Married At First Sightseason 18 is set to be another unprecedented season of the series, andparticipants Camille & Thomas are excited to see their story unfold on theMAFSstage. ThroughoutMarried At First Sighthistory, couples who are paired up and meet moments before they’re married have been sharing their journeys. While the participants are typically excited at the prospect of meeting their spouse in such an unconventional way, they quickly tend to realize that there’s much more to the experiment than meets the eye. Though most are grateful, there are more pitfalls to the experience than anticipated.
Married At First Sightseason 18has some major expectations to live up to after the last few seasons of the series have been a struggle for viewers. While the charm ofMAFShas been consistent throughout the years, there’s been a clear decline in the number of couples who wind up making it through the experiment and winding up in a successful marriage. ThoughMarried At First Sightnever guarantees the couples will make it through the process and leave in a successful relationship,the show hasn’t been matching couples who even make it to face Decision Day.
WithMAFSseason 18, the viewers and experts are all hopeful that they’ll see some incredible matches that make it all the way through the experiment and beyond. The five couples who will be getting married sight unseen are all hopeful that they’ll be able to endure whatever issues come their way, but it can be far more difficult than expected. According to Camille and Thomas, two of theMarried At First Sightseason 18 cast members, theirMAFSmarriage wasn’t easy, butboth shared they were hopeful they’d be matched with someone willing to put in the work.
Screen Rant: Why did you decide to apply for Married At First Sight?
Thomas: I felt like I was becoming a serial dater. I wanted to challenge myself to stop overthinking relationships and just dive in head first.
Camille: I decided to apply for Married At First Sight because I was ready to take the guesswork out of looking for a partner. I knew I was ready for a long term (hopefully forever-long) relationship, and just could not seem to find someone who was as ready as I was to put in the work. I figured by taking a leap as wild as this, I’d at least be able to trust that whoever I’d potentially be matched with would be just as invested in the dedication it takes to make something as deep as marriage work.
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Screen Rant: What surprised you the most about the MAFS interview/screening process? Did it meet your expectations?
Thomas: There were so many questions. It really makes you think in detail what you are looking for in a partner, emotionally and physically. The whole process exceeded my expectations.
Camille: What surprised me the most about the MAFS interview/screening process was how incredibly thorough it was. There were so many steps along the way that included extensive questionnaires, multiple phone and in-person interviews, and even psychological evaluations. It actually exceeded my expectations because it really solidified to me how seriously these matches were taken. They’re not just putting any two people together.
Screen Rant: What was the most important thing you were looking for in a partner?
Thomas: A compassionate intelligent woman that could meet my needs.
Camille: The most important thing I was looking for in a partner was emotional intelligence/availability. Someone capable of having important conversations, no matter how uncomfortable. Someone truly ready and COMMITTED to doing the work.
Screen Rant: What are three words you’d use to describe your Married At First Sight experience?
Thomas: Exciting, unpredictable, and stressful.
Camille: Fun, Challenging, and Transformative.
Screen Rant: How has your outlook on MAFS changed since you’ve been part of the show?
Thomas: I have so much more respect for the process. You have to be open to criticism and willing to compromise. It’s easy to watch from home and say what you would do in every situation. But living it out is an entirely different story!
Camille: Since being part of the show, I’ve gained a whole new respect for previous cast members. This process is not easy, there are so many new things to navigate and juggle at the same time, all while the entire world is watching. At the end of the day, we are all human and I think that’s easy for people to forget when watching the show, myself included!
Screen Rant: Is there anything you would change from what you were looking for a partner before you were matched up on MAFS?
Thomas: I would try to be more specific about my non-negotiable items and physical attributes. If the attraction is not there, I tend to let minor things bother me.
Camille: I honestly would keep the same list of things I was looking for in a partner, as they still are as true for what I need now as they were prior to being matched on MAFS.
Screen Rant: What’s one answer you gave that you think led the experts to match you with your MAFS spouse? Would you change that answer now?
Thomas: I asked for someone who was nurturing and patient. I would never change that answer.
Camille: One answer that I gave during the matchmaking process that I believe led me to being matched with my MAFS spouse was that I was hoping for someone who was close with their family and saw the importance in a close familial bond. I wouldn’t change that answer now, as I still believe that to be such an important foundation/belief to begin any relationship with.
