Alright, let’s get real about relationships. We’ve all been there — emotions running high, terse words exchanged, and then, like a well-intentioned but misguided superhero, someone drops the classic line: “You need to relax.” Spoiler alert: it rarely ends well. The 2024 season premiere of “MAFS“, during Sara and Tim’s Fijian honeymoon brought this phrase into the spotlight, showcasing just how explosive those four words can be.
Picture this: tequila shots and romantic dinner vibes promising a romantic evening. Just when things seem like they’re heading for fairy-tale territory, the plot takes an unexpected turn. Tim, in the midst of a seemingly amicable conversation, hits the brakes on his thoughts. Urged by Sara to share what’s on his mind, he hesitates before saying those four dreaded words.
Sara, not one to take such advice lightly, retorts with a cringe-worthy truth: “Have you ever dealt with women before? They don’t like to be told to relax.”
As the tension escalates and the couple goes back and forth, the scene leaves us on the edge of our seats — will they make it through this speedbump on the road to love?
To delve into the intricacies of why advising your partner to “relax” is a risky move, we turn to We Lysn Psychologist Nancy Sokarno, whose insights provide a credible guide through the pitfalls of communication in relationships.
Here’s what We Lysn Psychologist Nancy Sokarno had to say.
Why You Should Never Tell Your Partner to “Relax”
Have you ever wondered why telling your partner to relax seems to make everything 10 times worse? Well, it’s because in tense or stressful situation, telling someone to relax can convey a dismissive attitude, invalidating their emotions and concerns. It sends a message that their feelings are not important or valid, which can lead to frustration and resentment.
Why It Never Works
The command to “relax” in a stressful situation often has the opposite effect on someone, causing them to feel more tense or anxious. This is due to a number of reasons. Firstly, they’re being told what to do, secondly, it implies that their feelings aren’t valid (which also often displays a lack of empathy from the other person), and lastly, it really doesn’t provide a constructive solution to the tension. Instead, it can create a sense of pressure to suppress or control emotions, making it harder for someone to calm down.
What to Say Instead
Instead of saying “relax”, there are some recommended approaches you can use instead:
Validate Their Feelings
Start by acknowledging their emotions. You might say, “I can see that this situation is really bothering you, and you have every right to feel this way.”
Express Empathy
Try to demonstrate understanding by showing that you care about their wellbeing. For example, “I can imagine this is really difficult for you, and I’m here to support you.”
Encourage Open Communication
If you can, try to encourage them to talk about what’s on their mind. Open-ended questions can be helpful in this scenario, such as, “Can you explain to me more that and how it makes you feel?”
Offer Help
If it feels appropriate, ask if there’s anything you can do to help or if you can point them in the direction of specific support. Offering concrete guidance shows that you’re engaged and willing to be supportive.
“MAFS” airs Sunday at 7.00pm and Monday — Wednesday at 7.30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.
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The ultimate relationship rollercoaster is back, and “MAFS” 2024 is serving up a fresh batch of singles ready to roll the dice on love. Ahead, meet the “MAFS” 2024 cast.
Twenty courageous individuals are about to embark on an extraordinary adventure, exchanging vows with someone they’ve never met before. Guided by the expertise of seasoned relationship gurus, John Aiken, Mel Schilling, and certified sexologist Alessandra Rampolla, our hopeful singles are set to discover if love truly can be found at first sight.
This season, we’ve got the younger sibling of a “MAFS” alum — because lightning can strike twice, right? Plus, the show’s our oldest participant ever, proving that love doesn’t care about age restrictions. And did we mention they’re including a same-sex couple? Love knows no boundaries.
So, without further ado, let’s meet our new participants.
Meet the “MAFS” 2024 Cast
The Brides
Andrea
Age: 51 From: Queensland Occupation: Photographer
Nine
Meet Andrea, who’s 51 years young and proving that age is just a number when it comes to embracing life with a youthful spirit.
As a proud single mum to two adult children, Andrea found her strength to end a recent relationship after recognising the signs of gaslighting, a term she picked up from watching “MAFS”. Inspired by the show, she cut ties with her ex-partner, determined to pave a new path in her pursuit of love.
Navigating the unpredictable seas of modern dating, Andrea has faced her fair share of bread-crumbing, love-bombing, and ghosting. Despite these challenges, she describes herself as giving, respectful, and kind, with a penchant for occasional accidents and forgetfulness — hence the “To-Do” list tattooed on her arm.
