‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ Season 3: Body Language Expert Breaks Down Jessi and Jordan’s Tense Dynamic [Exclusive]
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Season 3 opens with a dramatic and deeply personal premiere, setting the tone for the most emotionally charged season yet. Episode 1 pulls viewers back into the world of Utah’s influencer-moms as shifting friendships, marital fractures, and long-held secrets come to the surface. At the center of the tension is Jessi and Jordan, whose separation and unfolding relationship struggles spark some of the episode’s most gripping moments. Celebrity body language expert Inbaal Honigman analyzed Jessi, Jordan, and the other MomTok stars amid the drama.
[Spoiler alert: The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Season 3 Episode 1 spoilers ahead.]
Jessi appears ‘happier’ without Jordan in ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ Season 3, according to a body language expert
In The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Season 3, Jessi and Jordan Ngatikaura’s marital struggles take center stage. The episode reveals the couple’s ongoing separation, highlighting the emotional rift that has formed between them. Jessi candidly admits to an emotional affair with Marciano Brunette, while Jordan confronts feelings of hurt and betrayal.
A pivotal moment in the premiere centers on Jessi pulling out her phone to reveal the texts exchanged with Marciano. As she reads the messages aloud, Jessi emphasizes that while the connection was flirtatious and emotionally intimate, it never crossed into a physical relationship.
Celebrity body language expert Inbaal Honigman with Casino.ca provided exclusive insights to Showbiz Cheat Sheet regarding the text exchange.
“As Jessi reads her sexts with Marciano aloud to the girls, they all react in the exact same way — shaking their heads in disbelief, mouths open, eyebrows raised,” Honigman noticed. “They’re shocked on multiple levels, especially because Jordan is right there.”
“When Jordan walks past Jessi mid-reading, his tongue pokes out from the side of his mouth — a subtle cue of frustration. He clearly doesn’t want the cheating, let alone the explicit details, to be dragged into the spotlight.”
“Around the girls, Jessi’s body language becomes noticeably more confident. Her back straightens, her eyebrows lift, and she carries a more positive energy. But around Jordan, she shifts: her eyes lower, her head dips, and she seems weighed down. Being near her estranged husband noticeably affects her.”
“Jessi shows body language signs of being happier without Jordan.”
“Jessi is genuinely sorry about the kiss and the deceit. When she speaks to Jordan, she cries real tears because she knows she’s hurt him — and that was never her intention”.
“She isn’t sorry about ending the marriage, but she is deeply sorry for kissing Marciano. Whenever it comes up, her reactions are instant: mouth open, hands at her temples, a physical ‘What was I thinking?’ Her gestures show she feels she’s let herself down.”
Honigman added that Jessi is “clearly uneasy with Jordan’s presence” at Mikayla’s party. “Their hug is light and emotionless, more of an obligation than an embrace. She even rolls her eyes toward Jordan, showing a lack of empathy and clear discomfort.”
Layla confronts Jessi in the car about her relationship with Marciano
Tensions reach a boiling point when Layla confronts Jessi in the car in The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Season 3. Layla doesn’t hold back, challenging Jessi on her emotional affair with Marciano and questioning the choices that have led to the public unraveling of her marriage. Body language expert Inbaal Honigman says Layla was “visibly struggling” during the confrontation.
“The moment Layla says Marciano’s name, Jessi freezes,” Honigman noticed. “Her eyes widen, her mouth drops open — she’s stunned that this moment has arrived and she’s been caught out.”
“As Layla reveals what she knows, Jessi looks away. Her scoffing exhale may sound dismissive, but her expression nearly confirms the truth. If she had intended to be honest outright, she would have maintained eye contact.”
“Layla searches for the truth, so she looks directly at Jessi. Meanwhile, Jessi rubs her eye, covers her face, and gazes downward — clear signs she’s feeling low and ashamed. Jessi is in pain, while Layla is upset but holding herself together.”
“When Jessi finally confesses, she plays with her hair (a preening gesture) because she still wants Layla to like her. She’s genuinely shocked and upset when she learns Marciano claimed they had sex. Her direct eye contact in that moment shows she is telling the truth.”
Jordan discusses his marriage issues with Dakota
In a quieter but emotionally charged scene, Jordan sits down with Dakota to unpack the turmoil in his marriage with Jessi. The conversation reveals a more vulnerable side of Jordan, as he shares his feelings of hurt, betrayal, and confusion over Jessi’s emotional affair. According to Inbaal Honigman, Jordan appeared “entirely defensive” during the exchange, and Dakota matched that energy.
“Jordan’s attempt at man-talk with Dakota is entirely defensive,” she noticed. “Both cross their arms protectively. Their eye contact flicks sideways rather than directly — neither wants to be having this conversation. Their glances break frequently, showing how uncomfortable they are discussing personal matters.”
