Jillian Lauren, now 51, has had a life full of twists and turns—from her shocking entry into a royal harem to becoming a crime reporter and loving mother.
Her unique and often painful experiences were laid bare in her 2010 memoir, Some Girls: My Life in a Harem, offering readers an unflinching look at her time spent as part of Brunei’s Prince Jefri Bolkiah’s 25-girl harem.
The Shocking Start: A Life in a Harem
At just 18 years old, Jillian Lauren left her New York apartment to travel to Borneo, unaware of what awaited her.
What started as an offer from a “casting director” turned into an experience she would later reveal in heartbreaking detail.
She was told a rich businessman would pay her and other American girls $20,000 to attend his lavish parties for two weeks.
But when she arrived, she was thrust into an entirely different world—a harem for Prince Jefri, the youngest brother of the Sultan of Brunei.
Her memoir describes her shock as she walked into a party filled with 40 other girls, some as young as 16, and was soon enveloped in a lifestyle of luxury, jewelry, and designer clothes. For 18 months, she lived like a princess in the grand Istana Nurul Iman Palace, the largest presidential palace in the world, and earned around $300,000. This was far from a glamorous fantasy, however—Jillian quickly realized the personal cost of being part of this extravagant world.
The Dark Reality of the Harem
Jillian’s time in the harem was not all gold and glamour. While she was showered with riches, the experience came with its own emotional and physical toll. In her memoir, she writes candidly about her sexual encounters with Prince Jefri, describing them as quick, impersonal, and unprotected. She found herself caught in a vicious cycle of wealth, empty promises, and exploitation. Despite everything, she began to develop feelings for the prince, even though she was often rented out to his brother, the Sultan of Brunei.
As she became more entangled in the life of a harem girl, Jillian reflects on how she fell into what she now describes as Stockholm Syndrome. “I knew I was a hooker, but somehow I felt like Cinderella,” she writes, capturing the complex emotions that accompany such trauma.
A Life Rewritten: From Harem to True Crime
After leaving the harem, Jillian returned to New York and transitioned into a new life, using the skills she had gained to pursue a career as a burlesque dancer and, later, a crime reporter.
Her deep dive into the world of crime reporting brought her face to face with one of America’s most prolific serial killers, Samuel Little.
Jillian’s investigation into his confessions would later become the basis for her true crime documentary series Confronting a Serial Killer, detailing her encounters with Little and the chilling stories he shared about his crimes.
Family Life and Struggles with Motherhood
In 2005, Jillian married Scott Shriner, the bassist for the rock band Weezer.
The couple adopted two children, Tariku and Jovanni, and Jillian documented their adoption journey in her second memoir, Everything You Ever Wanted.
Through this new chapter of her life, she explored the complexities of motherhood, trauma, and the deep connections she formed with her children.
Jillian’s story continues to evolve as she bravely faces another challenge—cancer.
Recently, she shared with her followers on Instagram that she had been diagnosed with the disease and was undergoing treatment.
Despite the physical challenges, Jillian remains resilient, sharing her journey and expressing gratitude for the medical care she has received.
A Life That Keeps Evolving
Jillian’s life has been anything but ordinary, and as she continues to heal from the past and confront new challenges, she serves as a testament to the strength of the human spirit.
Whether through her writing, her work as a crime reporter, or her role as a mother, she has shown that even in the face of trauma, it’s possible to find redemption, love, and a sense of belonging.