Married At First Sight Australia bride paired with ex-boyfriend who ghosted her

It just wouldn’t be MAFS without drama, and viewers will clearly be in for some with a never before seen twist set to air when the show returns tonight.

Married At First Sight Australia is back, and with it, a never-before-seen twist.

The dating show everyone loves to hate returns to Channel 9 tonight with a fresh batch of Aussies eager to find love with, and marry, a complete stranger on national TV.

In a dramatic new preview ahead of Monday’s season 12 premiere, one bride walks down the aisle only to be met with her ex-boyfriend.

MAFS is back for 2025, and we have a never before seen twist with Perth-based bride Carina.

The mystery groom turns out to be someone Carina dated in real life.

Perth-based Carina is then seen chatting to one of the show’s producers in between filming, whispering, “I know him. Can you believe that?”

She continued, “He just … Stopped texting [me].”

MAFS is back for 2025, and we have a never before seen twist.

Speaking on Today Extra Monday morning, Carina gave little away when questioned by hosts David Campbell and Sylvia Jeffreys, though conceded the pair only dated briefly.

“It’s a little bit difficult here in Perth, the dating pool is quite small. I guess it was a given, maybe,” she said.

“I was quite fortunate it wasn’t a long duration. It worked out to be really good in the end. And, I guess he had to redeem himself most of all.

“My criteria was someone tall, dark and handsome, good morals and values. I exhausted all the different avenues of the dating pool in WA. My parents wanted to set me up with someone from church, so I thought I’d give [MAFS] a go.”

Carina is set to star on this year's MAFS.

Meanwhile, resident MAFS expert John Aiken teased to the breakfast program some of this year’s 20 contestants were the show’s “loudest and most volatile” people yet.

“They’ve all been watching TikTok, so their dating mindsets are very extreme,” Aiken said.

“They show up on the show and some are traditional wives who want to serve, they want to be dominated, they want someone whose very wealthy.

“And we’ve got guys that are warriors. They want to make all the decisions. They want to protect. But they also want women with no ambition. So we have some extreme mindsets this year.

“It’s weird. Let me tell you, as experts, we really try and hold a mirror up and say, ‘that’s not going to work’.”

Married At First Sight premieres tonight on Channel 9 at 7.30pm.

Originally published as Married At First Sight Australia bride paired with ex-boyfriend who ghosted her