Melinda And Layton From ‘MAFS’ Share Their Biggest Relationship Struggle

Melinda Willis and Layton Mills were the surprise Married at First Sight success that nobody saw coming. During the first episode, Melinda was portrayed as a reluctant bride and seemed unsure about her match. 

But, over the next few episodes, we saw their relationship bloom. Of course, there were some rocky patches, and the couple butted heads on quite a few occasions (remember the retreat?).  In the end, the CEO power couple was one of only two couples to make it to the end, deciding to try their luck in the real world. 

So, what’s happened to the couple since the show wrapped up? Has Layton said the big L-word yet, and are the long-distance lovers planning to get serious?

With all these burning questions, we decided to talk directly to Melinda Willis and Layton Mills, to bring you all the juicy deets. 

On Melinda and Layton’s long-distance struggle: 

In classic Melinda and Layton style, the pair admit they’re still as fiery as ever. And, with Melinda up in Brisbane, and Layton in Sydney, the distance is proving to be quite tough. Tbf, long-distance is hard for any couple, so the fact they’re still together is nothing short of a miracle.

“A lot of people [told] me, long-distance works, you can make it work, you’re gonna miss each other more,” Melinda tells us. “But for a relationship like mine and Layton’s, where we are really trying hard to figure each other out…the long-distance, it’s very bad.”

Layton explains that due to their stubborn and headstrong natures, it’s harder for them to get over arguments when they’re in different places. “It’s much easier to embrace, get over it quickly, when you’re there together. Navigating [long-distance], I think, [has] probably been our biggest challenge,” he says. 

But there’s good news for all you Melinda and Layton stans, the couple has committed to moving closer together, and it could be happening pretty soon.

“I’ve been focusing on wrapping up my work obligations in Sydney for [about] two months, and I’m gonna be making a move up north,” Layton spills. He’ll be about three hours south from where Melinda is currently living, and says they’re taking “baby steps”. 

On why watching MAFS wasn’t good for Melinda and Layton:

The pair tells Punkee that they only watched two episodes of MAFS together: their wedding episode, and their emotional Final Vows. And according to Melinda, it was actually harder to watch MAFS back than it was to film. 

“When we were rewatching it, [our relationship wasn’t] good. We were reliving it,” she explains. “It heightened [the situation], and you’re seeing what the other one said to camera in the moment… and then we’re annoyed [at] each other and not talking. It was harder than doing the experiment.”

Layton agrees, saying that their reactions would “mirror” what was happening on TV, and the distance didn’t help the situation.

“We don’t live in the same state, so we’re not there to just hug it out,” Melinda adds. “Retreat and [the] couple swap [were] not good for us.”

On the surprising reality show Melinda wants to be on:

Our boss babe Melinda was obviously made for TV, with her outspoken personality and sense of humour creating some incred MAFS moments, but would she thrive on Survivor? Melinda and Layton have different views on this, but tbh, I’d love to see Melinda running a tribe. 

“Even if we weren’t together I wouldn’t do another relationship show, for me it was quite tolling… because I’m like zero or 100,” Melinda says. “I’d do another reality show but it would be something like Survivor [or] Big Brother… just give me anything where it’s like, I can compete and win.”

Layton is done with reality TV altogether, but does chime in with his opinion about Melinda’s potential Survivor casting. “She’d be horrendous on Survivor,” he jokes, before saying that she should go on The Apprentice instead. 

On if Layton has finally said the big L-word:

When Punkee asked the couple who said the L-word first, there was a slight pause. At Final Vows, Layton said he was “falling in love” with Melinda, but… has he actually said, “I love you” yet? Oop, fast forward 10 months, and Melinda has still yet to hear Layton’s grand declaration of love. Instead, he’s adamant that he shows her his love in “different ways”, and says he “has love for her”. 

“Who said ‘I love you first’, and only? That would be moi, because I’ve never heard it from Layton,” Melinda jokes. “He can’t say I love you. He hasn’t and he just can’t do it.” 

She admits that he does make her “feel loved” and “cared for”, and it’s probs gonna make it more meaningful when he finally does say those three little words. They’re obviously meant for each other, so it’s surely going to happen soon… right?!

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Image credits: Channel 9, MAFS, Instagram/@melindarichelle, @laymills