Yara Zaya

Overview

Yara Zaya joined the cast of 90 Day Fiancé in season eight in 2020. Originally from Ukraine, she connected with Jovi Dufren through a travel app before meeting him in Budapest, Hungary. Their relationship eventually brought her from Kyiv to New Orleans. The season followed that relocation and the practical and emotional adjustments involved in preparing to marry while building a life in another country.

Her early episodes showed the contrast between her expectations and Jovi’s lifestyle in Louisiana. She was uncertain about New Orleans and had to find her footing while he traveled for work. Wedding plans also required compromise because her family could not attend from Ukraine. The couple married in Las Vegas, with some of Jovi’s relatives and friends present, and later welcomed their daughter.

On Happily Ever After? season six, Yara’s priorities as a new mother became central to the story. She moved to the suburbs while Jovi was away and negotiated the support she needed from his family. Season seven followed a visit to Europe after war broke out in Ukraine. Seeing her mother and a friend who had fled the country strengthened Yara’s desire to spend more time there, leading to difficult conversations about where the family should live.

Yara’s other appearances include 90 Day Diaries season three, which recorded the family seeking safety in Texas during Hurricane Ida. In the first season of 90 Day: The Last Resort, she and Jovi worked through disagreements about communication and future family plans before choosing to recommit. Happily Ever After? season nine placed them in Miami and followed Yara launching a pet-accessories business. Her promotional event also brought other franchise couples into the story, connecting her business ambitions with the wider cast’s friendships and disputes.

Last updated November 7, 2026