Finding love through a televised marriage experiment like Married At First Sight is not always a fairytale story, and alum Mindy Shiben dished out what to expect from her own experience.
Her Story
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Ice skating instructor and coach Mindy Shiben joined the show in Season 10, which was hosted in Washington, D.C. She was matched with personal trainer and fitness model Zach Justice. Unfortunately for her, their compatibility on paper didn’t translate to real-life romance, which was already very apparent at the start.
During their honeymoon trip in Panama, along with the other couples, Mindy shared that she saw how different Zach’s treatment of her was compared to how the other husbands treated their wives. The men were all taking care of their women like a partner would, while she felt like she was just his friend. Zach said that he wasn’t going to force any public display of affection.
Later, during the trip, Zach confessed that he wasn’t physically attracted to her and that there was no chemistry between them. Mindy expressed her disappointment after hearing this from Zach on their honeymoon, but she thought he might come around. Sadly, he didn’t, and their relationship didn’t improve.
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After the honeymoon, while all the other couples (except for Brandon Reid and Taylor Dunklin) moved in together right after, Zach said that he wanted to live solo. The worst part is that he told her at the airport. So, they went their separate ways.
Even through ALL of those things, Mindy chose to be optimistic. She told the producers that she joined even though her family refused to support her because she wanted to find the love of her life. The moment she decided to be married at first sight, she was in a place where she was ready to give so much to somebody else.
She prepared the apartment, hoping they would still work out and Zach would come and live with her. Sadly, Zach wasn’t willing to do it again after compromising so much in the previous relationship. “I don’t want to compromise…and just try to put on a show,” Zach said. Throughout the rest of the show, he kept his distance from her.
The final nail in the coffin for their relationship (which also finally made Mindy leave) was when Zach allegedly made an inappropriate move with her friend Lindsay. Zach didn’t take her accusation lightly and fired back that she was drunk when she made that allegation a public post (along with asking for a divorce).
So, they finally split on Decision Day.
Her Advice
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After going through the whole dramatic and tumultuous relationship with Zach, she had some wisdom to share with the Season 12 cast or anyone considering signing up for the show.
First, conflict resolution is essential in any relationship, especially in a public setup. It goes beyond you and your spouse because your family and friends would also be open to public scrutiny since it’s a TV show.
Second, haters come with the territory. When you decide to put your life on camera, you should be ready to face the reality that people will criticize you. The best way to handle that is not to take anything personally.
Third, being on MAFS will forever impact your life. Even if it was a long time ago and you’ve gotten over the experience, there will always be people who will remind you of it and ask things about it.
Of course, down the line, she said it was a big consideration if you want to have kids. That is because you have to be ready for how being on TV could affect them and their future.
Mindy Shiben may not have had the best experience on Married At First Sight, but she definitely learned a lot from the experience. Now, she’s in a happy place with the love of her life.