It was a modern-day love story for actress Jena Sims and LIV Golf competitor, Brooks Koepka. The kind where Jena, now Jena Sims Koepka, sent an Instagram direct message to Brooks after admiring his photos on social media.
In recollection of their 2015 online introduction, the former Miss Georgia Teen USA winner joked when sitting down with the LPGA Women’s Network, “I’m not stupid. I’m not the only girl who has ever slid into his DMs. Even probably to this day.”
The model, investor and founder of Pageant of Hope emphasized that it wasn’t just her beauty queen style that caught the four-time Major champion’s eye. Brooks, 32, found Jena, 34, to be witty and funny. Brooks felt a strong connection to Jena even just from her profile. They met at The Masters in 2015, and the first hug they shared was across the ropes during tournament play.
After sharing a romantic dinner immediately following that round, the couple dated for six months and then parted ways. Jena returned to her life in Los Angeles, acting in the hit teen romance drama The Vampire Diaries and sci-fi films like Sharknado 5 and Attack of the 50 Foot Cheerleader. It wasn’t until 2017 when Koepka, the long-distance driver who averages over 311 yards, and Sims, the notorious girl getting her head cut off in horror films, finally linked up again. They tied the knot five years later on June 4, 2022.
“Jessica Korda, she is so sweet,” Jena cooed. Jessica, a U.S. Olympian for the 2021 Tokyo golf competition, doesn’t live far from the Koepkas in Jupiter, Florida. After meeting through a mutual friend, Jena found Jessica to be “such a little sweetheart. Honestly, we’re like Instagram friends too. She’s on my close friends story.”
With 257,000 followers on Instagram, Jena enjoys being able to “bop back and forth on Instagram” with the three-time U.S. Solheim Cup team member. Plus, “I just see her out socially,” Jena highlighted. “I just think she is so kind.”
Outside of the golf world, Jena has rubbed shoulders with some iconic names in the entertainment industry, including legendary actors Robert DeNiro and Morgan Freeman in the 2013 film Last Vegas. Since moving to Jupiter to be with Brooks, she’s filmed about 150 commercials. The move has certainly taken her away from bigger opportunities in Los Angeles, but the Winder, Georgia, native, hopes to get back into acting on the big screen as she transitions into more “young mom” roles. Regardless, Jena is extremely proud of keeping her own identity in her partnership with Brooks.
“I didn’t give up my life and my friends just because I married someone who is an athlete,” Jena emphasized. “You see it all the time in other sports like baseball and football. These girls just quit their jobs immediately and travel full-time. That is probably 90% of the women on tour, which if that’s your journey, ‘You go, girl’. I have no judgment of that. It just wasn’t the path I was going to take for myself.”
Still, the golf world has led to new opportunities for Jena even if you’re unlikely to find her on a tee box any time soon. Especially with her new line of Steve Madden golf shoes that “can be worn on the course or to brunch.” That was a major selling point for the LPGA golfers she gifted a few pairs to when they were released in April 2022.
Even with her own line of golf shoes, you typically won’t spot Jena walking the course. When it’s tournament time for her husband, the self-identified introvert is most likely indoors socially recharging, catching up on emails, or doing her accounting.
“I don’t really see much of the wives,” Jena shared when it comes to visiting Brooks during a competition. “I have a lot of ‘tour wives’ who are friends, but I would say I see them more often when it’s not a tournament week.”
As in many marriages, Jena and Brooks have extensively discussed dreams for their future children. A major talking point: having children in the near future, but not pressuring them into golf. Jena revealed Brooks would love to have a girl, and Jena would be delighted to encourage her child into any of her former passions like cheerleading, gymnastics, and dance. Yet, any son of theirs wouldn’t be shepherded into golf unless it came from his own natural curiosity. This overwhelming message of following your personal passions is something Jena encourages not only with her future children, but to other ladies, especially those married to professional athletes, as they cultivate their own success.
“I would like to be a role model for women just to show them that I still work. I still have my own life, my own dreams, my own income,” Jena highlighted. “You just don’t see it that often. We’re so successful and happy as a couple. I don’t center my whole life around whatever he has going on.”
While an Instagram message did change her life, it hasn’t completely rewritten Jena’s story.
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