An earnest, loveable, and trusting soul, Andrea carries an abundance of optimism and is poised to tumble head over heels for the right person this time.
A radiant burst of sunshine, Cassandra gleams as an outgoing, bubbly, and social spirit who claims she can talk underwater. Yet, in matters of love, she finds herself amidst a drought.
Haunted by the heartbreak of her first love, Cassandra navigates the challenging path of forming meaningful connections as she approaches her 30s. Her yearning? To discover someone as family-oriented and loving as she is, ready to build a life and raise a “small football team” of kids together.
With roots tracing back to Tanzania, Cassandra’s expansive family brings unwavering support. Armed with an open mind and an enormous heart, she’s eager to shower someone kind with love, paired with a captivating smile.
Building a life she adores, Eden has put in the hard work, but living on the vibrant Gold Coast has distanced her from her Adelaide roots. In her daily life, she finds solace in the companionship of her best friend, the ever-loyal Cub.
Navigating the single life for the past three years, Eden’s journey began after her previous relationship crumbled due to betrayal. Her partner cheated with her lifelong best friend, leaving Eden grappling with profound trust issues.
A fiercely independent spirit and a self-proclaimed daddy’s girl, Eden wears her perfectionist heart on her sleeve. Trusting the experts, she seeks a match who embodies ambition, generosity, and loyalty.
One part of a trio of sisters, Ellie shares an unbreakable bond with her family and is eager to extend it by starting a family of her own. With dreams of a healthy relationship and motherhood, Ellie is on a genuine quest to find someone special who shares her white-picket fence ideals.
Ellie’s heartache began several years ago when her ex-fiancé cheated on her, leading to the heartbreaking cancellation of her wedding just a month before the big day. Ouch! This painful experience left her in need of constant reassurance and a tendency to go the extra mile for others, even when it may not be deserved.
Despite her warm, friendly, and sunny disposition, Ellie’s journey in love has been filled with challenges. Having exhausted every avenue to find her perfect match, she now pins her hopes on the experiment to deliver her Mr. Right.
Lauren
Age: 32 From: Western Australia Occupation: PR and Marketing Consultant
Nine
Possessing a wickedly dry and cutting sense of humour, Lauren is a head-turner wherever she ventures. With striking looks and unwavering opinions, she doesn’t tolerate fools and unabashedly speaks her mind, regardless of the circumstance. This is giving “villain” character already.
Running a buzzing hospitality PR/marketing business, Lauren is a certified foodie who lives for cooking and dining, especially if there’s a bold glass of red in hand. And her ideal date? A dinner, of course, where she can play judge based on the restaurant pick.
Growing up with folks who’ve nailed the marriage game for 40 years, Lauren’s got a playbook of high standards for relationships. Single for half a year after another rollercoaster ride, she’s on the hunt for a partner who can keep up with her sarcasm, wit, and banter.
Labelling herself “a little bit crazy” in relationships, Lauren sees arguing as a sign of passion and believes in speaking her mind. But, she’s on the lookout for a chill, level-headed partner to balance out the chaos.
Lucinda
Age: 43 From: New South Wales Occupation: MC and Wedding Celebrant
Nine
Grounded as an “earth mama”, Lucinda extracts the utmost joy from life, embracing big parties, frequent travels, and spreading love at every encounter.
A free spirit dancing to her own rhythm, Lucinda identifies as a steward of love and light. Fun, easygoing, sensual, and creative, she maintains a unique perspective, always seeing the glass half-full.
Functioning as a modern-day Cupid, Lucinda runs a speed-dating company, and she’s also a marriage celebrant plus an MC. In these roles, she orchestrates events and workshops that bridge people from diverse walks of life. At 43, she’s done with heartbreak, now holding space for a partner to join her life journey.
Lucinda is on the lookout for an open-minded man ready for vulnerability, good times, and exploration of all life has to offer.
