Bella Poarch has taken TikTok and the music industry by storm, amassing over 90 million loyal followers in just a couple years. But recently, the 25-year-old pop icon revealed a past relationship that paints a starkly different picture from her whimsy online persona.
In an emotional Call Her Daddy podcast episode, Bella admits to being previously married and divorced by 21 – news that shocked fans worldwide. This is the untold story of her hidden marriage, the painful downfall of young love, and Bella‘s resilience rising from the ashes.
Bella‘s Early Life and Military Career
To understand Bella‘s rushed marriage, it‘s important to first understand the unique pressures and timeline of military life. Bella Poarch joined the U.S. Navy straight out of high school graduation at only 18 years old in 2017. Still a teenager leaving home for the first time, she was thrust into demanding training and structure.
After bootcamp graduation, Bella was stationed overseas in Japan as a sailor with dreams of becoming a Navy Seal. Though she doesn‘t divulge specifics, Bella also suffered from mental health issues like depression and trauma during this transformative time. The stress only mounted with physically and emotionally taxing deployments.
Many studies have found mental illness disproportionately impacts military members and veterans. A 2021 RAND survey revealed 1 in 3 active duty members showed signs of at least one mental health condition, often linked to difficult experiences while deployed.
Whirlwind Military Romance
It was amidst this turbulent period that Bella met her future ex-husband. They were both only 19 when their paths crossed in initial job training soon after Bella‘s arrival to Japan.
"We literally spent every minute together for like 6 months straight…I just knew he was the one," Bella fondly recalls. While still teenagers, isolation on a foreign base accelerated bonding exponentially. Within 2 years, they wed.
According to statistics, the military far outpaces the average national marriage age. Active duty marriages occur around age 24, versus age 29 civilian-side. Reasons why include steady paychecks, housing benefits giving newlyweds financial stability.
The likelihood of life-altering injury while deployed also spurs rushed proposals. And frequent relocations often strain even the strongest relationships overtime.
| Age Group | % Married in Military | % Married Civilians |
|---|---|---|
| 20-24 | 31% | 11% |
| 25-29 | 49% | 29% |
Deployed Life Puts Strain on Relationships
Within months of meeting, Bella and her new boyfriend were deployed overseas together for 6 months on a Navy ship. This challenging experience makes or breaks military relationships.
The long separations take an emotional toll, with limited communication. Returning home can also be a culture shock, with trauma issues resurfacing. Studies show PTSD and depression triple the risk of intimate partner violence.
Bella admits struggling with her mental health during deployments in the middle of the ocean. She experienced an identity crisis, unsure of who she was outside of uniform. Her dreams also gradually evolved, hoping to pursue music and content creation.
But her serious boyfriend still envisioned a traditional military spouse role for Bella: always waiting at home, tending house, focused only on supporting his Naval career advancement. This fundamental mismatch of hopes and dreams plagued their marriage.
Young Love Blinders
Despite nascent cracks forming in their shaky foundation, when Bella’s boyfriend proposed after 2 years together, she happily accepted. "I really thought at the moment that we were gonna be together forever," the starry-eyed 19-year-old admits.
Young love often clouds judgement with unrealistic expectations, overlooked red flags, and rose colored attachment. One study by Nicholas Wolfinger at the University of Utah found spouses under age 23 face a 56% divorce likelihood in the first 10 years.
Bella even drained her entire $2000 savings to fund an extravagant Hawaiian elopement with this virtual stranger – although finances straining military love is nothing new.
The Downfall of Warped Fairytale
Bella recounts their picturesque wedding blissfully, calling it “perfect.” Yet only one year later, at just 21 years old, her marriage was over. Through tears, she confirms the split left her utterly distraught, "one of the hardest things I’ve ever gone through."
While the pop icon vehemently denies rumors of cheating or disputes, she hints at irreconcilable differences and mental health struggles plaguing the relationship.
By the wedding, Bella was likely already spiraling into depression. Untreated trauma and lack of self-identity often erode intimate bonds unpredictably. What first felt like a fantasy slowly morphed into a nightmare instead.
Sadly, while not the norm, many naive, lovestruck young military couples share similar heartbreaking tales. The USMC top brass estimates nearly 85% of junior Marine marriages end in divorce within 5 years. Clearly, youthful love does not guarantee lifelong commitment.
Importance of Self Love & Understanding
Bella‘s story resonates with many women who feel pressure to conform to traditional gender roles that no longer make sense for modern military spouses. Her courage sharing such trauma shows maturity and personal growth.
Some important lessons Bella learned the hard way are still sinking in for the now 25-year-old. She advises others to avoid serious relationships until discovering your true self first. While easier said than done, self-understanding must come before seeking it from someone else.
Prioritizing your own mental health and passions should be the top priority, not compromising for any partner. Confidence must originate from within – not validation through enmeshing your identity with another’s dreams.
Especially for young people figuring out their future career paths, maintaining independence prevents tunnel vision settling down prematurely. Staying focused on personal goals without distraction is key.
Bella Rises From Ashes
After taking time to grieve her divorce and process the painful self-discoveries about her mental state, Bella poured her emotions into songwriting. The rest they say is history.
The trauma survivor turned TikTok sensation skyrocketed to over 85 million followers seemingly overnight with her creative lipsyncs and cosplays. Then Bella began releasing vulnerably honest music tackling issues like anxiety, self-harm, and relationship drama.
Clearly learning to prioritize self-care and chase her artistic passions has only amplified Bella‘s success. Just a few years post-divorce, she now tours internationally and rubs elbows with celebrities.
While her relationship missteps still leave scars, Bella undoubtedly emerged wiser and stronger. Her story offers inspiration and hope to anyone else struggling through their own challenges with love or identity. Bella Poarch is living proof you can overcome adversity and still achieve your wildest dreams.