A British woman has revealed how she fell in love with a prisoner from America after just three months of texts and phone calls.
Psychology Student and NHS worker Jacqui McDonald. from Bristol, began talking to convicted robber LaDarius 'LA' Alexander, 31, after meeting him on 'Write a Prisoner' in August 2019.
It took three months for the pair to finally meet in person, by which time Jacqui, 30, had already got LA's name tattooed on her chest.
The prisoner helped pay for Jacqui's first visit to the Ohio prison in which he was incarcerated, and it was during her first visit that he got down on one knee and proposed.
Three years later, Jacqui has said the couple is as strong as ever.
Jacqui has added three more tattoos dedicated to her jailbird fiancé - which include his inmate number on her neck, the words "Lady LA' on her foot and his full name 'LaDarius' on her leg.
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LA - who is currently in prison for robbery charges, criminal gang activity and involuntary manslaughter (which he took an Alford plea for) - speaks to Jacqui every day and sends her gifts.
The 31-year-old got Jacqui jewellery for her birthday and even helped Jacqui pay for her brand new car so she wouldn't have to finance it.
Jacqui has flown to see her incarcerated fiancé in USA two more times and her family is now fully supportive of her relationship with LA.
The couple are looking forward to their lives together when he is released which will be 2025 at the latest.
Jacqui has become popular on TikTok posting videos about the realities of being a "prison wife". With her recently launched XO3 podcast, she tackles what inmates really go through in prison and helps other women who have loved ones in jail.
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Jacqui and LA instantly clicked when they started chatting on Write a Prisoner in August 2019 after her friend - who was dating a prisoner at the time - suggested she try it.
Jacqui - who has a six-year-old son from a previous relationship - said: "I had just come out of a relationship and wasn't ready to date anyone.
"But when LA and I started chatting, I found him so funny. I think that's what attracted me to him in our first messages to each. On our first phone call two days later, I remember laughing the whole time.
"I didn't always understand his accent then but he had me in stitches.
"We're allowed 240 minutes of call time every day. In those first few weeks, we used up those minutes every day talking to each other.
"Our relationship just progressed and we quickly learned everything about one other.
"Even though we lived on opposite sides of the world, there were so many similarities between us. I was in love with him and had got a tattoo of his name on me but I knew I had to meet him in person to be sure."
In November 2019, LA helped pay for Jacqui's plane ticket and she flew to meet him in prison in Ohio, USA. LA proposed to Jacqui on that very same visit.
Jacqui recalls: "When I met LA for the first, I felt like I had known him my whole life. There was never an awkward silence and he had me laughing all the time.
"I saw him over three days and on my second prison visit, he got down on one knee and proposed. I was so sure about our relationship and said yes immediately.
"When I returned home to the UK, he had organised a wedding ring for me through my friend and surprised me with a video proposal."
Jacqui visited her fiancé in January 2020 and November 2021 - bonding with LA's 9-year-old son and family members during her trips to the USA.
Although the coronavirus lockdown kept the couple apart, Jaqui and LA spoke without fail every day and she got a tattoo of his inmate number on the back of her neck to celebrate their love.
LA sends cards and gifts to Jacqui on special occasions - including jewellery for her birthday and chocolate for Valentine's Day.
The prisoner also sends money so that Jacqui's son can have fun days out and he even helped pay for her car so she didn't have to get a financial plan.
However, Jacqui is keen to stress that dating a prisoner is not all glamorous - and it has its ups and downs.
She explained: "Dating a prisoner is not all gifts, romance and plane tickets. At the end of the day, what you're left with is the reality of how you feel about this person.
"When the prison visit is up, it's emotional - it's especially hard for LA. There are some days that are really tough and we just miss each other.
"LA and I have to work through things other couples don't have to. Would I like to have a normal relationship with him? Of course I would - but I've come to accept and appreciate what we have.
"We've broken through some of the obstacles and it's made us stronger as a couple. In lockdown, it became a trend for people to write a prisoner and start relationships with inmates for clout on social media.
"But the reality of dating someone in jail for as many years as LA and I have been together is a lot harder."
LA will be released by 2025 - although he could be out as early as summer 2022 if he gets his GED (General Educational Development).
When he does get released, they plan to have a long-distance relationship until Jacqui completes her PhD and they will then decide whether to settle in the UK or USA.
She shares her relationship on TikTok and she's has had over 133.5k likes for her videos on what it's really like dating a prisoner.
Although trolls criticize their relationship, Jacqui loves advising and supporting the community of "prison wives" on social media - even recently launching a weekly podcast available on TikTok and Instagram.
Jacqui - who also runs a digital art business for people who have loved ones in jail said: "I've grown a bit of a thick skin since I put my relationship with LA out there on TikTok.
"I've had racial abuse about us having an interracial relationship. I've been told I must have no confidence or self-worth to talk to a prisoner.
"Some trolls have said LA is using me and going to leave me. I'm not naive to how our relationship might look to people.
"At first, my family and friends were definitely sceptical about me and LA - they thought I was crazy and that I was putting my life on hold for him.
"LA had to send my mum a letter to prove how much he loved me. It moved her to tears and my family can see how good we are for each other now.
"He lifts me up and supports me mentally. I truly feel like the best version of me now - and that's thanks to LA. I'll be there for him the day LA come out. I see all the potential in him that other people can't or choose not to see and I want him to be the best he can be too".
