What Happened to Molly & Luis? From Vacation Romance to Divorce and Deportation Buzz

Among the many couples featured on 90 Day Fiancé, few left a mark as dramatic as Molly Hopkins and Luis Mendez. Introduced to viewers in Season 5 back in 2017, their relationship seemed like a whirlwind fairy tale at first—a vacation romance that turned into an engagement within weeks. But what played out on screen was far more complicated. With cultural clashes, family tensions, and immigration hurdles shaping every step, their story quickly shifted from fast-moving love to one of the show’s most turbulent cautionary tales. And since that first introduction, fans have continued to follow Molly and Luis’s journey closely—wanting to know how their short-lived marriage, quick remarriage, and later breakups shaped their lives in the years that followed.

How It All Began

Molly Hopkins, 42, from Woodstock, Georgia, first encountered 26‑year‑old bartender Luis Mendez while on vacation in the Dominican Republic. Their relationship escalated quickly. Within two months Luis proposed, telling her outright that she was beautiful and that he wanted to marry her.

When he later arrived in the United States to live with her, cameras captured the excitement and nerves of his first days. Settling into Molly’s home, Luis declared, “Oh my God, I can do everything. I can kiss her, hug her, smell her. I can do something more special.” The scene highlighted both his joy at finally being with Molly and his sadness over leaving his family behind.

At the same time, Molly’s daughter observed the new dynamic with hesitation, admitting, “I hope he’s really good to my mom, even though I don’t want him here, because she does deserve that.” Luis reiterated the intensity of his feelings by recalling, “The first time when I met Molly I just told her, she’s so beautiful, I want to get married with you.”

These early moments set the stage for a fast‑moving connection that soon faced the challenges of blending families and adjusting to a new life together.

Cultural Clashes and Family Tensions

When Luis arrived in Georgia, the relationship quickly showed cracks. Her father, Phillip, voiced his doubts openly. On camera he remarked that Molly was “behaving a little bit like a schoolgirl” and wanted a man in her life so badly that she wasn’t making the best decisions. Phillip admitted he was old‑fashioned and worried Luis might be using the marriage as a pathway to citizenship, stressing that they had only met a couple of times before taking such a big step. His skepticism set the tone for continuing family concerns. Molly’s eldest daughter, Olivia, also remained wary of Luis from the beginning.

By the time Luis had been in the U.S. for nearly three months, tensions were running high and the cracks in their relationship were undeniable. He showed little interest in bonding with Molly’s children, leaving her to manage the family dynamic on her own. Cultural friction compounded the problem: Luis bristled at suburban routines, while Molly grew unsettled by inappropriate remarks he made to her teen daughter. The most damaging confrontations came when religious differences surfaced. Luis urged that Molly’s kids should live with their father and treated her more like a caretaker than a partner. He also denounced her home décor—owls, Buddha statues, and African masks—as evidence of witchcraft and devil worship, insisting there were no Christian symbols in her house. Molly defended her choices, countering that her decorations were art and highlighting Luis’s own hypocrisy with drinking, pornography, and premarital sex. These clashes unfolded as wedding preparations loomed, with Molly stressing, “It’s wedding time. Your family’s coming, and it’s not okay.” Emotionally drained, she admitted she was close to calling off the wedding altogether as the cultural and religious rifts between them grew impossible to ignore.

Conversations Before the Wedding

In the lead‑up to the wedding, Molly sat down with her mother to discuss her plans. Her mom asked about Dominican wedding traditions, and Molly admitted she didn’t really know what to expect but promised they would honor whatever customs Luis brought with him. The conversation turned emotional when her mother confessed she felt strange about losing part of Molly’s need for her. Molly reassured her: “I do need you. I need you to be there to tell me that everything is gonna be okay.” She also explained that while Olivia worried someone might be taking her place, she would always love her daughter, but she also had to love herself and share her life with a partner. When asked about her father, Molly acknowledged Phillip’s concerns, noting he truly believed Luis was coming to the U.S. mainly for citizenship. This exchange underscored how her family’s doubts weighed heavily on the wedding preparations.

Their Wedding

Despite the mounting issues, Molly and Luis went through with a quiet wedding on July 20, 2017. The ceremony took place in secret, so much so that even the show’s producers weren’t initially aware it had already happened. Molly later explained she hadn’t intended to deceive anyone, but between running her business, raising her daughters, and managing the visa process, she felt overwhelmed. Family concerns and Luis’s behavior cast a shadow over the celebration, and while the wedding legally bound them together, it did little to ease the cultural and personal rifts already forming.

