Married At First Sight bride Alissa Fay has swiftly moved on from her televised heartbreak, embarking on a new relationship with Australian Ninja Warrior star Nathan Ryles. The Adelaide native, aged 33, publicly debuted her romance with Ryles, 32, this week after the pair were photographed sharing affectionate moments at a beach.
A Soulmate Connection
Alissa has described Nathan as her "soulmate" to New Idea magazine, revealing that their "connection is something I've never experienced before." She elaborated, "He was unexpected; we didn't plan for this to happen, you know, it just happened so naturally. I believe that he is my person." The reality star confessed, "I thought that I knew what love was, and I thought that I had felt love before, but this is a whole other feeling."
Nathan reciprocated the sentiment, stating that he and Alissa "bring out the best in each other." He added that he was "oblivious" to her MAFS storyline as he doesn't watch the program. "She's treated me better than I've ever been treated, and I just love her so much," he continued.
Secret Romance Revealed
Alissa disclosed that the couple has been discreetly dating since December, intentionally keeping their relationship under wraps to avoid spoiling the conclusion of her MAFS journey with David Momoh, 31, on the Nine Network series. The pair, who have already professed their love for one another, explained they had been aware of each other for years due to overlapping social circles in Adelaide.
Their romance ignited shortly after Alissa completed filming for Married At First Sight, when they finally met in person during "a wine tour" organized by her gym. This revelation may surprise some followers, as Alissa vehemently denied being in a relationship with Nathan just last week, telling Daily Mail, "What is going on, all this speculation, he is engaged! I follow him and his fiancée Tori on social media. We are friends, Adelaide is a small place."
Dramatic MAFS Finale
This new relationship follows Alissa's humiliating experience during Tuesday night's episode of Married At First Sight, where she was compelled to deliver her final vows to an empty room. Her groom, David Momoh, abruptly departed before she could read her prepared speech, leaving her to process the rejection alone.
Alissa had entered the Final Vows ceremony with quiet confidence, having earlier hinted she intended to walk away and "break his heart." She stated, "Today is going to be tough for David. He missed the mark because he was a 'yes' man. The ball is in my court today, and it breaks my heart knowing I'm going to be breaking his heart at the end of this."
David's Devastating Exit
David preempted her decision, delivering his own vows where he praised their connection but explained his feelings had shifted. "I finally spoke up," he said. "You accused me of blindsiding you and in that moment I realised something important. I wasn't being heard." He cited their conflict after the Grass is Greener challenge as the breaking point, alleging, "You flirted, made inappropriate jokes and spoke poorly about me behind my back. I felt betrayed and disrespected."
David concluded, "With you there was no version of me that could win. I've realised I can't be the man who constantly fights to be heard or constantly fights to prove his worth to someone who is still deciding if I'll be enough. Today I'm not walking away because I've stopped loving you, Alissa. I'm walking away because loving you shouldn't mean losing myself."
As David walked out silently, a stunned Alissa asked, "You're not going to listen to my vows?" She then read her vows to the vacant room, declaring, "David, you are everything I wanted and more. You are strong, you are kind, you are compassionate, you are a leader, but standing here today I can only be honest. I love you, David, for who you are but not for me."
Despite initiating the split, David later admitted to being "heartbroken," saying, "There's been so much pain that I've experienced in the last two weeks. I feel tremendously heartbroken. It felt that I was fighting for a relationship that someone wasn't willing to fight for."
Alissa's swift transition to a new, passionate relationship with Nathan Ryles marks a significant turn following her very public MAFS disappointment, raising questions about the authenticity of reality television narratives and the ethics of concealing personal relationships to preserve broadcast storylines.
