Prison matchmaker helps ‘smoking hot’ inmates find love

A ‘prison matchmaker’ who fell for an inmate she met through a pen pal program is helping other unlucky in love singles find their soulmates behind bars — including her son’s best friend. 

Chelsea Holmes is the star of the new Discovery+ reality series Prisoner of Love, which premiers on Monday, August 30. The show documents five couples as they navigate the ups and downs of dating someone who is locked up. 

‘There’s a stigma most people have about those in prison, but most of them are trying to better their lives — not to mention, a lot of these guys are smoking hot,’ she said. ‘We all make mistakes and we all deserve a second chance at finding love. If this can work for me it can work for anyone.’

That’s a first! Chelsea Holmes, a self-proclaimed prison matchmaker, is the star of the new Discovery+ reality series Prisoner of Love, which premiers on Monday, August 30

Dedicated: Chelsea fell for an inmate she met through a pen pal program and is now helping other unlucky in love singles find their soulmates behind bars

Dedicated: Chelsea fell for an inmate she met through a pen pal program and is now helping other unlucky in love singles find their soulmates behind bars

Honest: 'There is something about the bad boy in prison that I am attracted to,' Chelsea says of her boyfriend Manuel (pictured)

Honest: ‘There is something about the bad boy in prison that I am attracted to,’ Chelsea says of her boyfriend Manuel (pictured) 

The self-proclaimed prison matchmaker happens to be her own best client. She has been connecting with inmates through the pen pal writing program for years, but she never let herself cross the line until she met her beau Manuel.

Chelsea was drawn to the felon’s rugged good looks and charming personality, and she quickly fell head over heels in love. 

‘There is something about the bad boy in prison that I am attracted to,’ the hopeless romantic confesses in the trailer for the new show.   

Chelsea puts off telling her mother that she is dating a man in prison until just two weeks before his release. Unsurprisingly, her mom thinks this relationship is ‘a horrible decision.’  

While she is an advocate for dating prisoners, there are a number of red flags about her relationship with Manuel that she appears to be ignoring. 

Does not approve: Chelsea's mom thinks the relationship is 'a horrible decision'

Does not approve: Chelsea’s mom thinks the relationship is ‘a horrible decision’ 

First date The new trailer for the upcoming reality series shows Chelsea meeting Manuel after he is released from prison

First date The new trailer for the upcoming reality series shows Chelsea meeting Manuel after he is released from prison

Red flags: While she is head over heels, her friend Jonathan notes that Manuel has a 'rap sheet as long as a CVS receip'

Red flags: While she is head over heels, her friend Jonathan notes that Manuel has a ‘rap sheet as long as a CVS receip’

Watch out girl: Jonathan is stunned when Chelsea confesses that Manuel told her he wants to be 'celibate for a while' following his release

Watch out girl: Jonathan is stunned when Chelsea confesses that Manuel told her he wants to be 'celibate for a while' following his release

Watch out girl: Jonathan is stunned when Chelsea confesses that Manuel told her he wants to be ‘celibate for a while’ following his release

Committed: The trailer even shows her and her beau getting tattoos of each other's names

Committed: The trailer even shows her and her beau getting tattoos of each other’s names

‘The fact that he has this rap sheet as long as a CVS receipt is concerning,’ her friend Jonathan explains in his testimonial. 

When he asks if her relationship with Manuel is serious, Chelsea says they’re in ‘pretty deep.’ The trailer even shows her and her beau getting tattoos of each other’s names. 

However, Manuel may not be as interested in Chelsea as she is him — at least not sexually.

‘He wants to remain celibate for a while,’ she tells Jonathan while out shopping.

‘What?’ he replies. ‘You’re gonna have to take the reigns and rock his world.’ 

Why not? Chelsea has convinced both her son's best friend Brey to connect with attractive female inmates

Why not? Chelsea has convinced both her son’s best friend Brey to connect with attractive female inmates

Hard to handle: Brey's father Dexter is initially stunned when he finds out his son is considering dating an inmate and doesn't understand why he doesn't look for a traditional relationship

Hard to handle: Brey’s father Dexter is initially stunned when he finds out his son is considering dating an inmate and doesn’t understand why he doesn’t look for a traditional relationship

Sold: However, after sitting in on Brey's first matchmaking session with Chelsea, he is fully on board

Sold: However, after sitting in on Brey’s first matchmaking session with Chelsea, he is fully on board 

Another client! The twice-divorced dad even asks Chelsea to connect him with an inmate

Another client! The twice-divorced dad even asks Chelsea to connect him with an inmate

Chelsea doesn’t care what the rest of the world thinks about her relationship, and she is dedicated to helping others meet the prisoner of their dreams. 

