Saffron Boswell: Prisoner's girlfriend spends £30K just to look good on video calls for him

Saffron Boswell gets regular beauty treatments including filler, anti-wrinkle jabs, lash extensions, and blow dries to ensure she looks picture-perfect for her banged-up boyfriend. The 26-year-old, who's been in a relationship with Luke for eight years, says their weekly FaceTime dates help keep the excitement alive in their long-distance relationship.

The blonde content creator says video calls with the 39-year-old are 'more relaxed' than monthly prison visits as it's just the two of them on the call. Saffron says she still gets butterflies when she sees Luke, who she says is behind bars for charges that aren't violent.

A TikTok clip captioned “glow up with me for HMP” shows her extensive glam routine as she prepared seeing Luke who's been in prison for three-and-a-half years. The video went viral, racking up more than 110,000 likes, re-posts and comments.

Another clip shows her getting ready at home, picking out an outfit, applying make-up, doing her hair and perfecting the lighting before hopping on a call. The videos were met with mixed reaction from viewers online, with some branding it really cute while others slammed it as a waste of money.

Saffron, from Brentwood, Essex, said: “He's been in prison for three-and-a-half years now, it's been extremely difficult. We did try to end things for a good six months at one point but we ended up getting back together again because we realised we just couldn't be apart.

“The in-person dates are a lot better because we get to be together physically, but I do believe that Facetime is more relaxed because it's just the two of us.

“I get dressed-up even if I'm just FaceTiming him from the sofa. I usually go to the hairdressers and get a blow-dry, if I've got time then I'll go and get a wax but if not then I just have a full-body shave. I'll do a full face of make-up, pick a cute outfit, put some perfume on, and then set my tripod up.

“In my head it's the same thing as if we were going on a real date. If I was just sat in the same old pyjamas from the morning then I'd feel like a bit of a scruff. I still get nervous. When you're with someone for a long time it just becomes normal. In this sort of situation we're not together all the time, so it feels like we're in the beginning and in the early stages of dating again. It helps to keep it exciting too. In this situation you need anything that you can hold onto and I think it helps having something to look forward to.”

Saffron says she undergoes more extravagant preparation for her visits to the prison, forking out thousands of pounds for treatments that range from lip and chin filler to £2,000 hair extensions.

Saffron said: “I get regular treatments like botox, a vampire facial and skin boosters - that kind of thing. I try and time my treatments so that they fall before a visit. I even cancelled a visit because my eyebrow girl cancelled on me and then she rescheduled it on a visit day and I was like no, I need to get my brows done. I think he just knows me, so he was like ‘sure babe’. He's always complimentary of my appearance. He's always experienced this ever since we first got together so for him I think it's just normal.”

Hopeful Saffron, who believes her boyfriend will be released from prison in 18 months, says some of the negative comments she's received online are laughable.

Saffron said: “The large perception is that it's just embarrassing or it's a waste of time and money. I think if that affected me then I wouldn't post any more but I really couldn't give a damn. I think it's laughable because in my head, as individuals, we should all live life exactly the way that we want to, so I do just think that these people are incredibly small minded. God forbid anything happened to them in their life because I just think they wouldn't be able to cope. I'm making an investment in myself and it helps me to feel good as an individual.”

Since sharing the two clips online, Saffron's TikTok videos have gone viral, racking up a combined total of more than 1,604,092 views, likes, shares and comments.

One user commented: “People like this actually exist and are allowed to have agency over their own finances and drive and stuff.” Another wrote: “Waste of money. Doing all this for a low life as well.”

But a third person said: “This is actually really cute.” Another user commented: “These women on here are just bitter and unsatisfied with their own lives. I am sure you have a stronger relationship and most of them and their partners. Keep doing what makes you happy."

TOTAL TREATMENT COSTS PER YEAR

Anti-wrinkle jab (forehead and chin) - £3,033

Filler (under eye, nose and lip) - £7,367

Skin booster - £1,733

Vampire facial - £3,466

Ombre brows - £1,400

Hair colour and extensions - £7,000

Lash extensions - £1,300

Nails - £3,999

New outfits - £960

TOTAL =£30,258