Exclusive: Love Is Blind Star Jessica Opens Up about Her Daughter’s Struggle with Emotions Following the Pod Breakup

According to Jessica Vestal, her 10-year-old daughter Autumn has a strong sense of protection towards her. When discussing a particular situation, Jessica recalls Autumn’s initial reaction being, “He’s the one missing out.”

Paraphrased:

Jessica Vestal faced unexpected challenges during her time on Love Is Blind season 6, and her daughter, Autumn, had a strong reaction to it. After Jessica returned home and shared the details of her breakup with Jimmy Presnell, Autumn immediately offered her support. As a 10-year-old, Autumn displayed her protective nature towards her mother by stating, “That’s his loss.” Jessica, proud of her daughter’s character, describes her as a reflection of herself, understanding that anything meant for her will become clear without any doubts. Autumn’s strong emotions regarding the situation were evident, showing how deeply she cared for her mother.

Instagram
Jessica and Jimmy formed a connection during the sixth season of the pods. She thought he was the one and even wrote a letter addressed to her future husband, believing it was meant for him. However, Jimmy, who is 28 years old, also felt a connection with Chelsea Blackwell in the pods and ultimately chose her over Jessica.

One of the reasons why Jimmy hesitated with Jessica was because she had a daughter. Although he eventually stated that he was fine with it, his initial reaction caused some tension between them. Jessica, however, didn’t hold it against him and understood that it could be overwhelming for someone to process.

“I try to be understanding in situations like these because there isn’t a right or wrong way to react,” Jessica explains. “Of course, I would have preferred if he had embraced us both from the start, but I knew that he, or anyone else, might need time to come to terms with it. And he did. The next day, he expressed his love for my daughter and we had more discussions about how our relationship would work with her in the picture. So, initially, I gave him space and didn’t hold it against him.”

Despite her strong feelings for Jimmy, Jessica had no intention of reaching out to him after they parted ways.

“No, not at all. Absolutely not,” she firmly states. “I expressed my thoughts and feelings… it was a whirlwind of emotions. I was heartbroken, but I also felt a sense of peace. I knew deep down that it wasn’t meant to be. I think Jimmy and I both came to that realization at the same time, that we weren’t meant to be together. So, no, I never had any second thoughts about it.”

Jessica gained attention in the media after it was revealed that she was the first single mother to be chosen for the reality show Love Is Blind. Prior to entering the pods where the contestants communicate without seeing each other, Jessica expressed her concerns to co-hosts Nick and Vanessa Lachey about how the men might react to her having a child. She believed that she would disclose this information at the right time during conversations with potential partners on the show.

Jessica emphasized the importance of being seen as an individual rather than just a mother. She mentioned that while being a mother is a significant part of her life, it does not solely define her. She also shared that her daughter Autumn is eager for her to find love and settle down. Jessica humorously remarked that Autumn is already planning her wedding attire and she needs to meet someone first before making such plans.

To stay updated on the latest news and stories from PEOPLE, you can sign up for their free daily newsletter. Netflix currently has episodes 1-6 of Love Is Blind season 6 available for streaming, with episodes 7-9 scheduled to be released on Wednesday, February 21st.