‘Married at First Sight’ Chicago: Emen and Ikechi Open Up About Searching for Love on Reality TV [Interview]
Emen and Ikechi may not have known each other before they said “I do” in season 18 of Married at First Sight. But they already have one big thing in common. Both were willing to hand their romantic future over to the show’s trio of expert matchmakers in the hope of finding love.
The ‘traditional methods’ of finding love hadn’t worked for Ikechi
At 41, Ikechi had grown weary of dating and was ready to try a different approach to meeting his future wife.
“I decided to try my hand at finding love outside of my own means,” he told Showbiz Cheat Sheet. “The traditional methods haven’t worked. I wanted to give it over to experts.”
Unlike some of his fellow MAFS Chicago cast members, Ikechi wasn’t going into the experience totally blind. The college counselor had actually tried out during the show’s Houston season, which aired in 2021. While the experts didn’t find him a match in Texas, he didn’t give up hope. After he relocated to Chicago, Ikechi decided to give the show another shot, and the experts matched him with Emen, a 34-year-old nurse practitioner.
Emen was ready for romance after reaching her career goals
Like Ikechii, Emen decided to turn to professional matchmakers for help finding her partner. For her, it was the logical next step based on where she was in her life.
“I felt I had gotten my career off the ground and was looking to settle down and start a family, which is what I felt was missing,” she said.
Emen knew that Married at First Sight didn’t guarantee a happily ever after. In the last five seasons of the show, only one couple – Nashville’s Chris and Nicole – has stayed together after Decision Day. But Emen drew hope from those marriages that did work out.
“I had seen two seasons of MAFS prior to deciding to participate,” she said. “Not all of the couples stay together but the ones who were determined did and managed to build beautiful lives together.”
How Emen and Ikechi’s friends and family reacted to their decision to go on ‘Married at First Sight’
Once Emen and Ikechi were matched, it was time to break the news to their friends and family that they were getting hitched in just two weeks.
“My friends were excited,” Ikechi said of his friends’ reaction to his big news. “They and their wives were all fans of the show and wanted the best for me. They were in support of me finding my wife.”
Emen’s friends were equally thrilled for her, though her mom was a bit more skeptical.
“My friends were not surprised that I would go on MAFS to find my partner, so they were very supportive of my decision,” she shared. “[M]y family is super protective over me, so there was some reluctance from my mom with me joining the show. As the uncertainty of the process made her cautious.”
Emen had her own uncertainty heading into her wedding day, as she feared she “wouldn’t have a genuine connection with my spouse.” But she was hopeful that she’d end the day with “the partner I’ve always wanted and someone to spend the rest of my life with.”
Ikechi’s concerns centered on the risks of “marrying a complete stranger.” But at the same time, he decided to trust the process and hope “that the experts have matched me with someone I can see a lasting relationship,” he said.
Follow Emen and Ikechi’s journey on Married at First Sight Season 18, airing Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Lifetime.
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