You wouldn’t guess from watching the bubbly single mum on the 2023 season of Married At First Sight that she had a difficult past.
But American-born Alyssa was once apart of the strict religious Mormon chapter, breaking free of the church in her mid-teens after her father made a freeing admission.
Speaking to New Idea, Alyssa was careful with her words when speaking about her religious upbringing, insisting that she had a “great childhood in a big, loving family”.
The mother-of-one had a very strict and upbringing.
(Image: Nine)The 35-year-old told New Idea that she was unable to express any emotion other than happiness during her formative years as a Mormon, “If we were angry or upset we got sent straight to our room. We’re told to turn off any emotion that’s not happy or joyful.”
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The big step to leave the Mormon religion came when her father made an announcement that turned the church against the family.
“He came out when I was 16. Soon after that, I left the church because homosexuality is frowned upon,” she told New Idea.
“I wasn’t going to align myself with a religion that wouldn’t accept my dad for who he is.”
Alyssa has been matched up with ‘Prince Charming’ Duncan in the 2023 season of Married At First Sight Australia.
(Images: Nine)Now her faith isn’t her main focus, it’s her 2½ year old son who Alyssa prioritises over all else.
This has meant that her love life is lacking, as she’s been single for 12 months since her seven-year marriage ended.
Thankfully, Alyssa has been paired with one of the better ‘grooms’ in this season of Married at First Sight; the tall, dark and handsome Duncan.
Who is Duncan, Alyssa’s match on MAFS?
Who is the man regarded as ‘Prince Charming’?
(Image: Nine)Whilst this Sydney gentleman doesn’t have trouble meeting women, Duncan finds himself falling quickly into a relationship, only to realise after months have passed that they aren’t compatible, hence his entry into the experiment that is MAFS.
In a relationship Duncan is “the best friend and the lover”, and he’s searching for a woman with class, emotional intelligence and confidence – which Alyssa has in spades.
Duncan’s in it for the long term, as with parents have been married for 44 years, it’s the kind of relationship he aspires to.
Thankfully that long-lasting love is looking quite possible, as so far in the third week of the experiment Alyssa and Duncan’s relationship seems like something out of a fairytale.
Alyssa even told MAFS producers, “Duncan is absolutely my real life Prince Charming,” after she met him.
High hope for these two to be one of the very few successful, long-lasting couples that MAFS produces.
