Married at First Sight USA bride Jalyn Garcia has admitted she knew her television husband Josh Black years before they were paired up as strangers on the E4 show. The estate agent tied the knot with Josh during the opening episode of the latest series, broadcast on May 18. Participants are selected from over 100,000 hopefuls and supposedly matched with a complete stranger based on compatibility. However, the Texas couple had apparently crossed paths nearly a decade earlier.
Jalyn's Revelation
Speaking on the What's the Reality Podcast after the show aired in America, Jalyn disclosed: "I walked down the aisle, and I knew him immediately when I saw him." She recalled first meeting Josh roughly eight years prior at their neighbourhood gym. "He came up to me and just introduced himself, and I said 'Hi,'" she remembered. Jalyn added: "I would see him here and there, and he would say, 'Hi.' I think he worked at a bar once, and I walked in and he took me to grab a drink and I said, 'OK, thank you' and left." The pair exchanged contact information but never dated, as Jalyn was "in a relationship for a while." Despite their shared past, Jalyn insisted she knew virtually nothing about her television spouse beyond his gym habits.
Josh's Recognition
During filming, both kept quiet about their prior acquaintance, but Jalyn confirmed Josh also recognised her on their wedding day. While the outcome of their marital journey remains undisclosed, they appeared well-matched in the premiere episode. Jalyn told the experts she seeks a "fairy-tale ending" and a partner to build a family with, while Josh expressed his desire for a "happy ever after."
Upcoming Episodes
Another four participants will exchange vows in tonight's episode (May 19), titled Don't Mess with My Texas Wedding. In a surprising twist, this series features Jalyn's mother, Belynda Chapa, making history as the first mother-daughter duo to marry during the same season. Married at First Sight USA continues on E4 tonight at 8pm.
