Peru Two's Michaella McCollum branded 'stunning' as she dons little black dress
Michaella McCollum, who once made headlines as one half of the infamous 'Peru Two' drug mules, has wowed her followers with two "stunning" photos from her most recent holiday at another picturesque destination. Now 31, Michaella was introduced to the public in the midst of the scandal over ten years ago.
Despite her rocky introduction to fame, the mum, who hails from Northern Ireland, has reinvented herself as an author, sharing the details of her ordeal in a memoir, hauntingly titled You'll Never See Daylight Again. Michaella is also a prolific public speaker and has even taken part in television and production projects for industry heavyweights such as the BBC and Netflix.
Back in the summer of 2013, a then 19-year-old Michaella headed to Ibiza solo "on her first holiday", where she unfortunately encountered individuals who convinced her to smuggle 11kg of cocaine, valued at £1.5 million, out of the country.
Michaella and her accomplice, Glasgow -born sales assistant Melissa Reid, were seized at Lima airport in Peru after attempting to sneak the drugs onto a flight wrapped in oatmeal and jelly packets - in a bid to mask the scent.
Once their smuggling attempt was thwarted, they infamously became known as the Peru Two and were subsequently sentenced to six years and eight months inside the notorious Ancon 2, a high-security prison. Michaella was just 20-years-old when she was sentenced.
After serving half of her sentence, Michaella was released on parole on March 31, 2016. Similarly, Melissa was set free that year on June 21, after Peruvian officials decided to "expel" her from the country.
In a recent interview on Good Morning Britain, Michaella recounted her past experiences in light of "a growing number of Brits abroad" getting arrested for similar drug-related crimes.
Speaking to hosts Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley, Michaella said: "I think it's alarming that it's all young girls and it's similar stories.
"They've all travelled to a country - alone - that they haven't been to before and their families are filing missing persons reports, and they wind up in prison. I mean, it's a similar story to my situation."
At the time of her crime, Michaella admitted to being significantly influenced by "a lot" of drugs and alcohol. She also shared how she naively assumed her acquaintances were "safe" because they appeared to abstain from drinking and they didn't "take drugs", which led to her "trusting them" and falsely concluding they were "good people" who "didn't party".
These assumptions, she revealed, enabled them to "lure" her into the dark world of drug smuggling.
Emerging from the other side transformed, Michaella's post-prison life has been one of reformation; she graduated from the University of Ulster with her twin sons Rio and Rafael cheering her on.
Garnering substantial support, the former drug mule now boasts more than 100,000 followers on Instagram, where she regularly shares snippets of her new life.
Michaella is often pictured making the most of her freedom, embarking on jet-setting adventures and exploring scenic spots with her young boys.
In a recent social media update, Michaella posted a photo taken in what looks to be her hotel bathroom. In it, she's sporting a sleek black dress that accentuates her toned physique, with her long blonde hair flowing down her shoulders.
A second photo features her posing in front of a stunning ocean backdrop, prompting her followers to share their thoughts in the comments.
One fan praised Michaella for her story and said: "Just finished your audiobook! Found it to be an inspirational read, quite heartwarming actually, which wasn't expected. Your honesty about the situation came across really well. Well done and good luck with your future endeavours".
Another admirer said: "Stunning photos and you look absolutely gorgeous in that dress".
Michaella's memoir, You'll Never See Daylight Again, was later adapted into a BBC/Netflix documentary series that she narrated, with the BBC confirming Michaella received no payment for the project.
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