Most people tend to struggle with the emotional weight of a single romantic partner.
However one woman has revealed her polyamorous relationships, juggling both a husband and a boyfriend, is far less complicated than meets the eye.
Angel Hellyer, a 32-year-old married woman from Canberra, spoke candidly with Daily Mail Australia about the judgement, love and surprising lack of jealousy she feels living a polyamorous life.
‘It’s not a lesser love between my husband and I. I just get extra love and have an additional relationship,’ Angel explained.
Angel Hellyer (pictured) spoke candidly with Daily Mail Australia about the judgement, love and surprising lack of jealousy she feels living a polyamorous life
‘It’s not a lesser love between my husband and I. I just get extra love and have an additional relationship,’ Angel explained
The 32-year-old public servant (pictured with husband Michael) identifies as polyamorous
‘And it isn’t all about sex either – they are romantic, meaningful relationships.’
The public servant has been with her husband for over 15 years and says they both reached a point where they wanted more – but didn’t want to break up.
Instead the pair decided to embark on a non-monogamous lifestyle – whereby Michael also has a 26-year-old girlfriend, Maddie, who identifies as asexual, and Angel has a second romantic partner in her boyfriend Mike, 27.
Angel told Daily Mail Australia that her lifestyle choice has attracted a great deal of judgement from loved ones and admits she has even lost a close friend because of it.
The general ignorance surrounding polyamorous as a legitimate sexual orientation is what causes many people to confuse extra relationships with adultery or cheating, she said.
The public servant has been with her husband (both pictured) for over 15 years and says they both reached a point where they wanted more – but didn’t want to break up
‘Jealousy isn’t really a problem. There were jealous feelings at first but now we just talk about it if something bothers someone,’ Angel said
‘We are all fully consenting adults but a lot of people have said to me that I mustn’t love my husband and been accused of cheating,’ she said (Angel is pictured here – right – with husband Michael and his girlfriend Maddie)
‘We are all fully consenting adults but a lot of people have said to me that I mustn’t love my husband and been accused of cheating,’ she explained.
The four do not live together and nor do they interchange between partners.
Angel and Michael simply have extra relationships outside of their marital bond.
‘We have set boundaries and communication is key, just as in any other relationship.
The rule is we don’t let one issue bleed into the other relationship,’ Angel said.
‘Jealousy isn’t really a problem. There were jealous feelings at first but now we just talk about it if something bothers someone.’
Angel (pictured) told Daily Mail Australia her relationship with her husband is not negatively affected by her boyfriend
Angel (pictured) has been with her husband for over 15 years and says she wanted to try something new but not break up
Angel is quick to point out that polyamory isn’t simply a ‘phase’, but a sexual orientation she identifies with just as LGBT people do.
She said: ‘Some people treat poly as “until I find the right person”, but I identify as poly. I am poly, just as my name is Angel.’
‘It needs to be accepted just like LGBT people need to be accepted. Telling my friends and family that I am poly was similar to coming out.’
Angel is quick to point out that polyamory isn’t simply a ‘phase’, but a sexual orientation she identifies with just as LGBT people do (Maddie pictured far left, Michael middle and Angel far right)
Angel (pictured left with husband Michael and his girlfriend) says she suffers judgement and misunderstanding over her lifestyle choice
Polyamory can also not just limited to two romantic partners but can be described as a ‘chain’ of loving relationships.
The couple have had multiple additional relationships during the course of their longstanding marriage, with Angel admitting to having around 10 boyfriends and one girlfriend over the years.
‘It can be complicated but I am always open to adding more people to our little family,’ she said.
‘I am still dating online and am very upfront in my profile about my situation,’ she added.
‘I see myself living as polyamorous for the rest of my life.’