Natalie
Age: 32 From: Victoria Occupation: Physiotherapist
Nine
Sara
Age: 29 From: New South Wales Occupation: Nutritionist
Nine
Tori
Age: 27 From: Victoria Occupation: Business Development Manager
Nine
The Grooms
Ben
Age: 39 From: New South Wales Occupation: Tour Guide
Nine
Collins
Age: 28 From: New South Wales Occupation: Executive Assistant
Nine
Jack
Age: 34 From: Queensland Occupation: Personal Trainer
Nine
Jayden
Age: 26 From: Queensland Occupation: Professional Kickboxer
Nine
Jonathan
Age: 39 From: New South Wales Occupation: Health Business Owner
Nine
Michael
Age: 34 From: Victoria Occupation: Salesperson
Nine
Richard
Age: 62 From: New South Wales Occupation: Motivational Speaker
Nine
Simon
Age: 39 From: South Australia Occupation: Marketing Manager
Tim
Age: 31 From: Queensland Occupation: Online Business Owner
Nine
Timothy
Age: 51 From: Victoria Occupation: Business Owner
Nine
Tristan
Age: 30 From: New South Wales Occupation: Event Manager
Nine
Season 11 of “MAFS” premieres Monday January 29 on Channel 9 and 9Now.
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Brace yourselves, “MAFS” fans! With the countdown to Season 11 ticking away, the anticipation is reaching fever pitch. The drama, the love, and the unexpected connections are about to hit your screens on Monday, January 29, airing on Channel 9 and 9Now. Below, find out how to follow the “MAFS” 2024 cast on Instagram.
But what if you simply can’t wait until the grand premiere to get a sneak peek into the lives of the daring singles seeking love this year? Well, fear not! We’ve done the virtual legwork and gathered all the Instagram handles of the “MAFS” 2024 brides and grooms.
Follow them on their journey through the experiment and beyond, because the drama doesn’t stop when the cameras do!
After he was unceremoniously dumped at the altar of the premiere episode, he’s finally been paired with someone else. So are Michael and Chloe still together from Married At First Sight season 17? His first bridge was the first runaway in the show’s history, created in July 2014 on FYI.
The Married at First Sight premise derives from the Danish TV show Gift Ved Første Blik. The first season took place in New York City and New Jersey and showed off three couples, who like the show describes, are married when they first meet each other.
The couples then spend time together on their honeymoon and spend eight weeks together living a family lifestyle. After eight weeks, they get to decide whether they want to divorce or stay together on Decision Day. There are several experts on the show that examine the couples’ compatibility with each other. For season 17, experts Pastor Cal and Dr. Pepper are reunited in the host city of Denver, Colorado, along with Dr. Pia, who joins the show as a full-time expert.
Talking to E! News, Dr. Pepper Schwartz revealed the tedious process of making the couples. Hundreds of people apply to the show and the experts go to churches, bars, dating apps, or anywhere that people meet to “make the prospective pool as big as people.” There are more steps to the vetting process including a meet-and-greet, several interview sessions, and psychological and background checks. The final step is a home visit from Dr. Pepper.
“My hope was that we would be able to support these people and help them grow into better versions of themselves by bringing out skills to the process, by matching them through science and maybe this really could work and it could work even beyond helping these people grow and get more information about themselves, but to give them skills. And to augment what we hoped was already thought was a good match according to our scientific tools. And the more we went on, the more I believed in it because I could see people listen and learn and it was fascinating and wonderful. She continued, “It worked out beyond my wildest fantasies.”
Pastor Cal told the site about his views on marriage on the show. “I’ve learned and tell couples now that marriage doesn’t work—people work. And quite often, we want the marriage to work,” he said. “Sometimes we want to blame the marriage and say the marriage is not working, but it’s you. You’re not working. You’re not doing the things that are necessary. You’re not communicating and not being vulnerable. You got to be kind. You got to be honest. And you’re gonna have to put in the time and don’t give up too quickly.”
Are Michael and Chloe still together from Married at First Sight season 17?
Are Michael and Chloe still together from Married at First Sight season 17? They do get married, but according to Instagram spoiler account @MAFSfan, they decide to break up before Decision Day. There’s no source for this so we don’t know if it’s accurate and his social media accounts are private.
The identity of Michael’s second bride was finally, officially revealed (though fans of the show and internet sleuths have known it for months) as Chloe Brown, in the episode that aired on January 10, 2023. “If you asked me in my early 20s what I wanted in a man, what I wanted then and what I want now are two completely different things,” she said. “I have an opportunity to do something I’ve never imagined in my life doing ever, really thinking about being married at first sight!” per a clip obtained by People.
Michael’s runaway bride.
“I’m that person that for my whole life, I wanted to exude this very specific image of being super successful and super capable and able to take on the world and didn’t need anybody,” she continued. “I think that’s why I ended up being in the relationships with the men that I was in because they were perfect on paper.”
