Sunnie Khakh, 30
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Even before she married her childhood sweetheart, Sunnie struggled with not being traditional enough for her husband’s parents.
Did you worry about offending your family, going on the show?
Definitely. It was one of the main reasons I was hesitant. I pulled out a lot of times and was like, “I don’t think this is right for me.” But then I said, “You know what? This is why I should do it.” Because it’s not accepted. Women should not feel scared or embarrassed to have gone through a divorce or date again. So I’m going to try to break that stigma, but let’s see how that goes.
WHO: Are the other girls like-minded?
That’s why we get along so well. We’re all strong. We’ve all been through s--t. And we just want to help other women, and each other.
WHO: Now, what do you do when you get the chance to catch up?
We love to go out to dinner and have a nice glass of wine. Just catch up, and talk crap.
Growing up part of a religious community, it was the done thing to marry young. But though she tried to make it work, Emma realised she needed to move on.
WHO: Why get married so young?
In the Christian church, it’s very common. You meet a nice guy and don’t sleep together before you’re married. You don’t live together or holiday together, so you sort of rush down the aisle. I was engaged at 19, married at 20. I always thought I’d be a young bride because that’s what you do.
WHO: Has it put you off marriage?
I’d love to get married [again but] I would go about it so differently. Marriage is a beautiful thing and I think it’s even more special when you have done all the good and bad of life and still want to make that public, legal commitment to each other.
WHO: Why do the show?
It’s funny. I was on the couch writing a speech for my dad’s wedding and thought, “Isn’t this weird. Here am I, 27, single, divorced and dad’s getting married.” It seemed all in reverse. I had the TV on and the casting call came and I thought, “Well that sounds all right.” I had tried different things, been on dating apps, had friends recommend friends. Nothing was working so I thought, “Why not give it a go?”
WHO: And how was it?
I’ve loved every minute of it. We had so much fun, laughing, having a great girl time and meeting some awesome men. And some not so amazing men. Just like real-life, you know?
Sheridan Buchanan-Sorensen, 41
SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIST
On good terms with her first husband, the father of her children, Chloe, 12, and Isaac, 10, Sheridan found it difficult to move past the break-up of a recent relationship.
WHO: How has this experience been?
An eye-opener. I came out of my second marriage and being a little older than the other girls, I’ve never experienced anything with online dating or dating strangers. So it was a learning
experience.
WHO: So why do it?
It was just a time of my life where I was dealing with the emotions that come from separation. I wasn’t doing so well and when offered the gig to have a few weeks out of normal life and be whisked away to a beautiful house and, I guess, connect with women who had been through their own experience was quite attractive. That’s why I did it, to be with people that would understand what I was going through.
WHO: Did it work?
It was a gift. The best thing I’ve done. And really the three other women in the show, they’re like my soul sisters.
Nikki Mitropoulos, 32
STUDENT NURSE
Unlike the other “wives,” whose marriages ended in divorce, Nikki’s husband died tragically, four days before son Daniel, 9, was born.
How did you sign up?
When I applied, it was a bit of a joke, to be honest. We had a couple of glasses of wine, me and my girlfriends. And they’re like, “Let’s apply.” So we did. I had no idea what I wrote in my application. Then I got the phone call. I didn’t want to be a part of those dating shows, I can’t do the
whole fighting with other people. All [four of us] said at the beginning if it’s anything like The Bachelor, we didn’t want to do it. So when we found out it was about getting back into dating after
being through pretty heavy
things in our lives, that made
it a lot easier.
WHO: Was it a difficult process?
I lost my husband nearly 10 years ago. Then I was in a relationship, but that ended. When I got on the show and realised I’m going to be dating, I was like, “I don’t think I’m ready for this.” It was overwhelming—very.
WHO: And now?
I’m happy. I was constantly fearing because I had been through traumatic loss. But I can’t protect myself and my child by holding back and locking myself away. That’s the part of me that has changed. It’s allowed myself to do what I’ve always wanted to do but been too scared to.
The Single Wives starts on Wednesday, July 18 and continues July 19 at 7.30pm on Seven.
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