After several hot-button storylines for Mariah Copeland on The Young and the Restless, things appear to be fizzling out for the troubled redhead. Her relationship with Tessa had been strong for years. In fact, the last several years have been crucial for Mariah’s growth and development on the CBS soap.
However, her mental health has taken a downward turn, and with another stint away from Tessa and their daughter, Aria, it seems as if their marriage may not be able to withstand much more.
What happened to Mariah?
Mariah Copeland (Camryn Grimes) was the surrogate for Abby (Melissa Ordway) and Chance (Conner Floyd). It was supposed to be an incredible journey for her and Abby, but that changed when Mariah was kidnapped. Abby’s ex-husband, Ben “Stitch” Rayburn (Sean Carrigan), kidnapped and held her captive. She delivered the baby alone, triggering another traumatic moment in her life, which was worsened when it was time for her to hand over Abby’s son.
Tessa (Cait Fairbanks) stood by Mariah’s side through it all. In 2022, the couple married, marking the first same-sex marriage on Y&R. It was magical for the couple, who had worked hard on their relationship to get where they were the day they said their vows.
Following the wedding, Mariah wanted to begin growing their family. She was still itching to be a mom after her surrogacy journey. The couple chose adoption, and they welcomed Aria. It was shortly after that that Mariah and Tess got a big storyline as they dealt with Aria’s hearing loss. Y&R highlighted the journey of dealing with a hearing-impaired child, which added more layers to Mariah’s experience.
Mariah’s Ongoing Battles With Ian Ward
Of course, Mariah’s history of trauma didn’t start with Abby’s surrogacy. Longtime viewers remember her dangerous connection to cult leader Ian Ward (Ray Wise), who manipulated and terrorized her when she was younger. His control left deep scars that Mariah has never fully shaken.
Ian resurfaced in Genoa City last year, dragging Mariah back into a cycle of fear and manipulation. Although she survived the ordeal, the return of her abuser reignited old wounds and played a major role in her ongoing mental health struggles. That history still hangs over her today and colors the way she responds to new challenges.
Over the last year or so, Mariah has been seen less in Genoa City.
What’s next for Mariah?
Currently, Mariah is trying to get treatment for her mental health struggles. She has been going to counseling and attempting to rebuild her relationships with Tessa and Aria. She most recently revealed she would be heading away again due to the suggestion of her therapist. Mariah stunned Tessa by revealing she had tried to kill a man and had done it before.
This could be the end of Teriah on Y&R, but will it go that far?