‘Hot felon’ whose police mugshot went viral is trying a modeling career

Mirella Ponce, the 20-year-old Fresno mother whose police mugshot went viral, is turning her Internet fame into a possible modeling career.

Fresno photographer Desiree Genera recently posted several photos of Ponce on her Instagram and Facebook pages.

Ponce became an Internet sensation after her run in with police. She was arrested Oct. 23 on a weapons charge and later pleaded guilty to a felony and being in a gang. She’ll get felony probation at a sentencing hearing in December.

But it wasn’t Ponce’s crime that gained her national attention. It was her mugshot. Her photo has generated more than 2 million views, Genera said.

On the Fresno police’s Facebook page, people talked about her beauty, her sculpted eyebrows and her fierce look. Some offered to pay her bail. Others, however, chastised her for being in a gang, and being in a vehicle with her infant child and a gun.

After her release from jail last week, Ponce said in media interviews that she planned to turn her life around and possibly even try modeling.

Genera reached out to Ponce through a mutual friend and offered to help her. Genera said she went through tough times in her own life and understands the need for a second chance.

“You can tell that she wants to change her life around,” said Genera. “And modeling could be a career for her.”

Ponce already has two paying jobs. She will model for a local apparel company and a tattoo studio.

This story was originally published November 7, 2017 at 2:00 PM with the headline "‘Hot felon’ whose police mugshot went viral is trying a modeling career."