According to legal documents viewed byIn Touch, Michael and Chloe Brown tied the knot on March 13, 2023, almost six weeks after the original four MAFS season 17 couples were married in late January. She is Michael’s second match since his original wife left him at the altar.
In the teaser for season 17’s debut, a bride admitted to the camera: “I don’t think I can do this,” she said. “I don’t want to marry a stranger.” The voiceover said: “For the first time in Married at First Sight history, five brides go to the altar but only four come out married.”
During the October 2023 premiere of season 17, fans watched as Michael stood at the altar as he prepared to meet his future wife for the first time. “My biggest hope for this marriage is that we truly are a great match together,” he told cameras before his nuptials to a stranger, hoping it was going to be “fireworks” when he met her. “That it’ll be evident to us as we grow together.” He watched as she made her way down the aisle—the audience didn’t see her face but Michael said she was “beautiful”—until she said: “I don’t think I can do this,” before the ceremony abruptly ends in everyone’s shock. “That hurt,” the disappointed groom is heard saying.
Michael reflected on the moment during the October 25 episode of MAFS: After Party: “I will admit, probably the thing that had frustrated me the most at the altar was like, did it really have to be this way? Like, you didn’t have to tell me up here [in front of everyone],” he told host Keshia Knight Pulliam. “Like seeing my friends and family and knowing that I brought you guys out here to celebrate with me, and you guys have been so supportive, and this is what ends up happening.”
The identity of who left Michael at the altar remains a mystery, though some sites incorrectly named her as Chloe Brown. Fans on social media, including Instagram and Reddit however, pointed out that Chloe is Michael’s replacement bride after the first mystery woman backed out of their marriage.
“Yeah, my understanding from what’s been posted in this sub is that he marries Chloe 2 months later in March which is why the season is late in airing. There’s a marriage license application for the two of them in March floating around. The others were all in January,” one fan speculated on Reddit. This was seemingly confirmed by a show fan account, @mafsfan, which clarified: “NOTE: Chloe is not the “runaway bride”. They get married Approx 6 weeks after the initial weddings,” in the comments section.
Married At First Sight airs Wednesdays at 8 pm ET on Lifetime.
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“MAFS” couple Tahnee Cook and Ollie Skelton have decided to call it quits after 16 months together, leaving fans in shock.
Remember the youngest couple from season 10, the ones who seemed like they walked straight out of a romance novel? Yeah, that’s them. Tahnee and Ollie got ‘married’ in a commitment ceremony and then dove headfirst into the “MAFS” experiment, complete with those infamous dinner parties and some serious heart-to-hearts with relationship counsellors.
Both Ollie and Tahnee have shared the news on Instagram.
Ollie’s Break-Up Post
“Hello, Tahnee and I have split up. It’s sad, but it’s okay. What a ride! A journey filled with love, laughter, challenges, and in the last month, reflection. I think we tried really hard to make it work,” Ollie captioned his post.
“There is such a separation from Skye Suites to real life that I think is really hard to account for and (albeit not without trying) was an adjustment that we struggled to make. I kinda have this pipe dream of us being like Jerry and Elaine from ‘Seinfeld’ post-breakup, a very hard thing to do obviously, but the sentiment at its core is that I plan to try to be someone who champions Tahnee and can be there for her as a friend.
“In a post like this, the words ‘friend’ and ‘breakup’ are usually synonymous but with little truth behind them. However, if friendship was the foundation of us before love, I like to think it might be something we can share in the aftermath. That video is from last night, so I think we’re on the right track. ❤️”
Tahnee’s Break-Up Post
In her own post, Tahnee wrote: “❤️🩹 Just as I share the highlights of my life on here, it’s only fair for me to share when things aren’t always fun. Sadly, Ollie and I have decided to part ways. Our lives are taking us in different directions and we feel at this stage it’s the best decision for us. From meeting as strangers who got ‘married’, to genuinely finding love, I’m pretty proud of the time we’ve shared. Our journey together has been such a rollercoaster but sometimes relationships just don’t work out – no matter how much you want them to – and that’s okay.
“I’m so thankful for what these last 16 months has taught me, and for the genuinely supportive community I’ve found on here. Break ups are never easy but heartbreak is worth it in the pursuit of love. Much love, Tahnee ♡”
The couple’s decision to go their separate ways comes as a shock to fans who followed their journey on “MAFS” and witnessed their connection flourish on-screen. The pair even moved in together in Sydney shortly after, with Ollie making the big move from Perth.
We hope both Tahnee and Ollie are doing okay!
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