'I'm not the person I was on MAFS UK'

She loved and lost as a contestant on Married At First Sight, but Amy Christophers says it helped her realise her worth

- MITYA UNDERWOOD

Amy Christophers' roller-coaster relationship with her Married At First Sight UK groom Joshua Christie didn't make for easy viewing. In the 2021 series of the show, the pair locked horns over everything - from where a bottle of wine should be kept to Joshua messaging another bride before filming. Viewers then saw Amy's dream of true love disintegrate as the pair split up shortly after the final vow ceremony.

With the ninth series of the hit E4 show returning later this summer, the 37-year-old former glamour model and qualified football referee for the FA opens up about how reality television negatively affected her career and recognising her self-worth...

Hi, Amy! Have you got happy memories of MAFS UK or do you regret signing up?

Ha, well at the time I thought, "Why not?" I thought somebody would give me a husband and I'd find true love, job done, but it didn't work out that way. Also, I'd spent a long time building up my sports career and knowledge but when I came out of MAFS, I was told that some of the sports brands didn't want to work with me any more. It felt like because I'd done a bit of reality TV, I'd lost the respect I'd earned. It was a blow. Just because I'd done a reality show doesn't mean it wiped all my knowledge. Also, I'm not that person any more.

I've watched it and think, "Why did I put up with that? Why didn't I stand up for myself more?"

Do you think the negative career impact would be the same for a man?