After having her heart broken by Dave last season, the MAFS fan favourite spills the beans on her dates with Eliot. Photo / Woman's Day
It’s hard to believe it’s been a year since Jamie Marinos first lit up our screens on Married At First Sight Australia. Back then, the bubbly, “boganic” blonde was matched with tattooed builder Dave Hand and things looked promising… until he caught a case of cold feet.
Reflecting on that heartbreak with fresh perspective, the Melbourne account manager, 29, tells Woman’s Day, “I don’t think I’ll ever truly understand what happened. Dave and I were in such a solid place, then suddenly I was standing in front of someone I didn’t recognise. I was totally flabbergasted. Everyone was – even production!
“Look, I’m a bit of a nagger. I’ll ask why the socks are on the floor, but we didn’t have big blow-ups. It always felt cruisy. That’s why the change was so hard to get my head around.”
While she tried to get answers from Dave, none were offered.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get closure,” she admits. “When I asked him why we didn’t work, he couldn’t explain it.”
However, Jamie’s had an epiphany since the final vows.
She says, “I’m actually glad it didn’t work out. I’ve had time to process it and the relationship wasn’t right. When I interviewed initially with Daddy John [Aiken, the MAFS relationships expert], I said, ‘I want a husband and if that doesn’t work out, I want to learn something.’
“Well, I learnt you can’t teach someone how to love you. If you’re asking for someone to meet your basic needs to prove your worth, it’s not right. When you’re choosing someone who’s not choosing you, it’s taxing on your self-worth.”
After the show, Jamie found unexpected comfort with MAFS groom Eliot Donovan, who walked out on his original bride Lauren Hall, before returning as an intruder to marry Veronica Cloherty.
“I didn’t want to date anyone while MAFS was filming, but once the reunion screened, I finally felt single and free,” tells Jamie. “Eliot became my safe space. We had so much in common from being on the show – I formed a trauma bond with the other cast members.”
The couple were coy about whether they were really dating, but Jamie now confirms they did give it a go, but they’re no longer seeing each other.
“We did explore the potential of a romantic relationship and, yes, we played doctors and nurses! We had fun, but we love very differently and we’re both self-aware enough to admit it wasn’t meant to be. But I’ll always think highly of Eliot.”
Before the show, Jamie had quit her corporate job and had no future plans.
“Two days before my last day at work, MAFS called and said they had a husband for me, so that was awesome,” she laughs.
The reality series has pushed her in an exciting new direction.
“It made me realise I love being in front of the camera, connecting with people and making them laugh. I’ve done a few presenting gigs and I just love it!
“What I’d really like is to join Daddy John and the experts on the show to provide commentary on the dinner-party behaviour – that would be right up my alley. I love analysing people.”
But Jamie wouldn’t return to TV for just any reality show.
She insists, “I’ll never be in the jungle, eating bugs and fighting for my life! I’m such a princess, I don’t even walk barefoot in my own house.”
In the meantime, Jamie is working as a supervisor at a nightclub on Fridays and Saturdays, and doesn’t have any plans to launch her own business.
“I am the business,” she jokes. “I wasn’t on the show as a launchpad – I was looking for my husband. I gave the experiment a fair go. I cried real tears. Whatever happens afterwards, you may as well make lemonade out of lemons.”
She also only has positive things to say about Kiwi bride Jacqui Burfoot, who is making plans to marry MAFS groom Clint Rice.
“I’m happy for Jac,” Jamie insists. “I was shocked when they got engaged, but she got what everyone wanted – a real relationship – so good on her!”
Jamie confesses that MAFS stirred up her insecurities.
“Even when exploring things with Eliot, there was past trauma coming up. I knew Eliot was going to have to pay for Dave’s mistakes. I’ve got to work on that! I’m a ChatGPT therapy kind of girl – I’ll dump my feelings there and work through them.”
Yet despite her experience, Jamie is still hopeful when it comes to love.
“I’m chronically single, but I’d love to meet someone,” she smiles. “I want kids – like, yesterday! Maybe I’ll find a nice Greek man, but my Greek isn’t good enough. I’ll just have to let my body do the talking!”