What Happened To Jacqueline And Lauren From My Super Sweet 16?

"My Super Sweet 16" was the epitome of early-2000s excess. The flashy motors, celeb cameos, expensive party planners, glitzy gowns, manufactured drama, and ferocious fights — it had all the elements of great reality TV. Sadly, however, many of the reality TV show's famous moments were completely staged. But hey, never let the truth get in the way of a good story, right?

Despite the multiple lies on "My Super Sweet 16," its vast array of over-the-top characters did make for a good story. Who can forget Sophie Mitchell's obnoxious "My Super Sweet 16" appearance, which led to her becoming one of the most loathed teens in the country, as she handed out her "exclusive invites" and threatened to beat up her best friend (again)? There was also the Chris Brown episode where he hosted two parties in one night.

The show was so amazingly awful that it was revived for a reboot, as Cosmopolitan announced in 2017. They clarified that the scope was widening to include a variety of over-the-top bashes. However, there's no comparison to the original show, especially since fans still have plenty of questions about it. Like, what happened to Jacqueline and Lauren from "My Super Sweet 16" Season 1? 

Jacqueline Barkett and Lauren Kelly celebrated their milestone birthdays by holding a joint "coming-of-age" party at the Hard Rock Café in La Jolla, California. Their "Super Sweet 16" was all glamour and glitz, with no expense spared as the lovable duo rolled up in a flashy car and sashayed their way through the eager crowds pushing to get inside. There was singing, dancing, party crashers, oxygen inhalation tanks, and even a surprise appearance by nineties icon Pauly Shore. "I can't believe it!" Jacqueline squealed as Shore posed for pics and pretend-rode a motorcycle with the girls. 

Shortly after it aired, Lauren bragged to MTV: "I think our episode really sort of set the tone for all of the other ones," (via In Touch Weekly). Surely, everything must have been downhill from there? Apparently not, as both ladies went on to bigger and better things. The Cinemaholic reports that after finishing high school, Lauren attended Point Loma Nazarene University and then studied Spanish Language and Literature at CIS University. She went on to co-found a company, Capital Inc. USA, where she works as the VP of sales. 

Meanwhile, Jacqueline graduated from Fordham Law School and currently works as a litigation associate at Morrison & Foerster LLP. in New York City. According to Fordham Law's blog, Jacqueline previously traveled around Lebanon and Rome before joining the Department of Justice's Honors Program and working within the National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section. 

Because of the nature of her work, Jacqueline Barkett admitted in an interview with Fordham Law's blog, "Everybody calls me 'Homeland,'" referring to the hit Claire Danes-led drama. "They say, 'I don't understand your job. Is it like 'Homeland?'" Jacqueline explained that she decided to attend Fordham Law School so she could gain a greater understanding of the issues surrounding national security. The MTV alum added that lots of the school's alumni are now involved in the world of intelligence.

Ironically, it seems that intelligence and adherence to the law were two things sadly lacking when Jacqueline walked down the aisle on her big day. Following her big MTV debut, things appear to have gotten a little sticky for the family financially. According to the East Bay Times, Jacqueline's property-developing father, William Barkett, was accused of using "stolen taxpayer funds" to pay for his daughter's $1.8 million wedding extravaganza at the super-elite Hotel du Cap in Antibes, France. 

Court papers from September 2021 allege that William used $8 million in funds that were allocated to him for a "failed solar project," to keep up the Barketts' lavish lifestyle. They charged that he splashed out $360,000 alone on hiring Andrea Bocelli to sing at Jacqueline's nuptials. It's a shame Pauly Shore was already booked on the night. William has been charged with "embezzlement, grand theft, money laundering, and misappropriation of public funds."