Married At First Sight’s Zoe Hendrix has taken to social media to share an emotional post with her followers, revealing that she was raped at five.
“I was 5 years old when I was raped,” the mum-of-one began.
“For too long this attack has cast a dark and shameful cover over me. I have blamed myself and for decades I have fought an internal battle of shame and guilt. I have tried to ignore the anxiety and depression that comes with trauma. I have been lost, scared and confused. I have battled my body and my mind. It has been a f**king life sentence. But no more.”
She added: “I have been silent in the belief that maybe by burying this disgusting secret I would escape it. But it has chased me and I know that only light can drive it out.”
Stories shockingly similar to Zoe’s have cropped up across the Internet as part of the “#MeToo” campaign that actress Alyssa Milano encouraged sexual assault survivors to take part in. It’s a movement that was largely inspired by the allegations brought against Harvey Weinstein, and something which the former reality tv star says gave her “strength.”
“Reading the outpouring of response to this #MeToo movement (started on Twitter to highlight the epidemic of sexual harassment and assault) has been f**king overwhelming in the last few days,” she wrote.
“It gave me strength. It also scared the sh*t out of me. The bravery of these women. And I couldn’t not add my voice to the chorus — knowing it may help someone else raise theirs. To all the others who have experienced harassment, abuse or assault, please know that you are not alone, there are others that will stand with you. That will believe you.”
“There is help and there is hope. Your life will not be defined by the heinous actions of another. Your life matters, your voice will be heard, you are not to blame and you are not alone.”
Zoe and her hubby Alex Garner were the ultimate success story from their season of the Nine Network’s hit reality TV show, Married at First Sight. They welcomed a daughter, Harper Rose, in November last year and haven’t stopped smiling since.
Speaking to A Current Affair, the couple revealed that despite the sleepless nights they are seriously smitten with the little daughter.
“No words can really describe it. Everyone tells you it’s the most amazing thing. But I can’t literally put into words when your child is there and the three of us are finally together and you’ve gone through such a journey,” an overjoyed Alex said.
Zoe added: “I think it would be a crazy dream to think you can go on a reality TV show and actually meet someone and fall in love and have a family. If you told me that before, I would have said you’re crazy!”
