Melbourne-based strength trainer Amanda prides herself on being real, so being thrown into a dinner party with strangers and having it all filmed for the nation to watch has been challenging, to say the least.
WATCH NOW! HERE’S THE VERY FIRST LOOK OF HER SAME-SEX WEDDING
“It was a little bit soul-destroying in the sense that you’re not really in a group of genuine people, which makes it really difficult,” she tells WHO of her Married At First Sight experience.
“I’m 34 but I’ve got the wisdom of a 50-year-old, so when I’m around people that are bitching, and they’re catty… I can’t tolerate it.”
Amanda hints at unwanted drama ahead with her fellow brides and grooms, but her desire to meet the woman of her dreams – and represent the gay community as one-half of the first lesbian couple to wed on the show – overtook her reservations about becoming a reality star.
“I’ve been in two serious relationships in five years, and the second partner I would’ve considered myself wanting to marry her [but] it was like we would take two steps forward and one step back,” Amanda reveals.
“What I really wanted was to see who the show could actually put in front of me that I was not really able to find myself.”
As one of three children in a European family, Amanda has been through her own major struggles over sexuality and coming out to her loved ones, but has worked hard to get to a place of acceptance.
“I did battle some depression and anxiety when I was about 17, trying to deal with my sexuality and coming to terms with all of that,” says Amanda, whose parents have not been entirely accepting of her choices.
“My friends have been there for me in a way that my family should have and just weren’t.”
Amanda also wants to encourage others struggling with their sexuality to be honest about who they are.
“I know friends that haven’t come out to their family, and they’re nearly 40, still living at home with their folks or are scared to tell the parents in case of what might happen,” she says.
“Just tell them – one of two things will happen, they’ll reject you and never want to speak to you again, or they’ll accept it.”
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