Divorce

By January 2018, only five months into their marriage, Molly filed for divorce. Reports noted January 5, 2018, as the date Molly and Luis separated, though Molly did not officially list that date in filings. She formally filed for divorce on January 23. Both parties signed the final agreement in March, and a judge finalized the divorce on May 4, 2018.

New Relationships After the Divorce

Following the divorce, both Molly and Luis moved on quickly. In September 2018, Luis himself confirmed in interviews that he had remarried another woman, though he kept her identity out of the public eye. His swift remarriage added fuel to speculation that his relationship with Molly had been motivated more by immigration opportunities than love.

Molly, meanwhile, eventually found happiness again. On 90 Day: The Single Life, she reintroduced herself at 45 as a businesswoman and single mom trying to live life to the fullest after her divorce. She described feeling empowered and ready for a real partner, even joking on camera about hiding a fifth of liquor in her bra at concerts to show her playful side. After putting herself back out on social media, she received countless DMs, most of them unserious, until one stood out: Kelly Brown, a 41‑year‑old former New York City police officer. His simple message, “You’re beautiful,” led to further conversations and eventually Molly traveling to New York to meet him in person. Kelly impressed her by arriving in a clean car with flowers, taking her to dinner, and treating her with respect. Though they only spent a few days together initially, Molly admitted she wanted to see him again and soon welcomed him to Georgia. Their relationship offered fans a glimpse of Molly seeking stability and respect after the turmoil with Luis. Although that romance later ended, Molly has remained active in her personal growth and public life, making clear she would not repeat the mistakes of her first televised marriage.

Molly and Kelly’s Relationship and Breakup

After her hopeful start with Kelly Brown on 90 Day: The Single Life, Molly’s relationship with the retired New York City police officer began to show strain. Their differences grew over time, and by 2023 the cracks were clear. The breakdown of their romance was captured in 90 Day: The Last Resort episode “One Last Secret,” which aired October 2, 2023. In therapy, Molly spoke about being in the prime of her career with LiviRae Lingerie and feeling unsupported in her goals, while Kelly admitted they were “not on the same page.” Finances, validation, and unmet expectations fueled repeated clashes. Molly told him candidly, “I loved you, I’m not in love with you anymore,” while Kelly admitted he felt blindsided and hurt that she had not voiced this sooner. Both ultimately agreed the relationship had run its course.

The season closed with an emotional farewell, where Molly reflected she once thought Kelly was “her person” but had to accept moving on. Kelly, in turn, admitted he had never cried for any woman like he did for Molly, underscoring the depth of the breakup. Their split illustrated the challenge of reconciling different priorities and life stages, even when affection and respect remained.

Molly and Luis’s Status in 2025

As of 2025, Molly Hopkins and Luis Mendez remain apart. Their marriage ended in divorce in 2018, and Luis confirmed he had remarried later that same year. On August 4, 2022, Molly celebrated a proud moment with her eldest daughter Olivia, supporting her as she launched her career in the fashion industry during her first buying market in New York. Molly has also focused on raising her younger daughter Kensley, while managing her lingerie company LiviRae. She continues to reside in Marietta, Georgia, and in June 2024 celebrated the 18th anniversary of LiviRae with promotions and events marking the milestone. Later that year, in October 2024, Molly suffered a personal loss with the death of her cousin Charles William Hopkins, whom she credited as one of her biggest supporters in launching LiviRae. She publicly honored him in a heartfelt tribute, emphasizing the role he played in helping her business become a safe space for women of all walks of life.

Molly has also remained active in her wellness journey. In March 2025, she shared a side‑by‑side Instagram update highlighting her improved health, writing that she was “comfortable from the inside out now” and had her gut health “in check.” Two months later, in May 2025, she posted again to showcase her weight‑loss progress while promoting her gut health products, underscoring her continued focus on self‑care and confidence. These milestones show how family, business, and health remain central to Molly’s life today.

Luis, in contrast, has kept a lower public profile since the divorce. In August 2020, outlets reported he was at risk of deportation after Molly withdrew sponsorship for his green card, though no official record has confirmed deportation. His Instagram account (@luisemmanuel91) is private but lists more than 39,000 followers and includes Bible verses in his bio. On Facebook, his most recent visible activity came in 2020, when he shared posts including appeals for community aid. These updates indicate he remained active in the United States at least through that period.

Molly and Luis’s time together is now recognized as one of the franchise’s most turbulent pairings. Their story illustrates how quickly romance, cultural differences, and immigration struggles can collide, with no reconciliation between them since their split.