She convinces her adult son’s best friend Brey to let her match him with a felon after showing him some of the female inmates who are looking for love.

Brey, who is quiet and creative, decides to give it a shot and falls for Arlette after failing to meet the right woman at bars or on dating apps.  

Chelsea doesn’t just sell Brey on inmate love; she also convinces his father Dexter to give someone behind bars a chance. 

Dexter is initially stunned when he finds out his son is considering dating an inmate and doesn’t understand why he doesn’t look for a traditional relationship the old-fashioned way. 

Thoughts: 'There’s a stigma most people have about those in prison, but most of them are trying to better their lives — not to mention, a lot of these guys are smoking hot,' Chelsea says

Thoughts: ‘There’s a stigma most people have about those in prison, but most of them are trying to better their lives — not to mention, a lot of these guys are smoking hot,’ Chelsea says

In deep: Isa, a college student who is studying education in New York, has fallen for an inmate named Devin

In deep: Isa, a college student who is studying education in New York, has fallen for an inmate named Devin

Complicated: Isa feels like she is trapped between two worlds because of her relationship

Complicated: Isa feels like she is trapped between two worlds because of her relationship

Backlash: Her friends don't approve of her relationship, which she is hiding from her conservative parents

Backlash: Her friends don’t approve of her relationship, which she is hiding from her conservative parents 

Trust issues: Isa wonders if she can trust Devin after he sends her an email asking for 'more money'

Trust issues: Isa wonders if she can trust Devin after he sends her an email asking for ‘more money’ 

However, after sitting in on Brey’s first matchmaking session with Chelsea, he is fully on board. The twice-divorced dad even asks Chelsea to connect him with an inmate, which is how he gets involved with Yolanda.  

Prisoner of Love touches upon the difficulties of dating — and trusting — someone who is locked up. 

Isa, a college student who is studying education in New York, has fallen for an inmate named Devin, and while she can’t deny her feelings for him, she feels like she is trapped between two worlds. 

Her friends don’t approve of the relationship, and she can never let her conservative parents find out that she is involved with a ward of the state.

Sharing her story: The show also features , Aluntrawho plans on marrying the inmate she fell for, though she's not actually one of Chelsea's clients

Sharing her story: The show also features Aluntra, who plans on marrying the inmate she fell for, though she’s not actually one of Chelsea’s clients

Road block: Aluntra has been with her fiancé Bryce for over four years, but he has been locked up the entire time

Road block: Aluntra has been with her fiancé Bryce for over four years, but he has been locked up the entire time 

Big moment: The first time Aluntra sees Bryce outside of prison following his release is featured on the show

Big moment: The first time Aluntra sees Bryce outside of prison following his release is featured on the show 

Reunited: The two share a passionate kiss to commemorate the momentous occasion

Reunited: The two share a passionate kiss to commemorate the momentous occasion

Reunited: The two share a passionate kiss to commemorate the momentous occasion

Scary thought: Isa wants to marry Bryce and start a new life together, but she is worried he will end up back in prison

Scary thought: Isa wants to marry Bryce and start a new life together, but she is worried he will end up back in prison

Isa is also struggling to figure out how her relationship with Devin fits into her long-term plans, especially because a part of her is concerned she is being played for a fool. 

‘It takes a lot to really trust him, she confesses in the trailer, revealing that he sent her an email asking for ‘more money.’ 

The show also features Aluntra who plans on marrying the inmate she fell for, though she’s not actually one of Chelsea’s clients.  

‘I have a fiancé. His name is Bryce, and we’ve been together for almost four years,’ she says in the trailer. ‘The only thing is he’s been in prison our entire relationship.’

With Bryce just weeks away from being released from prison, she is ready to get married, start a family, and embark on their life together in a new city. The only thing that is holding them back is Bryce’s family and his past.  

‘My whole future pretty much depends on him staying out of prison,’ she admits. 

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