’MAFS’ Chicago: Camille and Thomas On Why They Agreed to Get Married at First Sight [Exclusive]
What inspires a person to marry a total stranger? For Married at First Sight Season 18 cast member Camille, 32, it was exasperation with the modern dating scene that drove her to embrace a different way of finding love.
“I was really feeling fed up with the dating world and trying to sift through guys’ true intentions when it came to relationships,” she told Showbiz Cheat Sheet in an email. “I was looking to find someone who was ready to match my energy when it came to planning for the long term, and I was hoping that by doing something crazy like marrying a stranger, that person would theoretically HAVE to be prepared to commit to the long term.”
Camille was a fan of ‘Married at First Sight’
Camille, who works as a start-up production manager, didn’t go into the MAFS casting process totally blind. She was already a fan of Lifetime reality series when producers began looking for Chicago singles for season 18.
“I was familiar with the show, having watched the last 5-6 seasons,” she said. “I started watching the show with the New Orleans season and was instantly hooked. I loved the concept!”
The same can’t be said for Camille’s match, Thomas. The 42-year-old banker knew nothing about the show until his brother told him about it. But once he learned about Married at First Sight, he was all in.
“I felt like it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to challenge myself to step outside my comfort zone and place my trust in the experts,” he said.
Camille and Thomas say their families supported their unusual approach to finding a spouse
Married at First Sight viewers know that some cast member’s families aren’t always 100% sold on the idea of their loved one marrying someone they’ve never met. But getting buy-in from those closest to them wasn’t a huge issue for Camille and Thomas.
Like Thomas, Camille learned the show was casting in the Windy City thanks to a sibling. Her sister “saw the casting announcement for Chicago and sent it to me right away to apply,” she said. Her friends were also enthusiastic about the idea. And while her parents were “shocked” when she told them of her decision, they soon came around and “fully supported” her.
“I was so lucky to have the circle around me that I did/do,” she said. “I think they all know that I’m typically a level-headed person who thinks things through before I do them, so they trusted ME and the faith I had to take this leap.”
Thomas shared his decision to do the show with “a small circle” of his “closest friends and family.”
“To my surprise everyone was excited and very supportive of my decision,” he said.
Thomas worried he might get matched with an ex
Getting married to a stranger naturally comes with some anxiety. Thomas worried he might see a familiar face when he walked down the aisle. (It’s happened before – in season 11, Amelia and Bennett had met before their wedding.)
“My biggest fear was that I would be matched with an ex or with one of my bad first dates,” he shared. His biggest hope? “That I would find a soul mate and make a real connection,” he said.
Camille was concerned that her expert-selected spouse might not be as committed to the Married at First Sight process as she was.
“I feared that I’d be matched with someone who lacked perseverance and dedication to making a long-term relationship work, as I’d encountered that time and time again when dating,” she shared. But she had her fingers crossed that her husband would be “ready to do the work, no matter how uncomfortable it could get at times.”
“I was hoping that we would truly hit things off, continue to choose each other every day, and ultimately live happily ever after!’ she said.
Will Thomas and Camille’s hopes for a happy marriage come true? Follow their journey on Married at First Sight Season 18, which premieres Tuesday, Oct. 15 at 8 p.m. ET on Lifetime.
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