Married At First Sightseason 18 is just unfolding, butKarla and Juan’s match seems like it could be an authentic success. ThroughoutMarried At First Sighthistory, the pressure has been on to create marriages that work beyond the shadow of a doubt. Though the couples meet in an unconventional way, the series focuses on the fact that the pairs are meant to use the connection of their marriage to build a foundation to fall into romantic love. Trusting in one another as partners, theMarried At First Sightseason 18singles will take on the challenge for themselves.
AlthoughMarried At First Sighthas become one of the staples of reality TV dating,the social experiment tries to look at the matches from a psychological perspectiverather than one of romance or spectacle. Theteam ofMarried At First Sightexperts, comprised of Dr. Pepper Schwartz, Dr. Pia Holec, and Pastor Cal Roberson, take some of the most minute details of a person’s life and desires to see if they’ll match up with other participants. Though the process has been scrutinized by viewers, the participants have praised the experts rather than criticized them for the work they’ve done.
WhiletheMarried At First Sightseason 18 castis feeling the pressure to build successful relationships after the show’s been through failures in the last few seasons, it appears they’re the most hopeful participantsMAFShas seen in ages. Karla and Juan, who sat down with Screen Rant to discuss their expectations and experiences onMarried At First Sight,teased a seemingly positive outcome for their time on the show. As one of the couples who have potentially made it through the experiment together, hearing about their time on the series offered a hopeful outlook forMAFSseason 18.
Screen Rant: Why did you decide to apply for Married At First Sight?
Karla: I decided to joinMarried At First Sightbecause it is completely opposite of the idea I had envisioned for myself. I challenge myself to step outside of my comfort and find magic in life.
Juan: After many great but failed relationships, and seeing that I’m nearing my 40’s, and hearing thatMAFSwould be casting its 18th season in Chicago, I made the decision to give this approach a shot. I felt like having the help of professional matchmakers made sense and I made myself open to the experience.
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Screen Rant: What surprised you the most about the MAFS interview/screening process? Did it meet your expectations?
Karla: The screening questions were thorough and thoughtful. Loved how personable everyone through screening, casting and the experts were. Yes! They met my expectations.
Juan: I wasn’t really surprised at all about theMAFSinterview/screening process. I felt like it was very thorough and detailed, which makes sense because marriage is the decision of a lifetime. It did meet my expectations.
Screen Rant: What was the most important thing you were looking for in a partner?
Karla: The most important thing for me in a partner is emotional intelligence and adventurous nature.
Juan: The biggest thing I was looking for in a spouse is someone that I could share many things in common such as culture, work ethic, family, and a dedication to self-improvement.
Screen Rant: What are three words you’d use to describe your Married At First Sight experience?
Karla: Easy breezy, enlightening, and positive.
Juan: Fun, exciting, and growth.
Screen Rant: How has your outlook on MAFS changed since you’ve been part of the show?
Karla: My outlook is positive. The experience was entertaining and real.
Juan: Since I had never watched the show, I went in with minimal expectations, so I didn’t really have an opinion on the process. I wanted to be my most authentic self throughout the experience, so I decided not to watch any episodes prior so as to not form any kind of opinions or premeditated behaviors based on past participants. What I do know now, is that if you take the right approach and are mature enough to self-reflect,MAFSis a great opportunity to grow as a person and a partner.
Screen Rant: Is there anything you would change from what you were looking for a partner before you were matched up on MAFS?
Karla: There are no changes in wants in a partner.
Juan: I don’t think I would change anything. I think the experts matched us for a reason, and I feel like I’m thankful for my experience. I would never ask God to change anything about how my life has played out, and I wouldn’t change anything about myMAFSexperience.
Screen Rant: What’s one answer you gave that you think led the experts to match you with your MAFS spouse? Would you change that answer now?
Karla: I think our love for family and dancing were the reasons for our match, which I definitely agree with.
Juan: I mentioned that I wanted a Latina and that’s what they gave me. I wouldn’t change my answer!
Married At First Sightairs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. EDT on Lifetime.
Married At First Sight
Cast
Based on the Danish version of the series, Married at First Sight is a reality show/social experiment that gives singles a chance to find a lifelong partnership with one particular caveat: they must agree to marry a stranger arranged the moment they meet. Experts provide counseling and guidance as they help couples navigate their new marriage with their unknown partner and highlight the journey of the newlyweds from wedding to honeymoon to beginning their new lives together. At the end of eight weeks, couples will decide to stay married or divorce.
