Ashley Jacobs Now: 5 Shocking New Details About The 'Southern Charm' Villain's Life After Charleston

The tumultuous chapter of Ashley Jacobs' life on Southern Charm is firmly in the rearview mirror, but her current life is arguably more dramatic—and far happier—than her time in Charleston. Since leaving the Bravo reality series, the former "villain" has undergone a complete transformation, trading the drama of the South Carolina social scene for a quiet, family-focused existence on the West Coast, which includes a secret wedding and two children. As of the current date, December 11, 2025, Ashley is thriving as a wife, mother, and healthcare professional, a stark contrast to the intense public scrutiny she faced during her relationship with Thomas Ravenel. Her journey from controversial reality star to peaceful California mom is one of the biggest post-show transformations in Bravo history.

The registered nurse, who once called her time dating Thomas Ravenel the "worst year of my life," has successfully rebuilt her personal and professional world. She has embraced her original career path, started a beautiful family with her husband, Mike Appel, and officially shed the "villain" label that defined her run on Southern Charm. Fans are often curious about what happened to the woman who famously feuded with Kathryn Dennis, and the answer is a life filled with domestic bliss and professional purpose.

Ashley Jacobs: Complete Biography and Profile

Ashley Jacobs first came to public attention in 2018 during her stint on the Bravo reality show Southern Charm. Her relationship with Thomas Ravenel and her volatile interactions with the cast, particularly Kathryn Dennis, made her a central figure of controversy. Today, she is known for her career as a healthcare professional and her life as a wife and mother.

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• Full Name: Ashley H. Jacobs
• Date of Birth: December 1, 1984
• Age: 40 (as of late 2024/early 2025)
• Hometown/Birthplace: Born in Los Angeles, California, and grew up between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara.
• Primary Profession: Registered Nurse (RN), specializing in hospice and home healthcare. She has also been credited as a real estate professional and an Adult Education Instructor.
• Marital Status: Married (since June 2021)
• Husband: Mike Appel (from Santa Barbara)
• Children: Two sons: Grayson Maxwell Appel (born August 2021) and a second son (welcomed November 2024).
• Reality TV Appearance: Southern Charm (Season 5 and a guest appearance in Season 6)
• Relationship with Thomas Ravenel: Dated from May 2017 to August 2018.

The Shocking Transition: From Charleston Drama to California Calm

Ashley Jacobs' departure from Charleston, South Carolina, marked a definitive end to her reality television persona. The drama that unfolded during Southern Charm Season 5, which included her aggressive confrontation with Kathryn Dennis, became a catalyst for a life change that she desperately needed.

The move back to California allowed Ashley to reconnect with her roots and, most importantly, her professional calling. She returned to her career as a Registered Nurse, a vocation she pursued after her father's death when she was 16. While on the show, she worked as a hospice nurse, and she has continued to work in healthcare, a field far removed from the glitz and gossip of Bravo. This return to a stable, meaningful career provided the foundation for her new, peaceful life.

She has openly described her time with Thomas Ravenel as a dark period. In interviews, she admitted the relationship and the show's intense scrutiny took a severe toll on her mental health. Her choice to leave Charleston was a conscious decision to prioritize her well-being and find happiness away from the spotlight.

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A New Life: Marriage, Family, and Two Baby Boys

The biggest and most positive change in Ashley Jacobs' life is her family with her husband, Mike Appel. The two got engaged in March 2021, and just a few months later, they secretly tied the knot in an intimate, private wedding ceremony in June 2021.

1. The Surprise Wedding and Husband Mike Appel

Mike Appel, a Santa Barbara native, is a stark contrast to her former partner, Thomas Ravenel. Their relationship has been kept largely private, focusing on stability and shared values. Their intimate wedding was a clear sign that Ashley was done with the public spectacle of her past. Mike Appel has been a supportive presence, celebrating their one-year anniversary publicly on Instagram, a rare glimpse into their quiet domesticity.

2. Welcoming Grayson Maxwell Appel

Soon after their wedding, Ashley and Mike welcomed their first child, a son named Grayson Maxwell Appel, in August 2021. The birth of her first son cemented her new identity as a mother and further distanced her from the Southern Charm drama. She has often shared glimpses of her life as a mother on social media, showing a genuine joy and contentment that was absent during her time on the show.

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3. The Arrival of Baby No. 2 in 2024

In a thrilling update for fans, Ashley and Mike announced in late 2024 that they had welcomed their second child, another baby boy. This news, confirming her expanding family and continued happiness, is the most recent and significant development in her post-reality TV life. The baby boy was welcomed in November 2024, making Grayson a big brother and solidifying Ashley's new life as a mother of two.

The Post-Bravo Career Shift: From Nurse to Educator and Real Estate

While Ashley's primary career is as a Registered Nurse, her professional life has demonstrated a multi-faceted approach, emphasizing her ambition and desire for stability outside of reality TV. She has leveraged her background and experience into several other fields.

4. The Dedicated Registered Nurse

Ashley has consistently returned to nursing, working in home healthcare and hospice. This career path is deeply personal to her, stemming from a desire to help others after her father's passing. Her commitment to this field shows a dedication to a purpose-driven life, a stark contrast to the often superficial world of reality television.

5. Exploring New Professional Avenues in 2024

Beyond nursing, Ashley has broadened her professional horizons. Recent reports indicate she has also worked as an Adult Education Instructor and has ventured into real estate in Texas. This diverse career portfolio—Registered Nurse, Educator, and Real Estate Professional—underscores her commitment to creating a stable and fulfilling life away from the cameras. She has successfully transitioned from a controversial figure to a successful, multi-talented professional and family woman, proving that her "southern charm" chapter was just a brief, dramatic detour on a much longer, happier road.