Now that she’s on her second season of Married at First Sight Australia, Alessandra Rampolla, the show’s resident clinical sexologist, says that her on-set jitters have settled.
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“I’m more comfortable, I’m more confident and I know how I can best help the brides and grooms who are putting themselves forward for the experiment,” says the Puerto Rican-born mentor. “I deal with whatever situation they want to discuss and one thing I’ve learned both in my work and on the show is, I don’t judge.”
With a new batch of contenders appearing in the search for love, here Rampolla, 47, tells WHO what to expect from this year’s season of Married At First Sight.
What do you think is the key to making the TV marriages on the show work?
The couples must come onto the show with an open heart. You don’t put yourself out there on TV and be that vulnerable to then be closed off. This year, I can’t believe how open and receptive to love our contenders are! They really put themselves out there. That makes my job as a clinical sexologist that much easier because they’re open to my advice.
How intense does it get this year?
There will always be drama on Married at First Sight and, yes, this year is no exception but out of respect for the experiment, I hope not to see couple swaps. I want the couples we pair to be respectful and to explore every element possible of their connection. Myself and the other experts [Mel Schilling and John Aiken] have paired them all for a reason.
How open are Australians to advice from a sexologist?
I have to say, in my experience on the show, Australians are quite conservative around sexuality. They’re not as open as I’d like, but I have to commend the participants on the show because they are as open as they can be with me, especially when I’m wanting them to try new things around intimacy.
In what way?
Well, last year we introduced Intimacy Week on the show for the first time and that was very challenging for the participants. This year, Intimacy Week is back and we push the envelope even further.
How does that help couples both on the show and in real life, would you say?
There’s no such thing as a perfect relationship but couples who have friendship, support for one another, who can make each other laugh, as well as lift each other up, and want to get it on, too, are in a good place to succeed. It’s important to want to play, to have that sexiness as well as that trust in any relationship, on TV or not.
We haven’t seen many couples from the show go the distance in real life. Does anyone find real love this year?
Yes, absolutely! This year’s season has been very intense, but I’m thrilled to be able to tell you that there are couples who find a lasting love this year. It’s exciting!
Married At First Sight Australia airs Monday to Wednesday, 7:30pm, and Sunday, 7pm, on Nine Network and 9Now.
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