the whole story,” he said after releasing the memoir.

Outside of his career, Meeks has also experienced major changes in his personal life. He divorced his first wife, Melissa, in 2018 after nearly a decade of marriage.

The former couple share a son, Jeremy Jr. He later welcomed another son, Jayden, with Chloe Green before their relationship ended in 2019.

Years after his viral moment, Jeremy Meeks continues to focus on his career, family and personal growth building a life far beyond the mugshot that first made him famous.