Selina Chhaur admits her relationship with MAFS groom Cody Bromley has been “a crazy rollercoaster ride”.
But now the pair’s rocky start has finally given way to a beautiful romance.
“In the early days, it was very much a slow burn,” admits Cody, 31, who tells Woman’s Day the pair’s newfound cosiness “was well-earned”.
“The last week before the couples retreat we had to do a hard reset and it progressed naturally, from my end,” he reveals.
While the personal trainer claims he was always attracted to Selina, but “that sexual desire wasn’t there”, he says it’s now “developed on natural terms”.
Selina, 32, agrees the duo, who hit a major low when she decided to write “leave” a few weeks ago, have managed to turn things around.
“At this stage of the experiment, we’ve put everything to the side and really listened to the experts and embraced the whole experience,” she says.
“We’ve come such a long way – I’m so proud of us. Getting to know each other on a deeper level has been my favourite part.”
Another serious snag the couple are still trying to resolve though is Cody’s controversial confession earlier in the season that his attraction to Selina was affected by her ethnicity.
“Look, I handled it terribly,” Cody admits to Woman’s Day. “Saying ‘I’m not a racist’ was the worst thing to say. It was very much a foot-in-mouth situation.”
And the swim instructor admits he “thought about” asking producers to cut the footage. “If I could go back, I wouldn’t say it.”
“To be honest, I really do feel he judged the book by the cover and all I wanted was for him to just pick up the book and make an effort to get to know me because there’s so many layers,” says Selina.
WATCH: Cody tells Selina he’s not attracted to her. Story continues after video.
She confesses while she feels Cody has now done that, she still worries about her family’s reaction to his comments.
But even at their lowest point, Selina says she never considered following in fellow bride Carolina Santos’ footsteps by seeking out another groom.
“God, no,” she says. “I’ve been cheated on in the past, so I just don’t condone cheating or even glancing at someone else’s partner. That’s just disgusting.”
With homestay week now upon them, Selina and Cody are crossing their fingers it only brings them closer.
“I’m just hoping I can delve more into Cody’s world and just find out more about him,” says Selina.
“We’ve been in a little MAFS bubble, which is amazing, but you see a whole other side to your partner when you see them interact with their friends and family.”
And despite their ups and downs, the hairdresser says she’s feeling positive about their future. “We just have so much in common,” she says.
“It’s so nice being with Cody, I can just be myself.”
Want more on Married At First Sight season nine? Check out the links below:
Is Married At First Sight real or fake? Let’s examine the evidence
Is Married At First Sight legal in Australia? Why the Marriage Act makes things complicated
How much do Married At First Sight contestants get paid in Australia?
The most shocking, hilarious and downright disturbing Married at First Sight bombshells