‘Married at First Sight’: Zach Justice Refuses to Move In With Mindy Shiben
Fans of Lifetime’s Married at First Sight were immediately suspicious of Zach Justice’s relationship with Mindy Shiben.
Mindy, a 34-year-old figure skating coach, said she was finally ready for commitment after years of searching the right partner. A down-to-earth, family-oriented single woman, she revealed that she had experienced a tragic miscarriage just a year beforehand, as well as suffering through the unexpected death of her younger sister.
Many fans were worried that Zach, a 32-year-old personal trainer and fitness model, didn’t seem emotionally equipped to handle Mindy’s past trauma. As early as their honeymoon, Zach also admitted he wasn’t physically attracted to Mindy and didn’t feel any chemistry with her.
On the Feb. 12 episode of Married at First Sight, “New Wife, New Life,” Zach and Mindy’s troubles worsened. He refused to move in with his new wife, while Mindy held out hope that her husband would come around.
Mindy and Zach went their ‘separate ways’ at the airport after their honeymoon
While the other Married at First Sight Season 10 couples (except for Brandon Reid and Taylor Dunklin) moved in together right after their honeymoon in Panama, Zach told his wife at the airport that he would be living solo.
“Zach told me that he wasn’t ready to move in,” Mindy told Lifetime producers sadly. “So we just go our separate ways.”
Mindy explained that Zach’s rejection of her was all the more painful because her family, especially her father, hadn’t supported her decision to appear on Married at First Sight. Most of her family members didn’t even attend her wedding, which made her feel lonely and alienated on the day of the ceremony.
Still, Mindy wasn’t ready to give up on her marriage. “There are so many risks in doing this,” she said, “especially after my family refused to be part of my wedding. And I’m being 100 percent open to this process and letting the risks just be buried underneath my hope and optimism.”
The ‘Married at First Sight’ bride moved into their apartment anyway
The figure skating coach said that she was choosing to remain open to romantic possibilities with Zach. Even though he told her he wasn’t attracted to her and had barely been affectionate with her during their honeymoon, Mindy wanted to stay optimistic and give her marriage her all.
“I got married at first sight because I really wanted to find the love of my life, the person I can call my best friend and my husband,” Mindy told Lifetime producers. “And if you’re ready to be married at first sight, I feel like you should really be in a place in your life when you’re ready to give so much to somebody else. And that’s where I am.”
That’s why Mindy chose to move into and prep her new apartment, where Zach was meant to be living with her. “I’m following through on my commitments,” the Married at First Sight star declared, whether or not Zach reciprocated.
“I’m hoping that Zach eventually will decide to move in and make this work,” she confessed, “but only time will tell.”
Zach told producers he was just trying to do what was ‘right’ and ‘honest’
Back at his bachelor pad, Zach told Lifetime producers that the stress of his honeymoon with Mindy had led him to decide to live alone.
“There’s a reset button that needs to be hit here,” he argued, adding: “Taking it from a different vantage point is the goal here.”
The Married at First Sight star explained that he’d tried to “go through the motions” and compromise in a recent relationship, which had left him feeling deflated and frustrated. Zach wasn’t willing to do that again, even for his wife. “I don’t want to compromise…and just try to put on a show,” Zach said.
The personal trainer claimed he felt sure about his decision not to move in with Mindy yet, sharing that he was doing what felt “right” and “honest” for him.
