Jasmin Lahtinen-Abelard was able to visit her native Finland after a long wait.
Jasmin Lahtinen-Abelard, 30, has returned to familiar but at the same time strange landscapes. A woman who grew up in Helsinki is visiting Finland for the first time in three years.
Jasmin is remembered from the American reality TV series 90 Days as a Bride, where she moved to Los Angeles and married her husband Blake Abelard. Jasmin was stuck in the city of angels for a longer time due to the corona pandemic and residence permit issues.
– There was absolutely no intention of being away from Finland for three years from my parents and friends, he says.
Jasmin Lahtinen-Abelard is grateful for the job opportunities offered by the reality TV show. Elle Laitila
Jasmin, who applied for a residence permit, was not allowed to leave the United States until the permit was granted. He could have applied for a temporary travel permit, but he believed that the residence permit would be processed in the same time or faster.
– It took a couple of years, because the processing of papers slowed down due to the corona virus. In the spring, the corona situation was still bad and I didn’t dare to travel, and in the summer I didn’t want to come because I wanted to get away from the heat, he laughs.
So September was finally the right time to come to Finland for a few weeks. Blake, who works as a music producer, stayed home in Los Angeles.
– We have been really close together for the past three years, so I wanted to come here alone. It’s good to be alone for a while and get some distance, says Jasmin.
Jasmin was once a Miss Finland finalist in 2014. – I didn’t place, but the experience was really educational, she recalls. Elle Laitila
The rest of life in Los?
Jasmin and Blake’s love story is special: at first they were in a long-distance relationship between Finland and the United States. Three years ago, they participated in the 90 days as a bride program, which led to marriage and publicity. Shortly after this, the corona pandemic began, and the couple stayed alone in their home amidst the strict restrictions of Los Angeles.
Jasmin is happy with her life across the ocean.
– I like my own routines there. Being here has made me realize even more how much I love being in Los Angeles and with my husband. We are fine and I don’t miss the single life. I could imagine being in Los or somewhere in California for the rest of our lives.
Jasmin is a physical education instructor and personal trainer. However, some work has taken its toll. Elle Laitila
In the United States, it is common for a man to take care of the finances in a marriage. The same is true for Jasmin: Blake pays the rent and other bills. However, Jasmin knows how expensive life in Los Angeles is and does not take her situation for granted.
Jasmin Tiena makes her own money through commercial collaborations on social media, her own fashion company and her Onlyfans account. She and Blake also took part in the 90 Day Bride sequel, The Couple Game. According to Jasmin, Tiena doesn’t make huge amounts of money from reality, but it has brought visibility and other job opportunities.
The couple is ready to do more reality shows if the opportunity presents itself. The producers of 90 days as a bride will monitor if something new happens in the lives of those who participated in the program, which could be used as a continuation series.
– If I got pregnant now or we divorced, they would definitely be interested right away, but now our life is quite stable, says Jasmin.
Jasmin hopes to return to Finland for Christmas. Elle Laitila
A different kind of Christmas
Jasmin and sister Janet Lahtinen founded an online store called La Aniel last year. The selection includes clothes, bags and jewelry. The sisters follow in their mother’s footsteps.
– Our mother once had her own clothing company in Sweden. If my sister and I couldn’t find some clothes in the shops, we would draw them and mother would make them for us, Jasmin recalls.
Janet also lives in Los Angeles. He moved to the city before his sister.
– We thought about starting a company years ago, but then Janet moved. Now that we are both there, we were finally able to execute our plan.
Jasmin, Blake and Janet have planned to come to Finland for Christmas. Jasmin has tried to cherish Christmas traditions in Los Angeles for the past few years.
– I am the world’s biggest Christmas fan, he laughs.
– I have tried to organize an atmospheric Christmas in our home as much as possible and cook Finnish Christmas dishes, but it has been challenging. I hope that Blake gets to experience our family’s Christmas and Christmas sauna.
Some rude comments no longer hurt Jasmin like before. Elle Laitila
Curiosity and malice
Jasmin and Blake will celebrate their third wedding anniversary on October 10. Many reality viewers still remember them and follow them on social media. Old seasons of the program are also constantly shown as reruns, so new audiences are still coming.
The most curious fans ask about the status of the relationship on Facebook. Questions arose as soon as Jasmin said on Instagram that she was alone in Finland. Sometimes she poses in pictures without her wedding ring, which has also caused suspicions.
– Many message and wonder if we have broken up and where Blake is. People always associate me with him, probably because they’re used to seeing us on the same show.
Publicity has also brought with it social media bullying, but Jasmin has learned to deal with it.
– When the program came out, there were a lot of nasty comments and I could even cry. I’ve learned that people who talk bad are bad themselves. I don’t take it personally anymore, and nowadays there are less mean comments.
In the future, Jasmin would like to grow her business and possibly start a family.
– It would be natural to focus on running the company, if even as a parent I don’t want to be in the public eye anymore. If we ever have children, I would like to focus on being a mother and do less socializing, she reflects.