EXCLUSIVE Married At First Sight's Melinda Willis issues dire warning to 2025 participants about the harsh reality of starring on the show: 'It's not real life' READ MORE: MAFS 2025 SPOILER: Chaos as producers battle to contain season 12 cast after groom flees the state and three couples quit just weeks into filming By Ali Daher For Daily Mail Australia Published: 23:47 BST, 19 August 2024 | Updated: 23:47 BST, 19 August 2024 e-mail 21 shares 1 View comments Married At First Sight's Melinda Willis has issued a stark warning to the new cast of the hit reality show. The 34-year-old urged participants filming the 2025 series to keep their feet firmly planted in reality and not be seduced by the false promises of fame and fortune. Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Australia, Melinda opened up about her own experience on the show.
Melinda spoke about the emotional toll it took on her and how the pressures of reality TV can lead to significant psychological struggles. 'I know a lot of people that will go on this show are quite vulnerable, are quite open and they're quite emotional or they can get quite emotionally attached. And I feel like I was too in it, way too in it,' she confessed.
Melinda admitted that she found it difficult to detach from the intense environment of the show, leading to ongoing stress even after filming had wrapped. 'I would just be like just detach from it a little, still see the outside world, don't get so consumed in it and enjoy the ride,' she advised. 'Do you know, like even after the show aired, I didn't get to enjoy watching the show back'.
Married At First Sight's Melinda Willis has issued a stark warning to the new cast of the hit reality show The 34-year-old urged participants filming the 2025 series to keep their feet firmly planted in reality and not be seduced by the false promises of fame and fortune. (Pictured: Jacqueline Burfoot and 'husband' Ryan) The Brisbane businesswoman revealed that the effects of being on the show lingered long after the cameras stopped rolling. 'And MAFS continued for me and like all the way through airing and past, I just want to go back and just have a good time,' she said, reflecting on the emotional rollercoaster that participants often face.
Addressing the misconception that being on a show like MAFS will automatically lead to fame and fortune, Melinda cautioned the new cast members to be realistic about the aftermath. Melinda spoke about the emotional toll it took on her and how the pressures of reality TV can lead to significant psychological struggles 'Like it's really weird because a lot of people think that you're going tto go on MAFS and your whole world's gonna change because that happened to a small handful of people,' she shared. 'And I still think that as crazy and successful and exciting as everything looks on Instagram for these people, it's not really like that in the real world.
' Melinda pointed out that the glamorous images portrayed on social media are often deceptive, leading contestants to unrealistic expectations. 'I know a lot of people that will go on this show are quite vulnerable, are quite open and they're quite emotional or they can get quite emotionally attached. And I feel like I was too in it, way too in it,' she confessed 'Instagram is a bit fake.
So what I'm getting at is people literally think that that's it, they're going to go on the show, they're good to quit their jobs. 'They're good to do whatever, because they're going to go on there, they're going to be so famous, they're going to be walking red carpets, they're doing all these brand deals and being flown over seas to collaborate but it's not really like that.' The MAFS alumna also highlighted the struggles that many contestants face after the show, noting that the reality of post-show life can be jarring.
'Like it's really weird because a lot of people think that you're going to go on MAFS and your whole world's going to change because that happened to a few like small handful of people,' she shared Be the first to comment Be one of the first to comment Comments What do you make of Melinda's advice for 2025 cast? Comment now 'So I feel that particularly with our season, once you come off, I can kind of see a lot of people a little bit lost. Do you know they've, like lost their jobs or they've tried to detour?' Melinda explained that the influencer lifestyle many try to adopt after their stint on reality TV often doesn't pan out as expected. 'Now they're trying to like, pick up the influencer world.
It's not really working, and everyone's a bit lost. And I hear a lot of them use the word lost. Yeah, you become a bit lost because it's not what you expect.
' Melinda explained that the influencer lifestyle many try to adopt after their stint on reality TV often doesn't pan out as expected Despite the challenges, Melinda has found her footing by staying true to her pre-show life and goals. 'Even though there's a lot of genuine people, there's still always people that think they're going to go on MAFS and change their lives. They're going to be this big success overnight.
' For Melinda, it was crucial to maintain her sense of self throughout the process. Read More EXCLUSIVE Meet the cast of Married At First Sight 2025's wildest season yet 'Yeah, but it is, that's the truth. When I went on MAFS, I was like, ''yes, that that's an opportunity that may happen'', but also my life before going into MAFS.
Like there was no way I was stopping that.' She continued: 'I've come so far that I was content on continuing that with or without bail. My successes and stuff in my business, they were there prior and they're there after and they're never going to go away because like I won't let them go away.
So I already have my purpose.' Her final piece of advice to future MAFS stars is to find their true purpose outside of the show. 'And I feel that a lot of the people that do feel lost after coming out the show, just need to find their purpose.
It's not MAFS. It's something else. But just find your purpose.
' Married At First Sight Australia Melinda Willis Share or comment on this article: Married At First Sight's Melinda Willis issues dire warning to 2025 participants about the harsh reality of starring on the show: 'It's not real life' e-mail 21 shares Add comment.
