Channel 9
There’s no doubt about it: Married at First Sight bride Davina Rankin has got the country talking – and not necessarily in a good way.
After admitting she’s had men on a “three week turnaround” for years, the 26-year-old Instagram model looks set to repeat the short-term cycle after being left less than impressed with her groom Ryan Gallagher on their wedding day. Audiences were shocked at the intensity of Rankin’s criticisms of the 29 year-old tradie-with-a -heart-of-gold, as she attacked everything from his sense of humour, his attempt at a first kiss and his choice of friends.
“He opened his mouth and it was like, ‘Ugh’,” she said of her overwhelming first impression, which we saw unfold on screens on Wednesday night.
“So far from only knowing Ryan for a second, he’s probably going to annoy me.”
Fast forward to Thursday night’s honeymoon and Rankin’s assumption proved correct as we discovered not only could she not stand sleeping next to her groom thanks to his jackhammer snoring, but she was grossed out by his table manners, put off by his lack of romance and even said she considered Gallagher to be a “waste of my time.” “He’s a child,” she declared at one point before storming off from a dinner date to her husband’s complete confusion.
So far, so unsurprising when it comes to the series. She’s certainly not the first and even more certainly won’t be the last MAFS bride to find plenty not to like about their chosen husband.
But at the end of the episode Rankin did something which has scandalised many fans of the show – she decided to sleep with her Gallagher to see if there was any chemistry there which would make it worth her time to continue in the experiment.
“I was intimate with him to see if there was a spark or anything,” she said. “But it’s kind of just like… nothing. Like, I’m comfortable with him but there’s no affection, I’m here with my brother.”
While many viewers expressed shock at Rankin’s decision to test the intimacy waters, it made me think, why are we so outraged at the notion that a woman needs to feel a sexual connection in order to decide whether or not a relationship is for them?
Sex – and sexual chemistry – can make or break a fledgling relationship, not to mention a marriage. Who wants to be stuck with someone who they don’t feel an iota of chemistry towards?
Sure, you can work on building intimacy and love but if you can’t get the basics right, is there any hope for the future?
So why can’t a modern day woman decide that if it’s more fizzle than sizzle, they’d rather walk away and find someone who does float their boat?
And that’s something I think we should all think long and hard about before condemning Rankin’s right to sleep with Gallagher before declaring her overwhelming love for him. Because like her or loathe her, just like all human beings the divisive brunette deep down just wants to find someone she enjoys being with and who equally enjoys being with her.
“My biggest fear of doing the show was, ‘what if I don’t like the person,” she told WHO before the series hits screens. “Not getting on with the person was something I thought about a lot – and also how other people would look at me also. It’s a little bit scary to put yourself out there so much in the public eye, that’s daunting.”
Given it appears both those reservations have played out – very publicly – to millions of viewers around the country, it’s hard not to feel a little sympathy for Rankin. For now at least.
But if you don’t share my sentiment, then at least I can gain some comfort for the other thought she shared before the country got to see her disastrous wedding day take place.
“I’ve got pretty thick skin, so if anyone can handle it I can,” she promised before the MAFS juggernaut launched.
For more on MAFS, pick-up a copy of WHO on-sale now!
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