Married At First Sight’s Jamie Marinos breaks her silence in emotional final interview after heartbreaking split from Dave Hand: ‘I had to choose myself’

She was the vivacious bride who captured viewers hearts with her sass, honesty and radiant smile on this year’s explosive season of Married At First Sight.

And now, Jamie Marinos has laid bare the pain behind why she ultimately walked away from her tumultuous relationship with Dave Hand – and how she’s now ready to step into her power.

Speaking just hours after the nail-biting reunion aired, the 28-year-old marketing manager didn’t hold back in an emotional final interview with Daily Mail Australia.

‘I’m glad it’s over,’ Jamie admitted. 

‘I’m just ready to move on to the next chapter. And I thought last night’s episode was a really good representation of what happened.’

Fans will recall the harrowing moment Jamie broke down in tears and walked away from the dinner table – a raw scene that left viewers in shock.

Jamie Marinos has laid bare the pain behind why she ultimately walked away from her tumultuous relationship with Dave Hand – and how she’s now ready to step into her power

Speaking just hours after the nail-biting reunion aired, the 28-year-old marketing manager didn’t hold back in an emotional final interview with Daily Mail Australia

But Jamie says what followed off-camera was one of the most beautiful and unexpected moments of the season. 

‘It was heartbreaking to watch myself leave like that,’ she confessed.

‘But then almost every woman in the room followed me. We sat outside and had this phenomenal conversation. It reminded us we all came into this for genuine reasons and even if it didn’t work out, we were all there for love.’

‘You can’t glorify bare minimum behaviour’

Jamie became a fan-favourite for calling out bad behaviour – and she isn’t backing down.

‘We all learned the lesson of “enough is enough”,’ she declared.

‘You can’t glorify bare minimum behaviour. You can’t say yes to subpar treatment. We all deserved better – and I think a lot of us were settling.’

When asked whether Dave truly respected her emotions, Jamie revealed a complex dynamic.

‘I do think he respected my emotions,’ she said. 

‘But I don’t think he liked being the bad guy. He thought it was easier to keep me sweet – but when you’re not honest, you actually end up becoming the worst guy.’

Jamie became a fan-favourite for calling out bad behaviour – and she isn’t backing down. You can’t glorify bare minimum behaviour,’ she declared

She also opened up about the devastating toll the relationship took on her health and wellbeing.

‘After feedback week, I never felt like I got the relationship back. My skin broke out, my hair was falling out. I was sick during final vows. It was like the universe was screaming at me – this is not it,’ she explained.

‘I needed to choose myself’

The cracks became impossible to ignore after filming wrapped.

‘We had time apart because we were both sick, but it fizzled,’ she revealed.

‘I didn’t feel like he missed me or that his feelings were growing. Eventually, we went to dinner and I said, “I don’t see the point in being together.” I had to choose myself.’

Jamie said Dave didn’t fight for her – something that solidified her decision.

‘I never felt like he had that deep desire to be with me,’ she said. 

‘If someone puts a breakup in front of you and you’re calm and agreeable, then you didn’t want to be there.’

The cracks became impossible to ignore after filming wrapped. ‘We had time apart because we were both sick, but it fizzled,’ she revealed

‘Dave had access to me even when he hurt me the most’

While Dave painted a picture of friendship at the reunion, Jamie claims his actions didn’t match his words.

‘After the reunion, he went silent,’ she said. 

‘I kept calling him, and eventually I asked, “Did you just use me to keep things sweet through reunion?” He apologised – but I felt like I was always doing the work.’

‘There was a lack of empathy, a lack of accountability. I feel like Dave always had access to me, even when he hurt me the most. And that’s just not fair anymore.’

Asked what she’d say to Dave now, Jamie didn’t mince words.

‘I don’t have anything to say to him. Everything I say doesn’t resonate. It’s a waste of words and energy. I don’t want to waste more time proving my worth to someone who doesn’t deserve it,’ she explained.

Despite the heartbreak, Jamie says she’s walking away from MAFS with so much more than she expected.

‘I honestly thought I’d walk out with a partner. That would’ve been amazing. But instead, I got something better – lifelong friendships,’ she said.

She gushed about her closest castmates, including Awhina, whom she called her ‘best friend’.

‘We always say we’d do it all again just to meet each other again. And then there’s Beth, Jeff, Tony, Eliot… I met some incredible people.’

While Dave painted a picture of friendship at the reunion, Jamie claims his actions didn’t match his words

Her surprising friendship with Eliot Donovan

One of Jamie’s most unexpected post-show friendships is with controversial groom Eliot Donovan.

‘People didn’t realise, but I was always friendly with Eliot,’ Jamie said.

‘At the dinner party, I was one of the few who actually went over and spoke to him. Then at retreat, he gave me a book to read – I still have it!

‘We’ve got a very similar sense of humour. I’ve seen him since reunion, and we had a lot of fun.’

Jamie also addressed speculation about a feud with bride Carina Mirabile.

‘There’s no feud,’ she clarified. 

‘We’re grown-ups. We’re amicable. But she’s not a friend – more like a work colleague. I wish her the best.’

And as for that shock engagement between Jacqui and Clint?

‘It was the most shocking thing to happen – but also not!’ she laughed. 

‘It’s just so fitting for Jacqui. I hope they’re happy.’

One of Jamie’s most unexpected post-show friendships is with controversial groom Eliot Donovan. (Eliot pictured alongside Jamie, Awhina Rutene and Beth Kelly)

Looking ahead, Jamie is dreaming big.

‘I want to change the world,’ she beamed. 

‘I’m excited to get my social media back and start building my community. I want to empower women, make them feel seen and heard.’

She even teased a possible future in the spotlight.

‘Maybe I’ll be hosting something – I’ll take over Love Island, who knows! I’d do another reality show, but not a dating one. The men who go on those shows? Yikes. But… I could be The Bachelorette,’ she joked.

‘I love the attention – I just don’t love the men!’

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