Credit: Stockton Police Department
‘World’s Hottest Felon’ – Here’s What He Looks Now
People have been left shocked by what the ‘world‘s hottest felon’ looks like now.
Once the internet’s most infamous mugshot, Jeremy Meeks has transformed from a convicted felon into an unlikely fashion industry figure – all thanks to a single photograph that spread across social media like wildfire.
It’s a reminder of just how powerful the internet can be. In an age where a single image can circle the globe in minutes, Meeks’ piercing blue eyes and model-like features turned what should have been a routine police booking photo into an overnight cultural moment.
Within hours, people were sharing the image, commenting on his looks, and joking that he belonged on a runway rather than behind bars.
Memes followed, fan pages appeared, and strangers began debating whether the justice system had accidentally discovered its next male model.
The viral fame proved that sometimes the most ordinary images can have extraordinary consequences.
Now 42, the man who became an overnight sensation in 2014 has built an unlikely career, all while reflecting on his troubled past.
The viral photo that changed everything
In June 2014, the Stockton Police Department posted a routine booking photo to Facebook. What they didn’t anticipate was the viral sensation it would create.
Meeks’ piercing blue eyes and chiseled features earned him nicknames like ‘Prison Bae’ and ‘the world’s hottest felon,’ with the image garnering over 95,000 comments and 20,000 likes.
At the time, Meeks was facing felony weapon charges after police found a semi-automatic handgun in his car.
He was ultimately convicted of felony firearm possession and sentenced to 27 months in federal prison, though he served only 13 months, per People.
Meeks has been candid about his difficult upbringing.
Growing up surrounded by drugs and violence, he described himself as a ‘heroin baby’ born to parents struggling with addiction.
His father was imprisoned for murder when Meeks was just nine months old, killing his mother’s best friend.
Before his viral moment, Meeks had spent over a decade cycling through juvenile detention and prison for various crimes, including grand theft, identity theft, and forgery. He was also affiliated with the Crips gang during his youth.
While still incarcerated, Meeks began receiving ‘hundreds and hundreds of letters’ from devoted fans each month.
He also secured modeling contracts, reportedly receiving 45 offers before his release.
“I’m in a place where I will be able to provide for my family and really change my life,” he told ABC from prison.
Fame, fashion, and a complicated love life
After his release in March 2016, Meeks wasted little time capitalizing on the unexpected fame that had followed him out of prison.
He quickly signed with White Cross Management and, the following year, made his runway debut at New York Fashion Week in 2017, walking for designer Philipp Plein.
The appearance marked the beginning of his transition from viral sensation to legitimate fashion model.
Soon after, he was strutting down runways for major names, including Tommy Hilfiger and other high-profile brands, becoming a regular presence at fashion events around the world.
His ambitions extended beyond modeling.
In 2019, Meeks reportedly signed a $15 million deal with Fashion Concept GmbH to launch his own clothing line, further cementing his place in the industry. He has also ventured into acting, appearing in films such as Trigger, Secret Society, and True to the Game 2 and True to the Game 3.
Away from the spotlight, Meeks’ personal life has also undergone significant changes. He was married to Melissa Meeks for nearly a decade before the pair divorced in 2018, following the emergence of photos showing him kissing Topshop heiress Chloe Green in 2017.
Meeks and Green welcomed a son, Jayden, in 2018, though their relationship ended the following year. He also shares another son, Jeremy Jr., with his ex-wife, Melissa, and has spoken positively about maintaining a healthy co-parenting relationship with both mothers.
In recent years, Meeks appears to have shifted his focus toward self-improvement and long-term goals.
From internet sensation to advocate
In a revealing red carpet interview in 2025, Meeks shared that he has been celibate for three years, explaining that he didn’t want anything distracting him from his goals.
The former viral sensation has also been reflecting on his past.
In 2024, Meeks released his autobiography, ‘Model Citizen: The Autobiography of Jeremy Meeks,’ in which he opens up about his journey from a troubled upbringing to an unexpected life in the spotlight.
“I’m in a place in my life where I am extremely vulnerable and want to tell my story, the whole story,” he said, per UNILAD.
In recent years, Meeks has also turned his attention toward advocacy work, focusing on helping underprivileged young people avoid gang involvement and the criminal justice system – paths he knows all too well.
In May 2024, he revealed on Instagram that he was working on a project aimed at supporting incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals.
“God is so Good,” he wrote. “With projects like this, it makes me feel like I’m actually walking in my Purpose!”
A decade after the mugshot
At 42, Meeks maintains his striking appearance, though with a more polished, high-fashion aesthetic.
His Instagram account, which boasts two million followers, showcases his continued work in modeling and acting, often featuring professional photoshoots and red carpet appearances.
The transformation is evident in recent photos showing a bald, tattooed Meeks in designer clothing at industry events, a far cry from the orange jail uniform he wore in court appearances over a decade ago.
As Meeks told BuzzFeed in 2020: “It’s been a wild, wild ride, but I’m so grateful. I’m not taking anything for granted.”
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