What could be more devastating than being let down by someone you love on your wedding day? Not much, tbh…
WATCH: The emotional moment the bride receives the bad news.
And if there’s one person who knows exactly what that feels like, it’s Married At First Sight bride Amanda Micallef.
Preparing to walk down the aisle towards a complete stranger in Australia’s first same-sex ceremony since marriage equality laws were passed, the strength coach was devastated to learn that her father wouldn’t be showing up to her TV wedding.
Ouch.
“I didn’t think I’d get this emotional,” the 34-year-old sobbed after her mum told her that he’d decided not to come.
“I’m an understanding person, but…” she cried.
She was obviously heartbroken not to have her dad by her side as she walked to the altar, but Amanda wasn’t surprised.
He had “alluded to” the fact he might not be in attendance on her special day, and Amanda said she’d be “quite hurt” if he didn’t show up.
“It would’ve been nice to have him…” she sobbed, her sentence choked off by tears.
“All you want to do is make your parents proud, and I know that he’s proud but…”
Devastatingly, Amanda had a tough upbringing as a gay woman in a European family, she explains.
After coming out to both her parents at 21, “I felt like I was a bit of a disappointment,” she shares.
“As a gay person, there’s always a sense of having to work a bit harder to find your place in society. So having a mother or father’s confirmation – I really do crave it.
“And as much as I want to prove to my family I’m a strong woman, I think I’m still waiting to know if I’m enough.”
It hasn’t been smooth sailing for Amanda, who tells New Idea she struggled with being accepted for her sexuality.
“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,” she shares.
“I’m not afraid to be different. I’m not afraid. I don’t follow the crowd. I’m a leader. I don’t care to be liked, but I like to be loved by few.”
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