EXCLUSIVE: Awhina opens up about her ‘chaotic’ relationship with Adrian on the show.

MAFS’ Awhina Rutene crying.
MAFS’ Awhina Rutene has opened up about how her relationship with Adrian Araouzou affected her both emotionally and physically. Photo: Channel Nine

Awhina Rutene is no longer holding back when it comes to talking about her experience on Married At First Sight. The 30-year-old mum arguably had one of the most tumultuous relationships on the show with Adrian Araouzou, with Sunday night’s episode serving as a clear example of their chaotic dynamic.

The couple decided to go their separate ways at Final Vows, however, they quickly changed their minds and agreed to continue seeing each other. It’s since been confirmed that they are no longer together, with Awhina telling Yahoo Lifestyle that she was not her “authentic” self at the end of the experiment.

“I entered Final Vows with a lot of fear, going, ‘Am I going to be a bad person? Maybe if we just work out, they’re not going to show all the bad moments’. I was constantly instilled with fear,” she reveals.

Not only did Awhina’s MAFS experience take such an emotional toll on her that she was crying almost every day, but it also had extreme physical effects.

“I gained 8kg in the experiment, so none of my clothes fit,” she details. “I actually gained 6kg in the first six weeks, it was like a kilo a week in the first six weeks.

“When we went to the publicity day [six weeks in], I didn’t fit into my wedding dress – and my wedding dress was loose on my wedding day. So they had to pin it up at the back.”

Awhina explains that because of the amount of stress the show caused her during filming, her cortisol levels were extremely high, causing massive fluid retention which impacted her weight.

“I’d been on ‘fight or flight’ [mode] almost every day. It was a chaotic arguing situation,” she shares. “My face had blown up drastically, I can’t even tell you. When I got home, my son said to me, ‘You look different, mummy’. That’s how much inflammation there was.”

MAFS’ Awhina Rutene on her wedding day / Awhina at the show's publicity day six weeks later.
Awhina says she gained six kilograms in the six weeks between her wedding day and the show’s publicity day. Photos: Channel Nine

Speaking about her journey with Adrian on the show, Awhina says the reason why they appeared so strong in the second half of the experiment was because she “brushed everything under the rug”.

“I stopped addressing my concerns. I was scared to have these conflicts on camera, and I was scared to have them in a group dynamic,” she reveals.

“It took such a physical toll on me and an emotional toll; it wasn’t worth being there. Whereas when we lived in those lighter moments, it was easier for me. I chose the easier route, because when I chose the hard route, he chose to stay anyway.”

Awhina adds that the reason why she only ever spoke about her chemistry and “physical connection” on the show is because that was the only positive side she saw in their relationship.

“I like to compliment and validate my partner, and when there is nothing else I can talk about, I’m only going to talk about what I can,” she continues. “There is a physical connection, there is some chemistry there. But do I feel like he’s showing up for me every day? No. I’m only going to talk about the positives that you can see, and that was it.”