Juliana Custodio starred on 90 Day Fiancé season 7, and while plenty of viewers love her, here's why some fans wonder if Juliana is a gold digger. Although 23-year-old Juliana and her 43-year-old husband Michael Jessen are an odd couple that fans don't quite understand, the 90 Day pair appear to be happily married. Audiences have embraced Juliana and deemed her genuine, but the are reasons why some fans think that Juliana could be in her marriage to Michael for his wealth.
Juliana and Michael met on a yacht in Croatia in 2017. Despite their decade-spanning age difference, Michael believes that he and Juliana are "kindred spirits." Even though Michael initially only appreciated Juliana for her looks - which have helped her achieve an accomplished career as a model - he soon got to know her personality as well. Both Michael and 90 Day audiences fell in love with Juliana for her kind, humble, and witty personality. Michael was aware that people would judge his relationship with Juliana on 90 Day Fiancé season 7. Michael expected audiences to question why Juliana would be with "an old, sleazy, rich guy," but fan comments haven't impacted the reality couple's relationship. Although Juliana admitted she felt like a "loser" depending on Michael's money, the pair overcame their hardships. Michael and Juliana have been happily married since October 12, 2019.
Despite Michael and Juliana's awareness of how their situation appears from the outside looking in, some fans are still not sold that the 90 Day husband and wife are together for love. In a recent Reddit thread (seen below), some viewers couldn't help but wonder if Juliana had ulterior motives for marrying Michael. One user posed the question, "Is Juliana as innocent as we see or is she acting this way because she thinks that what older rich guys want?" Other 90 Day Fiancé fans agreed that Juliana might have married Michael for his rich lifestyle. Another Reddit user commented, "Juliana is in it for the money and making a new life for herself and her family." Juliana's situation on reality TV was made even more questionable because of her quest for a green card. In addition to accessing Michael's wealth, other cynical viewers believed that Juliana agreed to marry her husband for a K-1 visa.
While some online fans feel confident in their estimate that Juliana is deceiving Michael, others have more nuanced takes. Instead of saying that Juliana is only in her marriage for the money, or that Juliana is wholly honest about her love for her middle-aged husband, one Reddit user inquired, "I think the truth lies somewhere in between." Instead of labeling Juliana as a gold digger, this fan sees Juliana as "practical" and willing to play her part in Michael's life in exchange for "the security Michael provides her." It's true that Michael's wealth has allowed Juliana to make stylish career moves, but not all fans are as critical of the 90 Day Fiancé star's choices.
Juliana and Michael understood that their relationship would be scrutinized because of their 20-year age gap. Some fans are sure Juliana married Michael for his wealth and a green card, while others think Juliana is dedicated to her role as a wife. Whether or not Juliana is a "gold digger," she is surely one of 90 Day Fiancé's most talked-about stars.