NewsBite

MAFS: Stars make shock career moves during pandemic

From joining an adult website to shamelessly asking fans for cash, Married at First Sight brides have been forced to think outside the box to make ends meet during the pandemic.

MAFS 2020 Episode 36 Recap: Finale Fallout

Economic uncertainty brought on by the global health crisis has forced many people to think outside the box in order to make ends meet.

Even celebrities are feeling the pinch, with one desperately turning to adult websites to make a quick buck.

Married at First Sight bride Hayley Vernon claims she’s now making $16,000 a week after signing up to X-rated website Only Fans.

Last week Vernon, a former topless waitress who now works as a tradeswoman by day, lashed out at critics of her decision to sell semi-nude photos online.

“Shut the f*** up, I’ll do what I want. $16k in one week ain’t bad for shots that the press already had out there,” she wrote on Instagram.

Former co-star Aleks Markovic has started a new job as a real estate agent, while also making money from sponsored posts on social media.

She told Confidential that the transition from reality TV back to relatively normal life has been smooth-sailing.

MAFS star and real estate agent Aleks Markovic, in Greystanes. She will now compete with her ex Ivan after relocating to Sydney. Picture:Justin Lloyd.
MAFS star and real estate agent Aleks Markovic, in Greystanes. She will now compete with her ex Ivan after relocating to Sydney. Picture:Justin Lloyd.

“Being on MAFS gave me a lot more opportunities, you’re more recoginsed now so people know who you are,” she said.

Markovic recently moved from Perth to Sydney as she begins her next chapter following her split from her TV husband Ivan Sarakula, who is also in real estate.

“The move to Sydney and finding a job in Sydney was a little bit easier because people had already met me through MAFS,” she said.

“There’s no industry competition with [Ivan] because we work in different areas.

“I’m also launching my own makeup brand which is currently being manufactured in Queensland, that’s going to be launched soon.”

MAFS' Hayley Vernon claims she made $16,000 in one week after joining an adult website
MAFS' Hayley Vernon claims she made $16,000 in one week after joining an adult website

Fitness trainer Amanda Micallef also came under fire after setting up a Go Fund Me page requesting $10,000 to fund her move from Melbourne to the Gold Coast.

As of Sunday, the page had raised more than $5,000.

“Since leaving the show, my business has gone down. I run four businesses, I don’t take a f***ing cent from any of them. I don’t get paid for the radio work ... it’s voluntary. I’m speechless, I’m gutted and I’m sorry I even bothered asking for help. I’m so hurt. Being a public figure is such a curse at times. You want us to be perfect,” she said in an emotional Instagram video.

MAFS star Amanda Micallef created a GoFundMe page to raise money for her move from Melbourne to the Gold Coast. Picture: Instagram.
MAFS star Amanda Micallef created a GoFundMe page to raise money for her move from Melbourne to the Gold Coast. Picture: Instagram.

Other contestants from this season of MAFS previously signed up to popular app Cameo, which sells personalised video messages to fans.

Steve Burley, Michael Goonan and Poppy Jennings among others are charging between $16 and $40 for clips.

Add your comment to this story

To join the conversation, please Don't have an account? Register

Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/mafs-stars-make-shock-career-moves-during-pandemic/news-story/7feeffb981836056b66ff426c68e794e