Farmer Paige Marsh left Farmer Wants A Wife last night, deciding none of the men she met on the dating show were for her.
While the move was seen as an empowering act of self-love, there has been a little bit of backlash online. Some fans of the show have left comments in support of one of Paige's suitors, Ayden, saying he "deserved better". However, the overall response has been positive, with the show promoting a narrative of self-empowerment rather than the traditional 'happy ending' we often expect from dating shows.
While it was a huge deal to see a female farmer enter the mix this year, it’s not the first time it’s happened in the franchise. Paige is actually the fourth female farmer to try her hand at finding a husband, but while the others didn’t end up finding love, Paige’s choice to deliberately walk away from it is something new for the series.
Paige is a first-generation farmer, and actually grew up in business. After developing an interest in land and agriculture, she did work experience in the industry before running her own farm in Cassilis, New South Wales.
As well as her farming, Paige also loves horses and competes at rodeos and at camp drafting. She was looking for someone to share her passions with, but all of her suitors seemed to come up short when she met them.
Eventually, she decided none of the men were for her, but host Samantha Armytage came through, introducing her to two new men in the final weeks of the show. Paige was given a last chance to get to know Cody and Ayden before her journey on the show ended.
Paige seemed to find more of a spark with Cody, who became the first man she kissed on the show. However, she found his attitude to be a little hot-and-cold.
“He keeps saying that he doesn’t want to lead anyone on and he doesn’t want just that physical connection that he’s had with people before,” she admitted after the pair shared an overnight date.
“There’s part of me that just wonders if he lets go of that and just holds on to the emotional connection that’s there, then maybe he’ll allow something to grow.”
However, it wasn’t meant to be for Paige and either of the final two men.
Paige said goodbye to Ayden first, telling him “I actually think we may not be suited for each other and that the person you’re looking for... is not me.”
And when Cody’s hesitancy made it difficult to commit, Paige also chose to walk away from him.
She explained she wouldn’t allow him to make her feel like she wasn’t “enough” for him.
“I know that’s not the exact words that you’re saying to me, but that’s how I feel when, essentially, you kissed me and then are so distant,” she told him.
“I really was hoping this was going somewhere, but I can’t keep hoping and questioning my own self-worth,” she explained.
"Saying goodbye to [Cody] was empowering, because I chose me," she said to the camera afterwards.
"I came here looking for love and I haven't found that with someone, but I've found a new love for myself and that's incredible."
It was Paige’s heartfelt goodbye to her fellow farmers that was the most emotional.
“This is my goodbye to you guys, and that’s what’s actually hit me the most,” she told Farmers Ben, Will, and Harry.
“I want love - I do - and I look at you three when you talk about your girls, and I want that,” she said. “So, thank you for showing me that. And the friendship, because that’s what’s getting me now.”
“It’s not you, it’s them,” her fellow farmers reassured her.
“You deserve the absolute world Paige, and love, for you, is just around the corner,” Farmer Ben told her.
We'll probably hear from Paige when Farmer Wants A Wife airs their reunion episode next week, where we'll see if she's any closer to finding lasting love.
Feature Image: Channel 7.
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Maybe we've grown a little as a society in the years between the two.