Mikayla Matthews, known from the reality series The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, has confirmed that she and her husband, Jace Terry, remain separated as of early 2025. The couple publicly revealed their split during the fourth season of the show, citing ongoing struggles with intimacy stemming from Mikayla’s past trauma.
Intimacy Issues and Childhood Trauma:
The core issue driving the separation is Mikayla’s difficulty with intimacy, which she attributes to childhood sexual abuse. As she explained on the show, this trauma creates persistent emotional and psychological barriers, making it difficult to reconcile her expectations of a “perfect wife” with her lived experience.
“I feel a lot of pressure and guilt around my marriage and our sex life right now. I feel like I have a lot of broken pieces that I haven’t fixed yet.”
Relationship Timeline:
Mikayla and Jace began dating in 2016, meeting through Mikayla’s sister. They married in March 2018 after welcoming their son, Beckham, in July 2017. The couple later had three more children: Haven (6), Tommie (4), and Lottie (born in July 2025). Their relationship has been subject to public scrutiny, including criticism over the 5-year age gap when Mikayla became pregnant at 16.
Jace’s Role and Financial Impact:
Jace Terry has taken on the role of stay-at-home dad after losing his job as a project manager for Waffle Love, a move linked to Mikayla’s involvement with the reality show. Despite the career change, Jace has expressed support for Mikayla’s career and autonomy, trusting her to maintain boundaries within their relationship.
Uncertain Future:
While Mikayla has expressed fear of losing Jace, both are committed to co-parenting their four children. The couple is not ruling out reconciliation, but acknowledges that healing will take time. Mikayla admits that the situation is painful because her husband’s primary need is sexual intimacy, while her deepest wounds stem from trauma.
“I don’t think it’s like with the intention of being separated forever… I’m not trying to go even a day away from the kids anyway.”
Broader Context:
The Matthews-Terry case highlights the complexities of modern relationships, where personal trauma, public exposure, and shifting gender roles intersect. The couple’s transparency about their struggles with intimacy challenges conventional expectations of marriage and raises questions about how couples navigate unresolved trauma in long-term partnerships.
The couple’s separation underscores the reality that even strong relationships can falter when fundamental needs are unmet, and that healing from trauma is an ongoing process that requires patience, honesty, and professional support.
