Who
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Style
  • Health
  • Beauty
  • Sexiest People
  • The Travel List
  • streaming
  • Video
Who
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Style
  • Health
  • Beauty
  • Sexiest People
  • The Travel List
  • streaming
  • Video
Subscribe
  1. Home
  2. News

MAFS Bride Hayley Reveals: "Why I Turned To Drugs"

Inside the reality TV contestant's 'crippling' addiction
  • 05 Feb 2020

Married At First Sight bride Hayley Vernon has made no secret of the fact that she struggled with drug addiction in the past. 

WATCH: This bride's definitely a little bit out there!

{title} Play

{title}

{duration}
Shakira Tears up During Last Concert in Colombia Play

Shakira Tears up During Last Concert in Colombia

1:02
The Veronicas deny plane removal was for publicity Play

The Veronicas deny plane removal was for publicity

3:50
Inside the Anzac Day Dawn Service Play

Inside the Anzac Day Dawn Service

1:23
New person of interest in William Tyrrell inquest Play

New person of interest in William Tyrrell inquest

1:00
DISNEYLAND PARIS IN LOCKDOWN AFTER EXPLOSION Play

DISNEYLAND PARIS IN LOCKDOWN AFTER EXPLOSION

0:17
Love Island's Malin Andersson Shares Devastating News Play

Love Island's Malin Andersson Shares Devastating News

0:40
Phoebe Burgess is smiling again Play

Phoebe Burgess is smiling again

0:36
And and Yvie in snake drama Play

And and Yvie in snake drama

0:28
Hello Play

Hello

0:18

She's been open and brutally honest in the lead-up to the seventh season of the hit show, which kicked off on February 3. And now, she's opened up about the circumstances that led to her painful dependancy.

"My teenage years were probably a little bit rougher than most," Hayley explains, adding that she came from a broken home – which, she says, "can make it hard to find yourself as a person".

We have no doubt about that; and sadly, Hayley found a way to cope in illicit substances.

"I turned to drugs," she says, bravely owning every bit of her history.

"At the end of the day, it was as simple as that."

MAFS Hayley Vernon
Channel 9

But as "simple" as her reason for falling into that lifestyle may be, it certainly sounds like the finance broker – who has now been clean for several years – had a very rough family life.

"I was kicked out of home from the age of 17," she tells, "and I was abusing several substances."

"This was all I knew for eight or nine years," she added.

"It’s actually the worst thing in the world. It’s crippling."

MAFS Hayley Vernon
Channel 9

Several years down the track, Hayley turned her life around when she began training, which  completely changed her life.

After befriending a female bodybuilder she'd been following on Instagram, the MAFS bride was given the opportunity to join the fitness expert in Queensland, and was taught a new way of being in the world.

Fitness, Hayley reveals, turned her life around.

"It gave me direction, it gave me purpose, it gave me focus," she says.

MAFS Hayley fitness
Channel 9

Throughout her difficult upbringing and the tough years of dependancy that followed, the bubbly brunette's friends have remained by her side.

"Hayley’s been through a lot," says her best friend Bek – who Hayley describes as "the mum I haven't got in my life at the moment".

"To see where she’s come, it’s a really proud moment for me. She deserves [to be happy]."

Hayley's father couldn't be prouder of his little girl, either.

"Dad's always got my back," Hayley smiles. "He's my number-one supporter."

The 32-year-old – who's obviously worked incredibly hard to get to where she is today – only wants one thing in sharing details of her past: that people not use her history to define her.

"The worst thing that could happen... is that they’re going to judge me on my past discretions," she says.

"That would probably break my heart."

MAFS Hayleey dad
Channel 9

In a personal interview with A Current Affair on the same night as the Married At First Sight season 7 premiere, the brave bodybuilder – who's already been ruffling feathers in the social experiment! – spoke about about some of the consequences of her decade-long drug habit.

"I battled things most women my age could only imagine... homelessness, mental abuse, physical abuse," the 32-year-old shared candidly.

"So what I can bring to the table is something that far outweighs my past."

  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Married At First Sight
  • Reality TV

Subscribe to Who magazine-& save!

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to Who magazine

Subscribe to Who magazine-& save!

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to Who magazine

Recommended to you

Louis Tomlinson Calls James Corden Out
Watch 0:36

Louis Tomlinson Calls James Corden Out

{headline}

{headline}

MAFS' Hayley Reckons She'd 'Never' Hit On Someone Else's Husband

MAFS' Hayley Reckons She'd 'Never' Hit On Someone Else's Husband

MAFS' David Basically Just Savaged Wife Hayley

MAFS' David Basically Just Savaged Wife Hayley

MAFS Groom David's Parents Slam Wife Hayley

MAFS Groom David's Parents Slam Wife Hayley

Why MAFS' Hayley regrets voting to STAY

Why MAFS' Hayley regrets voting to STAY

{headline}

{headline}

Hayley & David kicked out of experiment despite Hayley writing 'stay'

Hayley & David kicked out of experiment despite Hayley writing 'stay'

MAFS: Hayley suffers embarrassing wardrobe malfunction

MAFS: Hayley suffers embarrassing wardrobe malfunction

MAFS’ Vanessa and Hayley vent to each other about failing relationships

MAFS’ Vanessa and Hayley vent to each other about failing relationships

{headline}

{headline}

What Hayley Did At The MAFS Dinner Party Made Us Uncomfortable

What Hayley Did At The MAFS Dinner Party Made Us Uncomfortable

MAFS Groom David Slams Wife Hayley: "She's delusional!"

MAFS Groom David Slams Wife Hayley: "She's delusional!"

MAFS Groom David Ditches Hayley On The Honeymoon!

MAFS Groom David Ditches Hayley On The Honeymoon!

MAFS 2020: Hayley's hen's night horror

MAFS 2020: Hayley's hen's night horror

Married At First Sight 2020: Hayley Vernon

Married At First Sight 2020: Hayley Vernon

Cam Merchant recounts his darkest days in rehab

Cam Merchant recounts his darkest days in rehab

MAFS bride Samantha Moitzi teases huge transformation

MAFS bride Samantha Moitzi teases huge transformation

Who
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Privacy
Who Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Privacy

Brands

  • Beauty Crew
  • Home Beautiful
  • marie claire
  • Bounty Parents

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • New Idea food
  • New Idea
  • Girlfriend
  • That’s Life
  • All Recipes
  • Practical Parenting
  • 7plus
  • 7News
  • Sunrise
  • Starts at 60
  • The West Australian
  • Perth Now
  • 7mate
  • 7Sport
  • Hard to Find
© 2022 Are Media PTY LTD
All products are independently selected, tested or recommended by our team of experts.If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Get more from Who

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe to Who magazine-& save!

Shop This Offer
Subscribe to Who magazine