For most viewers, Married At First Sight Australia is an easy-to-watch reality TV treat. But for this season’s bride, Andrea Thompson, the hit show once prompted her to leave a toxic relationship.
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“A lot of people bag out MAFS,” Andrea, 51, tells New Idea. “But by watching the show, I learnt a lot about what gaslighting means. I also learnt that it definitely wasn’t OK to be treated the way I was being treated.”
Andrea quickly left that on-again, off-again relationship. Then, for the next two years, following a move from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast, she went on 60 dates!
“I had an absolute blast,” a smiling Andrea admits. “When I moved I didn’t know anyone, so it was really nice to go out and have a coffee and chat with someone.
“I hoped to find someone special, but even though that didn’t happen at that time, I learnt so much about myself and what I want from a relationship.”
Midway through last year, Andrea applied, on a whim, for MAFS.
“In my video, I said, ‘hey, you guys broke up my last relationship. It sucks out here in the dating world, so can you help me find someone good?’” she shares.
The very next day, Andrea received a call and was asked to audition.
She made the choice to proceed after talking it over with the children from her first marriage, Cooper, 23, and Evie, 20.
“I’ve got the best kids on the planet,” Andrea says proudly. “They are adventurous like me and were fully supportive.”
So much so, that when Andrea married groom Richard Sauerman, Cooper walked his mum down the aisle and Evie was her bridesmaid.
“I was absolutely terrified, so I couldn’t have done it without their support,” says Andrea.
Now, Andrea has a much clearer idea of what she’s looking for when it comes to love.
“When I applied for MAFS, I said I wanted someone with kind eyes,” she explains. “I’ve been with someone who has anger inside of them and it just shines out of their eyes. I can see it in people a mile off.”
She adds that when she saw Richard, 62, waiting for her at the end of the aisle, she was relieved.
“When I saw his warm happy eyes smiling at me, I knew, in that moment, that this was going to be great and that whatever happens, we’ll be OK.”
While it’s early days for her TV marriage, Andrea, a photographer, says she absolutely has “no regrets” so far about taking part in the experiment.
“Doing this show is not for everyone, and I still can’t believe I’m on a huge TV show because I really hate being looked at,” she says.
“But I’m proud of myself for taking another chance on love as well.”
