‘Jay & Pamela’ Stars on Their ‘Heartbreak’ Over Her Family’s Disapproval of Relationship
Jay & Pamela star Pamela Chavez has been estranged from her family amid her relationship Jay Manuel. Because her parents don’t approve of the romance, Pamela relocated across state lines to move in with Jay in the basement of his mom and dad’s home.
Despite the disapproval of Pamela’s family, she and Jay, who both have Osteogenesis Imperfecta Type 3 (OI), or brittle bone disorder, are going strong and opened up to Swooon about how they’re navigating the estrangement.
“As you saw in the [premiere] episode, [it’s] a lot of heartbreak,” Pamela admitted. “I think it’s bittersweet, but I know I’m not the only one. I’m sure someone out there wishes they had the perfect cookie-cutter family, and that’s not the case, but that’s also okay. It doesn’t have to be perfect.”
She also didn’t have anything negative to say about her family and pointed out that they helped “shape” who she is. “It’s just amazing that no matter if your relationship with your family isn’t perfect, there is some value to it that shaped me to the person that I am and preparing me to enter a new chapter in my life with having more family, which is my husband and in-laws and all that,” she said. “It’s been a blessing.”
The couple is sharing their story on the new TLC series. During the premiere, Jay opened up about being a transgender man and told us that he’s “leaning into” being his authentic self.
“I feel like there’s nothing more powerful, at least for me, than sharing your truth and being who you are, and, of course, sharing it on this big of a platform,” he dished. “It’s way different than within the realm of just people that you kind of know. However, I think there’s something to say about just leaning into who you are and that authenticity, and I feel like that’s something that will be seen just throughout the show. It’s not even just the transgender aspect of things but just being authentic to who we are as a whole, and everything that encompasses us as people.”
Part of the pair’s journey is their desire to move out of Jay’s parents’ basement and into a place of their own. “We’re definitely grateful for what my parents have provided and giving that space,” he said. “What you’re going to see is just us navigating that and trying to plan a wedding and all these other things. We’re still navigating that, but independence is a big thing. I feel like, at least for where we are, we’ve at least made a lot of steps. We’re a lot more close to that goal than when we started talking about it.”
The two met online. At the time, Pamela had been single for two years and said she was “starting to be more open” about finding someone when she met her partner. They got engaged in 2022. “He really changed my mind of marriage and everything and moving to a different state,” she admitted. “He really just brought so much into my life that I couldn’t deny anymore. I’m like, ‘Okay, we’re more than friends.’”
Pamela added, “The universe really blessed me in regards to I wasn’t looking for anything, so I got really lucky, honestly. It worked out for me. I was really surprised at myself that I even gave her my number because like anyone that knows me I’m pretty reserved in that regard, so I just felt led to do so, and it ended up working out great for me.”
