Reality television star Awhina Rutene has delivered a raw and candid assessment of her life in the public eye, confessing that the much-glamorised world of influencing has come at a significant personal cost.
The Emotional Toll of a Public Life
The 31-year-old, who found fame on the 2025 season of Married At First Sight UK, took to her Instagram Story on Thursday to share a vulnerable message with her followers. Awhina described 2025 as "one of the hardest years of my life," stating she felt she had lost a great deal. The former aged care worker revealed she never actively sought a career as a content creator, harbouring more traditional aspirations instead.
"I wanted a big family, a life partner and real roots. This isn't the life I planned," she wrote. The mother went on to explain the profound sense of isolation she has experienced, noting the erosion of long-standing friendships and the intensified challenges of being a single parent this year. In a gesture of solidarity with others who may be struggling, she added, "If you're feeling like 2025 can be over now too... you're not alone."
Clapping Back at Critics and Defending Her Choices
Following her initial post, Awhina felt compelled to respond to direct criticism from some followers. She shared screenshots of direct messages where people suggested she simply stop being an influencer if she was unhappy. Doubling down on her feelings, she hit back, clarifying her core motivation.
"I have been open about this year being hard. I didn't plan on being an influencer. My goal has always been to be a good mum and partner," Awhina asserted. She critiqued modern values, writing, "Today we look up to people based on their followers. I have only ever wanted to have a happy family."
However, she also presented a pragmatic defence of her career choice. Influencing provides financial stability and flexibility that her previous job in community aged care did not, allowing her son to participate in after-school activities and avoid extended care. "It pays more than community aged care and that's the reality of today's economy," she explained, framing her earlier vulnerability as part of a wider conversation about universal struggle.
A Troubled MAFS Legacy and Unwanted Contact
Awhina's difficult year follows her tumultuous experience on Married At First Sight, where she was paired with groom Adrian Araouzou. The match was not a success. In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail last April, Awhina did not mince words about her discomfort, calling his behaviour both before and during the show "questionable" and "poor."
She further disclosed that cutting ties with Adrian after the experiment ended proved challenging, as he repeatedly attempted to contact her across various social media platforms. "I blocked him, not the other way around... Then he added me on Snapchat and I blocked him! Then he added me on TikTok," she revealed, expressing relief at having now "closed all that." Awhina also suggested production failed by pairing her with an ill-suited partner and that she felt pressure to remain on the programme despite wanting to leave.
Her heartfelt posts have sparked a conversation about the unseen pressures of building a life online, contrasting the curated perception of success with the personal sacrifices often required to maintain it.
