She’s bringing the style and sass to the boardroom on Celebrity Apprentice Australia, but Martha Kalifatidis, who found fame – and partner Michael Brunelli – during the 2019 season of Married at First Sight, believes she’s an acquired taste.
WATCH BELOW: Which Married At First Sight Australia Couples are still together?
“I’m getting mixed reviews from the public,” the 33-year-old social media star, who boasts more than 614,000 followers on Instagram, tells WHO.
“I don’t think the public who are watching the show get my humour. Sometimes I can come across as entitled, a little bit bitchy and a bit of a know-it-all. I don’t think people get my dry and sarcastic humour. I can laugh at myself though, you know?”
You mention you’re getting a mixed response from the public, but you must be getting a lot of love, too?
Yes, I am, which is great. I’m also getting so many messages saying, “You’re so funny.” I’m just being me and that’s all I ever am when I’m on screen. In real life, I’m really sassy and straightforward and I’ll, like, say something blunt, but with a smile.
Some of the other celebs haven’t done reality TV so you’re at a bit of an advantage over them.
I think I’m not, I’m OK with being the butt of the joke sometimes. It’s OK, I’m happy to have a laugh at myself. But there is a line that gets crossed sometimes.
The Veronicas were very outspoken about their edit on the show. You’ve been through MAFS, you know how the edit can play out.
I think for the girls it was different. Their time is precious and they’re time with their mum [who suffers from a neurological condition] is even more precious and the fact that they took time away from her to do the show and then the show…it’s more of a drama than to do with the charities. The heart has kind of come out of it and the emphasis is more on the drama and I think that’s why they’re upset about it and I think for them, it’s granted because like I said, their time with their mum is precious…
Do you get to watch the eps before they air?
I don’t see anything, I watch it from home along with everyone else. It’s actually really hard because it would be good to know what to expect because I just sit on the couch, nervous, sweating, anxious, I can’t eat dinner then I can’t get to sleep.
Like in the first ep, when we saw you asking for the lippy touch up – were you worried you were going to get the villain edit?
I think that edit of me early on, of me doing my make up and it looked like I did nothing for the entire first challenge, I think it was funny. It made the episode a little more humorous otherwise if you don’t have that what are we watching? A documentary? We can get that elsewhere.
Did any of the other celebs ask you for advice or coaching?
The only one who was a bit nervous going into the show was Camilla Franks because she is, like, she is just who she is all the time. She’s really emotional, she’s heartfelt, she’s 150% everything. We know the show must go on but because she’s so emotional she doesn’t have that. She’s the only one who was like “I don’t know if I’m for reality TV, I’m too emotional.” Which she is and that’s why she makes for such great reality TV.
Can you talk us through your look, especially on the show.
The look I wanted for Celeb Apprentice was super glam. I had the blonde hair, I did all my own makeup, I dressed myself, I was very controlling about that. I could get that over the line, the team I worked with on that show, the crew, they were all amazing. We were there 16 hours a day filming, they were there 18 or even 20 hours. It was crazy. I did enjoy having a full glam moment on screen. My boardroom looks I’m talking about, that were super glam. On tasks I was literally didn’t even care what I looked like. By the end, I’ll be on screen in no makeup at all…
You’ve gone back to brunette..
I have gone back to brunette but watching back, and seeing myself as a blonde, it was such a fun moment. I loved it. What brunette doesn’t want to try out life as a blonde? My only regret was I never got to enjoy being blonde. I had so many comments every day telling me “I don’t like it, it doesn’t suit you” – people would go to the trouble of emailing me personally to tell me. Even my friends and family we’re like “it’s not you” and I was like “I know. It’s dyed hair. I’m not trying to say I’m a natural blonde. I’m just having fun.” I do feel a bit sad about dying it back to brunette but who knows. It’s not serious – it’s hair people!
That feeds into why you’re repping Bully Zero…
I speak to them at least once a week, I DM the lady who started the charity and we speak often, I’m going to do a lot more work with them, I don’t think my job is done with them
You’ve been a bit underestimated – do you think you’re strength is coming across?
I think I am underestimated – because I’m from reality TV and I’m a beauty influencer, especially because of the field I work in. A lot of women who work in beauty are underestimated and dismissed, people think “oh she’s just a beauty girl,” but the beauty industry is insanely lucrative and it’s the only industry where women are paid more than men so I feel like the beauty girls are killing it.
