We first watched Davina Rankin walk down the aisle on Married At First Sight back in 2018, when she married (kind of) co-star Ryan Gallagher.
That romance didn’t work out, but the young beauty got another shot of love.
However, in 2021 Davina was engaged to partner Jaxon Manuel and said “I do” for real in April 2022. Only a year later in May 2023, Davina took to Instagram to reveal the pair had split.
Davina confirmed the split on Instagram stories.
(Image: Instagram)The post read: “Relationships are hard. Given the recent speculation, I feel like I need to confirm that Jax and I have separated.”
“I will at some point discuss this further, but my current focus is learning to navigate my new normal while providing a seamless and loving transition into co-parenting for our daughter.”
Rumours spread about the couple calling it quits after Davina stopped sharing images of Jax in August 2022, and a cryptic statement a few months later in December only inspired more suspicions.
“2022 has been the biggest year of spiritual and mental growth for me and for the first time in my life I can finally hear the whispers of my heart,” she wrote on Instagram.
“I’m in touch with my institution and I’ve stopped people pleasing and I’m tackling my fear of judgement head on. This year I grew into something I could have never imagined… MYSELF.”
Davina Rankin and Jaxon Manuel met at a club years before they became romantically involved.
(Image: Instagram)As fans, including ourselves, are heartbroken by the news we take a look back at their relationship from the beginning.
It all started with a chance meeting at a Brisbane nightclub around 2011, according to Jaxon.
“It was probably three o’clock in the morning on a dance floor, probably a bit of a kiss, a pash and dash, and that was it,” he admitted to A Current Affair in 2019.
“And then I don’t know, through mutual friends we rekindled on and off and then we well and truly hit it off pretty much after MAFS aired.”
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Yep, the couple met years before Davina’s stint on MAFS, which saw her portrayed as the “villain” at the centre of a cheating scandal on the show.
Despite being married to on-screen ‘husband’ Ryan, Davina hit it off with fellow MAFS star Dean Wells, who was ‘married’ to Tracey Jewel.
Dean and Davina shared a spark and agreed to ditch their original partners and pursue a romance with each other on the show, only for Dean to back out at the last moment.
Drama ensued (of course) when Dean announced the “affair” to the rest of the couples and the public turned on Davina, forcing her to abandon social media due to the backlash.
In her recent appearance on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! Davina revealed: “I think a lot of people remember me as the villain… I was the most trolled person in Australia.”
Fortunately, Jaxon confirmed in 2019 that he didn’t tune in to Davina’s season of MAFS, so he had no reservations about the romance that blossomed between them in early 2018.
They had reconnected through friends after the show aired and started dating, things quickly becoming serious between the couple.
Davina debuted their relationship on Instagram in May 2018 and the pair moved in together soon after. Then, in 2019 she and Jaxon had bought a house together in Queensland.
That same year the couple announced their biggest news yet: they were expecting a baby!
Daughter Mila-Mae Manuel arrived on November 11, 2019 and rounded out the little family of three.
“I never knew a love like this existed, @jaxonmanuel and I are just absolutely smitten with you. Words can’t even describe it!” Davina penned at the time.
Daughter Mila-Mae Manuel arrived on November 11, 2019.
(Image: Instagram)The new mum-of-one took to parenthood with flying colours, as did Jaxon, and in the two years since Mila-Mae’s arrival they’ve shared plenty of updates on their little girl.
From cute newborn snaps, to honest mum moments and adorable family photos, the proud parents have shared their happiest moments on social media.
And in March 2021 Jaxon decided to make it official and put a ring on Davina’s finger.
He popped the question on her 30th birthday, Davina sharing photos of the incredible diamond he chose for her on Instagram.
Look at that ring!
(Image: Instagram)“I am just absolutely blown away at the amount of effort my amazing FIANCÉ (wow so weird actually saying that now 😍💍) has put into this incredible weekend,” she wrote.
“Honestly still pinching myself, and feeling so incredibly grateful to know I get to do the rest of my life with my best friend in the world. Mr & Mrs Manuel here we come baby 💍👰🏽🤵🏽♂️❤️”
The couple officially tied the knot in April 2022 in Tweed Heads where at-the-time two year old daughter Mila-Mae was a flower girl! She donned an adorable tulle dress and baby’s breath headpiece.
As the family go through divorce and deal with their new realities, we wish them the best.
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