In what has become one of the most unlikely comeback stories in modern pop culture, Jeremy Meeks transformed a 27-month prison sentence into a multimillion-dollar modeling career and later, a bestselling author profile.
The Mugshot That Broke the Internet
In June 2014, Meeks was arrested during a gang-related operation in Stockton, California, and charged with weapons possession. His bail was set at over $900,000. As part of routine procedure, the Stockton Police Department posted his mugshot on Facebook.
What happened next stunned both law enforcement and the global media.
Within hours, the photo went viral. Social media users fixated not on the charges but on his striking appearance, piercing blue eyes, sculpted cheekbones, and model-like features.
The internet quickly crowned him “Prison Bae” and “Hot Felon.” Within 24 hours, the image had attracted more than 15,000 likes and thousands of comments. Major media outlets amplified the story, and hashtags such as #FelonCrushFriday began trending. A routine police post had morphed into a global phenomenon.
From Federal Prison to Fashion Contracts
Meeks eventually pleaded to lesser charges and, in February 2015, was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He received a 27-month federal sentence and was incarcerated at Mendota Federal Correctional Institution.
But even behind bars, opportunity knocked.
In March 2015, while still serving his sentence, he signed with California-based White Cross Management. By the time he was released in March 2016 after serving 13 months, his path had dramatically shifted.
His first professional headshots were published in mid-2016, and within months, he was booking high-profile assignments.
Conquering the Global Runway
In February 2017, less than a year after leaving prison, Meeks made his runway debut at New York Fashion Week, walking for designer Philipp Plein at the New York Public Library. Fashion insiders took notice, and Vogue famously described him as a “buff bad boy.”
He soon expanded internationally, walking at the Cannes Film Festival, Milan Fashion Week, and appearing at exclusive events such as the amfAR Gala in France. He graced magazine spreads, signed brand campaigns, and became a regular presence on runways in Paris and London. The transformation was staggering: from county jail inmate to global fashion circuit regular in less than three years!.
In September 2019, Meeks signed a reported $15 million partnership with German firm Fashion Concept GmbH to launch his own clothing line, “Jeremy Meeks Fashion.” The brand aimed to deliver premium menswear and womenswear, marking his transition from model to entrepreneur.
However, the venture encountered turbulence. In 2022, Fashion Concept GmbH filed for bankruptcy amid allegations of financial misconduct, and the fashion line did not fully materialize as planned.
Undeterred, Meeks pivoted once again, this time into acting, securing roles in independent films. In December 2024, he published his autobiography, Model Citizen: The Autobiography of Jeremy Meeks, chronicling his journey from poverty and gang affiliation to prison, global fame, and reinvention.
Beyond fashion and film, he has increasingly engaged in charity initiatives aimed at supporting underprivileged youth and steering young people away from gang involvement, the very path that once led to his incarceration.
Jeremy Meeks’ trajectory remains one of the most unconventional success stories of the social media age. A single viral image altered the course of his life, but it was strategic branding, industry partnerships and personal reinvention that sustained his relevance.
From a 27-month prison sentence to international fashion weeks.
From a viral mugshot to a multimillion-dollar business deal.
From “Hot Felon” to runway model, entrepreneur, actor, and author.
What began as a police booking photo became the unlikely launchpad for a global career, proof that in the digital era, redemption is possible through unexpected moments and events.