We’re having our moment, it’s such a great time for us right now, especially with social media so I’m like “don’t underestimate us,” but also I just think, as a woman, either you’re a sex object or you’re completely not and you’re in a suit and you look like a man. It’s so one or the other – until now. I feel like there’s a lot of grey in between now. You can be about beauty, and sexy and you can also be very successful in business and in building your brand.
What plans have you got coming up?
I am working on a few things, I’m working on my own business. I’m a perfectionist. I won’t present anything to the world with my name on it that isn’t 100% perfect and that I wouldn’t be proud of. I always say that if it’s not something I’d give to my friends and family, then I won’t give it to anyone else. Same for anything I recommend. I won’t push it to my followers or audience if I won’t give it to my friends and family.
You must get offers for all sorts of things…
We get offered everything under the sun and I think the reason we’re so successful is that we say no to 99% of the things we’re offered. It’s that 1% we do share.
What are your long term plans. Do you see yourselves as a brand together?
MICHAEL: I’m working as a personal trainer now and building that up. I think we’re a brand together but we’re also our own separate brands which is why we’re so strong as well. Future plans? We’ve talked about when kids will come, when there will be a real wedding…
So when will that be?
MICHAEL: That’s the million dollar question isn’t it?
MARTHA: Tell them the date babe.
MICHAEL: We get asked that question every single day on social media and I tell people “you guys will be the last to find out, but you will find out.”
WATCH BELOW: Martha and Michael meet at the MAFS altar. Story continues after video…
You’re not married already are you?
MARTHA: No we’re not. Not yet. We’re not that crazy..
Would your family kill you?
MARTHA: Absolutely. We’re from pretty traditional families, I’m Greek, Michael’s Italian and I think they want the big wedding. Or one without cameras.
Will be that the case?
MARHTA: Yes, hopefully.
MICHAEL: I get why people are so invested. They’ve seen the moment we first laid eyes one one another and they’ve followed our relationship, for everyone, a real marriage is naturally the next step. It’s there, I get it, I’m very well aware of it.
How can he propose and surprise you Martha?
MARTHA: That’s why I think it will be something really casual. I’m hoping it will be something really casual! Don’t plan any helicopters..
MICHAEL: I know no red roses…there’s a few things on the list.
MARTHA: No red roses are ok. I just didn’t want them as a bouquet when I was a bride.
MICHAEL: No red roses covering the bed.
MARTHA: Oh no no no.
MICHAEL: No candlelit runways…
MARTHA: NO!
MICHEAL: No ‘marry me’ on the bed with roses…
MARTHA: No way! Don’t do that. You can just kind of have the ring in the bottom drawer and be like “babe there’s your ring, just grab it, what do you reckon?”
Would you dare buy her a ring without her input Michael?
MICHAEL: I’ve got an inkling about what she wants. She’s dropped a couple of hints, every couple of days…
MARTHA: No I do not, you’re such a liar! I do think it would be nice if it was a surprise actually…
MICHAEL: In terms of the proposal, I know the way it looks in my head but that will stay a secret until the moment is right…
Where do you see yourselves in five, or 10 years time?
MARTHA: I’d love a beautiful home in the city and a place in the country, we’ll do both. We’ll have a little holiday house amidst the rolling hills, somewhere really chill and quaint and hopefully we’re running our own businesses and we have a kid, or two. I’ve got a walk in wardrobe, separate bathrooms…I could go on and on. I think a cute little family would be a really good place to start. Not for a little while yet we’ve got a lot more to do .
More reality TV?
MARTHA: I don’t have a crystal ball, I don’t know what the future holds but I do have fun doing TV, it comes quite naturally to me. I don’t freeze in front of a camera. Michael hates being in front of a camera.
MICHAEL: I’ll take a break from TV. I’m happy to let her have that spotlight while I work behind the scenes.
Why do you think you guys work so well?
MICHAEL: We have a great dynamic, she’s more upfront and she’s the louder one and outspoken and I’m more like conservative. We take pieces from each other and it balances out really well. I’m more outspoken than I was and she’s more in control of her emotions and decisions.
MARTHA: I’m more emotionally aware than I ever was before I met Michael and he’s a lot more confident as well.
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