Married At First Sight star Katie Johnston has undergone a career change

MAFS Bride Katie has embraced a big change after her short-lived marriage with “nice guy” Tim.

Married At First Sight star Katie Johnston has undergone a career change after her disappointing marriage to self-proclaimed “nice guy” Tim Gromie.

The 37-year-old who had a hard time on the reality show after her husband said he wasn’t attracted to her because he prefers “petite” women has done one better than just getting a new haircut after a public break-up.

She was treated poorly on MAFS. Picture: Nine

He said he felt ‘no spark’. Picture: Nine

When the redhead appeared on the show, she described herself as the CEO of a “social enterprise” group of restaurants that splits profits with those who are doing it tough.

But Johnston’s restaurants - two EATS venues on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast - have been the cause for negative publicity for the reality star.

The company that owned the restaurants, Wild The Lifestyle Co Pty, which was directed by Johnston, went into liquidation in 2023 owing more than $400,000 including over $150,000 in unpaid superannuation. According to The Sunshine Coast Daily one of the venues ceased trading while the other was purchased by another company, also directed by Johnston, and is still operating. There are a number of other EATS venues that are owned by separate companies and not associated with Johnston.

She told the same publication earlier this month there was a “payment plan in place” to repay the debt.

“Covid ruined a lot of businesses and continues to ruin people’s lives as we struggle with cost of living and mass business closures,” she said.

But since her time on MAFS, Johnston appears to have undergone a career transformation, creating an online course to help women recognise toxic traits in potential partners and themselves according to Yahoo Lifestyle.

She’s made a career change. Picture: Instagram/itswildbykatie

The 37-year-old had a hard time on MAFs. Picture: Instagram/itswildbykatie

According to the source, the course is also meant to help people feel better about themselves and build self-esteem and confidence.

“Most people have no idea that Katie has a degree in behavioural science and a major in psychology, and she’s very passionate about using everything she’s been through and learnt about herself to help other women,” they said.

She ended up leaving MAFS. Picture: Instagram/itswildbykatie

Johnston was a breakout star of the season, while Gromie coped criticism for being callous. She gained fans for her earnest and vulnerable appearance on the show.

At one point the 37-year-old even broke down crying as she discussed how she felt “humiliated” and didn’t know what she’d done to deserve such dismissive treatment from her reality television husband.

Meanwhile, he basically just discussed how his physical type was “short, petite” women who were either blonde or brunette.

Johnston eventually chose to leave the reality show because she felt Gromie was acting like he didn’t get what “he ordered” and had been avoiding her since the experiment started.