If you were a teenager on the internet in 2016, you probably remember the whirlwind. The long-distance flights between Florida and Australia. The "boy meets girl via Instagram DM" story that felt like a Wattpad novel come to life. Gabriel and Jess Conte didn't just win at YouTube; they basically defined the "Christian power couple" aesthetic for an entire generation of viewers.
But things look a whole lot different now.
It’s been over a decade since Gabriel first started posting Vines, and nearly ten years since the pair tied the knot in that iconic Brisbane wedding. If you've been looking for their weekly vlogs lately, you might have noticed a lot of silence. Honestly, it’s because they intentionally hit the brakes.
The "Goodbye for Now" That Changed Everything
In early 2024, the couple dropped a bombshell on their joint channel. They announced they were discontinuing their podcast, So Far, So Good, and stepping back from the constant "content treadmill."
Gabriel was pretty blunt about it. He mentioned that after ten years of content creation being his primary identity and paycheck, he needed to make his family the priority. He talked about "finding margin." That’s a fancy way of saying he was burnt out on being a public figure 24/7.
Most creators say they’re "quitting" and then post a "My Morning Routine 2026" video three days later. The Contes actually did it. They shifted. They didn't disappear entirely—Jess still posts her cozy, aesthetic lifestyle content—but the era of the "Jess and Gabriel" brand as a massive, high-production machine has evolved into something much more private.
Where are they living now?
It’s a bit of a moving target. They’ve bounced between:
- Boca Raton, Florida: Gabriel’s hometown where they built a stunning custom house.
- Nashville, Tennessee: Where they spent a significant chunk of time connecting with the creative and faith-based community there.
- Australia: They’ve kept a base in Jess’s home country, often splitting their time to ensure their daughter, Makaiah, grows up knowing her Aussie roots.
Raising Makaiah (And the Privacy Shift)
When Makaiah was born in 2022, the internet went wild. But as she's grown, you’ve probably noticed her face appearing less and less in their videos.
This wasn't an accident.
While some YouTube families lean into the "kid-fluencer" life, Gabriel and Jess have been vocal about protecting her privacy. They’re navigating that weird 2026 reality where they want to share their lives as parents without "selling" their child’s childhood for clicks. It’s a boundary that a lot of their peers—like Cole and Savannah LaBrant—have been criticized for not maintaining. The Contes chose a different path, even if it meant fewer views.
Business Beyond the Vlog
If they aren't vlogging every day, how are they paying the bills? Gabriel and Jess were smarter with their money than most 20-somethings with a camera.
- Grace Coffee: Gabriel’s coffee brand wasn't just a merch play. It was a legitimate business venture he launched with his brother.
- Music: Their Under the Covers EPs and their worship album Greater still pull in streaming royalties. Jess’s voice is, quite literally, her instrument of financial stability.
- Stationery and Journals: Jess has always had a knack for design. Her journals and aesthetic merch lines through platforms like New Earth have a dedicated cult following.
- Real Estate: By moving out of Los Angeles early (back in 2020), they avoided the massive overhead of the "clout house" lifestyle and invested in property instead.
What Most People Get Wrong About Their "Breakup"
Every few months, a rumor starts on TikTok or Reddit that Gabriel and Jess are "splitting up" because they haven't posted a photo together in three weeks.
It’s kind of exhausting, right?
The reality is that they just stopped performing their marriage for the camera. In their guest appearance on the Unplanned podcast with Matt and Abby, they looked significantly more grounded than the younger creator couples. They talked about the "boring" parts of marriage—the communication, the disagreements, the daily grind of parenting.
They aren't "perfect," and they’ve stopped trying to look that way. Gabriel has even poked fun at his "cringe" early vlogs. That self-awareness is why they’ve survived the influencer "curse" that sees most YouTube couples end in a dramatic "We Broke Up" video with a thumbnail of someone crying.
The 2026 Outlook: What’s Next?
So, is the "Jess and Gabriel" channel dead? Not exactly. It’s just "seasonal."
They’ve moved into a phase where they only work together when it makes sense—like their recent merch collaborations or special milestone videos. Gabriel is exploring creative outlets that don't involve his face on a thumbnail, and Jess is leaning into the "slow living" niche that her audience loves.
Practical takeaways if you're a long-time fan:
- Don't expect a schedule: They don't post on Tuesdays anymore. Turn on notifications if you want to see them, but they’re living life in real-time now.
- Check Jess's solo channel: If you miss the aesthetic vlogs, that’s where the most consistent content lives.
- Look for the businesses: Support Grace Coffee or Jess's stationery if you want to support them as entrepreneurs rather than just "personalities."
The Contes proved that you can grow up on the internet without letting the internet eat you alive. They traded the high-energy "What is up guys!!" lifestyle for a quiet house, a kid, and a lot of privacy. Honestly? That's the ultimate flex in 2026.
If you want to keep up with their latest moves, your best bet is following Jess's Instagram for daily life snippets or checking out Gabriel’s "New Earth" projects for his latest creative ventures.
