Of the seven couples formed this season in "Married at First Sight", one could not marry in Gibraltar for medical reasons while two ended up recording their divorce after a few days of relationship. Among them, Maurine and Benjamin did not hold while the experts Estelle Dossin and Gilbert Bou Jaoudé had detected a huge compatibility of 82%.
To discover
- Survey - What are your 10 favorite series?
Despite their desire to make a lasting commitment and live a beautiful story, the two singles ended their marriage, on their return from their honeymoon, just a few days after their meeting. If the 27-year-old nurse was under the spell of his wife, the 30-year-old Spanish teacher was not in tune with these feelings.
See alsoFilming, editing, consequences... Do the former candidates of "Married at First Sight" keep a good memory of their experience?
LEFIGARO. - Why did you take part in "Married at First Sight"?
Maurine: I felt like I had gone around what I could do to find someone. I thought I could get help and why not try an experiment like "Married at First Sight". I really believed in the scientific way the program worked. I'm someone who goes out a lot, I've been able to meet a lot of people physically more than through apps. I am a spontaneous and natural person but I could not find the person who corresponded to me lovingly speaking.
Were you impressed by the television dimension of the experience?
I had so much faith in this experience that the TV side really took a back seat. I did not live my story as a shoot but as a real life experience that could potentially allow me to find love.
What was your sentimental past like before "Married at First Sight"?
I haven't had many romantic relationships, only stories of one and a half to two years minimum. Only long relationships that have always ended in failure. I have a classic and chaotic love past at the same time, I did not meet the right person, the one who could totally correspond to me.
"This marriage plunged me into a stress and astonishment that I had never experienced in my life"
Maurine, candidate of season 7 of "Married at First Sight"
How did you imagine this 82% compatible person who was going to match you?
I imagined someone similar and complementary at the same time. In a relationship, it is important to be on the same wavelength but also to be a complement to the character of the other. I am a real electric battery, I have a big temperament and I need someone who calms me.
What state of mind were you in on your wedding day in Gibraltar?
There was a lot of impatience and apprehension, it was a big leap into the unknown. I am someone who controls things a lot and I had to accept to let go. It plunged me into a stress and amazement that I had never experienced in my life. I had never felt such an emotion. The more I realized that I was going to marry a stranger, the more it closed me in.
Was this emotion reinforced by Benjamin's discovery?
It's independent of him since I was already very stressed before the curtain opened. I didn't know what to expect in terms of emotions. When I saw Benjamin, he gave me the image of someone composed, benevolent and happy but it took me time for me to calm down. I had a hard time opening up. If I had dealt with Emanuel who was in the same state as me (married to Léa in this season of "Married at First Sight", Editor's note), it would have been complicated! (Laughter.)
"There are things that cannot be explained in a relationship"
Maurine, candidate of season 7 of "Married at First Sight"
When did you manage to regain control of your emotions and enjoy the moment?
The ceremony was complicated but the drive did me a lot of good. We had talked a lot with Benjamin and, as the evening went on, things got better and better.
When you said "yes" to this wedding, were you convinced that your story with Benjamin could work?
Yes, completely. If that had not been the case, I would have said no. I would be lying if I said that I had a big crush when I arrived but I told myself that it was not only the physique that counts. Based on my own experience, there was no question of dwelling solely on appearance. I said yes with great conviction and hope.
Why didn't your story work?
Even today, it's hard to find the words, there are things that cannot be explained in a relationship. It's a question of feeling, things that are in the realm of feeling. I had a very good relationship with Benjamin but only of a friendly nature. There is nothing more than friendship between us.
"Benjamin didn't fall in love with me"
Maurine, candidate of season 7 of "Married at First Sight"
Why not go as far as the balance sheet in front of the experts in Paris?
We could have gone but that would have delayed the deadline. I needed to be honest with Benjamin. He is someone I respect enormously and appreciate very much, him and his family. I did not see myself continuing any more especially since he had confided to me that he had no love feeling for me either. He didn't have a crush.
How have you been feeling since the end of filming?
I feel fully happy, I pushed my limits by marrying a stranger. I am someone in control and I managed to let go. I come out of this experience grown. Even though we didn't fall in love with each other, Benjamin can count on me as I can count on him.
You are a Spanish teacher, have your students followed your career in "Married at First Sight"?
Oh, yes! (Laughter.) They spotted me in the trailers for the show and came to tell me about it. I agreed to take some time with them to discuss it and answer their questions, which were totally legitimate. Everything was very well understood and accepted, my classes are always going very well and I am delighted. I really have golden students.
