Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Jen Shah traded out her glamorous life for a prison jumpsuit.
Shah's reality behind bars clearly isn't as stimulating as it used to be. She went from red carpets to strictly limited options in the fashion, health and hygiene department.
This article will reveal what the former reality television star is able to buy in prison. Then, it will reveal what we know about the upcoming season of the show as well as if her old "assistant" will be returning to the cast.
Why Is Jen Shah In Prison?
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Jennifer Shah was sentenced to six and a half years in prison for her involvement in a telemarketing scheme that defrauded thousands of victims. In 2023, a judge eventually knocked one year off of that ruling, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons' Inmate Database.
Prosecutors say the RHOSLC star scammed people to pay for her luxurious lifestyle, which included a rented 9,420-square-foot mansion in Park City, UT, a pricey apartment in Midtown Manhattan and she even leased a Porsche.
The New York Times reports that Jen tried to blame the show for her persona, which she insists was a "semi-scripted, heavily edited facsimile of 'reality' intentionally manipulated to maximize ratings."
She is set to be released in August 2028.
What Can She Buy In Prison?
The fallen diva doesn't have a lot of options at FCP Bryan located on the northwest side of Houston, TX.
According to the commissary list (items available for prisoners to purchase), she can only buy two types of shoes: "tennis shoes" and "shower shoes." There are only 14 clothing items she can buy, including a "sports bra" for $21,90, thermal shirts or pants ranging from $6.50 – $7.80 each and shorts or sweatpants.
As expected, there is no high-fashion designer brand that people can buy besides a brands like a "Dickie Beanie."
The food isn't five stars either. She can buy noodles you add water to, raisins, prunes, pickles, turkey bites and rice.
She isn't the only high-profile name spending time behind bars. Theranos Inc. founder Elizabeth Holmes is serving more than 11 years in the same minimum security prison after a jury in California convicted her of four counts of fraud.
Forbes once named her "the world's youngest self-made female billionaire" for her Edison test that she claimed would be able to detect serious conditions like cancer and diabetes with only a few drops of blood, but by 2015, that claim was eventually proven to be fake. The negative light brought a lot of attention to her husband, Billy Evans, but he managed to keep his fortune despite the scandal.
It's not clear if Holmes and Shah became BFFs … but the good news is that Shah can buy a pen and notebook which might just be what she used to write a 'Real Housewives' play behind bars. She reportedly even had her fellow inmates act in it.
Unfortunately, it doesn't appear there are any expensive creams that will help her keep her youthful glow like she had on the show, but she can buy Oil Olay Regenerist, Collagen cream and unbranded make-up.
You can click here to read the full commissary list at FPC Bryan.
Why Is She Known For On Real Housewives of Salt Lake City?
Jen Shah certainly knew how to keep viewers engaged (whether she meant to do it or not).
In true franchise fashion, the show was intended to follow a series of successful women living in Salt Lake City, UT which is the world capital of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as Mormons). The religious differences in this particular place were shown on the show. However, Shah quickly became a polarizing personality that took the series in a unique direction.
She was caught on camera lunging toward Lisa Barlow on a sprinter bus in Utah and producers had to intervene and physically restrain her, Page Six reported.
No fan can forget when she told cast members that her husband, Sharrieff Shah Sr., was suffering from "internal bleeding" which turned out to be an excuse to back out of a ski trip to Colorado as federal agents were on their way to arrest her.
As viewers know, there's no shortage of drama on the show. Jen isn't the only cast member that knows how to push the buttons of her co-stars.
What To Expect In The New Season Of RHOSLC?
Season 5 of RHOSLC has not yet been revealed, but in the past it has usually aired in September.
Yahoo reports returning cast members will be Heather Gay, Whitney Rose, Mary Cosby, Lisa BZarlow, Meredith Marks and Angie Katsanevas. The only person NOT expected to return is Monica Garcia, Jen's former assistant (pictured above).
Monica had a lot of controversy surrounding her, including having an 18-months-long affair with her brother-in-law as well as being accused of running the Real Housewives gossip account, Reality Von Tease.
In an interview with Us Weekly, Lisa Barlow didn't hold back on going separate ways with the secret blogger.
“I think a lot of trust was broken, and I don’t think it’s trust that you can ever get back. So it feels good moving forward and we wish everyone well.”
She added there was already so much drama, that they didn't need to make it up.
The show's Instagram account has been pretty quiet since the reunion, but it did take a moment in late June to celebrate National Sunglasses Day by sharing photos of Angie wearing very odd shades.
The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City
