'Escaping Polygamy' follows former Kingston clan sisters Jessica, Andrea and Shanell as they assist others break away of polygamy. So, what happened to Ava/Michelle and is she emancipated now?
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But Lifetime's Escaping Polygamy could be the darkest and realest of them all, as it presentations three sisters — previously of the polygamist Kingston clan — helping others break free of the polyamorous way of life.
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And one girl specifically, Ava (AKA Michelle) Michaels has been on everybody's mind lately. "Wondering what happened to Ava," requested one person on Twitter. "I hope we get an Ava/Michelle update," echoed another.
So, what happened to Ava from Escaping Polygamy?
When we first met Ava, who also goes through her mom's namesake, Michelle, she seemed terrified of having to proceed her life as a part of the Order. "I kind of feel like a puppet in the Order," the then 17-year-old admitted. "In the Order, marriages are arranged. If I get married to the person they want me to, he's 19 and he's my cousin. I would be his fifth wife."
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"The incest in the marriage makes me feel uncomfortable, but that's the situation that it is when marrying in the Order," she continued. "I always thought it was weird that my dad is my mom's uncle. And I don't want to be married to my cousin. That's not what I want for myself and I don't want my kids to be going through the things that come with polygamy or come with the Order."
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Ava was once ready to get a highschool and college training — while within the Order.
Surprisingly, Ava was fortunate sufficient to obtain an training as a girl in a community that very seldom allows schooling for women. For her basic years, she attended the Order's faculty, Ensign Learning Center, where classes are taught exclusively by teachers who are participants of the Order.
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Although Ensign is not authorised for highschool, Ava's mom advocated for her to attend a local public highschool, a daring move for a female from the sort of secluded society. After persuading Ava's very religious father, who had to take the subject to the Order's leader, Ava was once in the end granted the opportunity to attend Brighton High School, a secular secondary faculty just a few miles from Salt Lake City.
Ava graduated from Brighton High on the age of 15 with honors, two years previous than her friends. And despite the fact that she was ready to pursue her school education whilst nonetheless in the Order, Ava "recalls knowing for years that she would leave if 'things did not change' when she became older," an replace at the site Hope After Polygamy reads.
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Her father let her take faculty categories, but "chose her degree, picked her classes, then put her brother in charge of her." Ava wasn't allowed to attend a unmarried elegance that her brother did not additionally attend. This intended the siblings partnered together on every crew project, and hung out only with each and every other, in order to keep away from outsider interactions.
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These days, Ava is glad she made the best determination for herself.
Although Ava used to be in a position to pass to school, she wasn't in reality free in any respect. Her brother (one among her a hundred thirty siblings) was all the time by her facet and she or he used to be required to dedicate a lot of her time to the Order, in spite of her rigorous studies. Ava had also been going through a decade of force (since she was 8!) to marry her cousin.
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Since she was expected to get married by way of the age of 18, Ava had to face the hardest choice of her life a few months before her birthday: Would she fall into line like the other girls of the Order or would she check out to seek emancipation from the oppressive Order?
The Kingston sisters had been in a position to assist her escape — even though Ava sought after to stick with her circle of relatives, she knew she could not give up her sense of self and continue looking at the cycle of abuse proceed.
"With a well-thought-out plan," Hope After Polygamy explains, "she was successful; the judge granted her emancipation when she was 17 years old. After leaving, she continued her education and graduated with her associate's degree two days after her 18th birthday."
Although her circle of relatives is not happy with Ava's resolution to leave the order, she has no regrets. "She stands strong in her truth knowing that she made the best decision for herself," Ava's good fortune tale continues. "We know that her education was a lifeline and want to support her through her bachelor's degree. She is an example to many and a shining light of hope to girls in polygamy."
Way to pass, Ava! Her story made us emotional and we hope different younger women are in a position to to find freedom out of doors of polygamy with the assistance of the Kingston sisters.
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