reality tv

Are Melinda and Layton still together? A very serious MAFS investigation.

To catch up on all the Married at First Sight recaps and gossip, check out the MAFS hub page. We've got you covered.

Every single year, we hope for the best outcome on Married At First Sight. We cross our fingers and pray that our favourite couple goes the distance. 

Unfortunately, MAFS isn't exactly renowned for its ability to create long-lasting couples. Rather, hopeful and wide-eyed individuals enter the experiment on a quest for love and exit shortly thereafter, blaming the experts for pairing them with a dud match. 

Either way, the reality dating show doesn't really give us the highest of hopes.

Watch the trailer for Married At First Sight 2023. Post continues after video.


Video via Nine.

One couple that has been surprising us this season though is Melinda Willis and Layton Mills.

From the beginning, the pair was angled to be the perfect match. 

Melinda, a CEO from Queensland, struggled to find a relationship worth dedicating herself to. Layton, a CEO from NSW, had the same problem. 

They connected over their ambitions and career drive — but quickly cracks began to appear. 

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Layton Mills and Melinda Willis on Married At First Sight. Image: Nine.

Firstly, Melinda wasn't all that into Layton upon meeting him on their wedding day. 

"First impressions… he may be punching just a little. I would swipe left. I'm a 9 and a half… on a bad day," she told cameras. "My usual type is more tall, dark, handsome, European, chiselled."

In defence of her words, she told WHO Magazine she was only being sarcastic. 

“My family all laughed when they saw it and said, ‘That is so you!’” she explained. “In reality, I’m really the humblest person and I would never put someone’s appearance underneath mine, so it was just the way it all came across, unfortunately."

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The pair had issues throughout the experiment, mostly because they struggled to effectively communicate during disagreements, and Layton had trouble tapping into his emotions.

The final roadblock came when at the final dinner party, the bride told Layton she had fallen in love with him — to which he questioned, saying: "But if you can't speak to someone… are you really? How are you falling in love with me if we can't communicate?"

"It's very clear that I care a lot more about Layton than he does [about] me," Melinda admitted privately. "In all aspects of our relationship what I think or feel towards Layton is leaps and bounds above what is being reciprocated."

Later, the groom said he wasn't quite "there yet" when asked if he felt the same for his bride. 

"I really feel like tonight is end game for us," Melinda later said, alone with the cameras. 

Despite the... confusion, it looks like the pair have made it out of the experiment – saying yes to staying together at the final vows. 

Here's everything we know about whether they are still together outside of MAFS

Melinda and Layton's post-final vows Instagram posts.

Now, keep in mind the current cast's socials are still being controlled by Nine, so these will be pre-approved posts. 

But! They are still full of hope!

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"No matter what it takes to get this right or how hard the road ahead of us may be, I will always choose you, my Layton," Melinda captioned a cute pic of the two.

"You are my fishy, my match and my heart! Now let’s go do this thing called life together."

Layton posted just before their final decisions aired, saying he was ready to "leave everything on the table".

Thankfully he did just in time, confessing that he was falling in love with Melinda and committing to a relationship outside of the show.

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MAFS source says Melinda keeps Layton "in line".

Out of the two dozen couples, Melinda and Layton are one of the few who make it to final vows — where they stayed together after Layton confessed his feelings.

An insider told the So Dramatic podcast that they are definitely still together.

"Melinda and Layton are so in love. She puts him in line. They will be the golden couple. The new [Cameron Merchant] and Jules [Robinson]," one former contestant said.

Another former bride/groom told the publication: "At the reunion, Melinda and Layton looked like a couple. They were kissing and hugging, it was actually really beautiful to watch."

Listen to The Spill, Mamamia's daily entertainment podcast. Post continues after audio. 


Layton and Melinda spotted on a group date with Tahnee and Ollie.

After shooting the finale episode for Married At First Sight, Layton and Melinda were spotted on a double date with the show's strongest couple, Tahnee and Ollie. 

Whilst it could just be for publicity, the four reality stars were seen out and about in Sydney. Layton is from NSW but Melinda is from Queensland. 

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Sources claim Layton and Melinda are a fake couple.

Okay, so either someone is very shady, or these two have cracked a much better MAFS tactic than whatever the hell Harrison was up to.

Because despite being spotted out and about with one another, one anonymous source told So Dramatic! the pair had barely seen one another since leaving the experiment. 

"They’re not actually together," the insider claimed.

"They’re just keeping up appearances for 6-12 months to milk it and get as many opportunities they can and boost their profiles as much as they can and then they will break up.

"It’s all just for publicity because they know couples who stay together end up doing better."

Ooof. We hope that's not the case!

Only time — and probably a very juicy reunion episode — will tell.

Feature Image: Nine.

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