The latest season of Married at First Sight UK is keeping up its streak of LGBTQ+ representation with its first-ever trans bride, Ella. Ahead of the season premiere, Ella shared her high hopes for romance after more than a few disappointing experiences dating as a trans woman. Even as some men have treated her as a “fetish,” she’s more ready than ever to embrace love.
As its name suggests, Married at First Sight is a reality show where relationship experts pair up complete strangers to get married on the spot. After their honeymoon, the couples spend the entire season living together as a married couple, and by the end, they are given the option to stay married or get divorced.
While most couples have been cis and straight, the UK version is paving the way for LGBTQ+ romance in the series. Shortly after introducing their first gay pairing in 2021, the next season followed up with two gay couples out of the three. Now the series will make history by featuring its first-ever trans bride.
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Ella Morgan Clark is a 29-year-old clinic consultant living with her grandma, with whom she is incredibly close. Producers have described her as a “blonde bombshell with a sense of humor and a heart of gold,” and despite negative experiences in the dating pool, she remains a classic romantic.
“Growing up, my dream was to be a princess, a wife, a mother,” she said in an interview with OK! Magazine. “Back then, I didn’t think that was possible – that I could transition and be who I am.
“Being trans, I found men didn’t want to be with me openly – a lot of guys see us as a fetish, so I never believed I would ever get married. After transitioning and having all my surgeries, I just thought, ‘I do want to get married,’ and that I owed it to six-year-old me to fulfill my dream.”
Looking back on filming the latest season, Ella teased that there will be no shortage of tearjerker moments along the way to fulfilling her dream. “I was very open minded going into the experience, and it was the most amazing thing I’ve ever done,” she said.
“I knew I had thick skin, but I didn’t realize how emotional this would be. I remember saying I would never cry in front of a man and for a lot of the show I cried. Me and Ros were known as the criers.”
The upcoming season will be the longest in Married at First Sight UK history, boasting a 36-episode run. The season premiere will air in the UK on E4 September 18.