Married At First Sight’s girlfriend, Tayla Winter, went rogue, allowing cameras into her Sydney hotel to film her at her most vulnerable just hours before Monday’s finale.
In an exclusive interview with Daily Mail Australia, the 27-year-old nurse from Hobart opened up about her harrowing experience on the show, being ostracized by her co-stars and the truth about the Cam Woods sexting scandal.
Sitting on her hotel bed with no makeup on, Tayla broke down as she revealed her heartbreak over Sunday dinner.
“I’m putting ice on my face because I’m so swollen from crying all night,” she said through tears.
‘This show, this experiment… I can’t do it. It’s cruel. My mind just doesn’t feel like it’s right after that.
‘I’m not an emotional person. I don’t collapse. What they have done is unreal. I don’t know how they can…
Married At First Sight’s girlfriend, Tayla Winter, defied the producers and allowed cameras at her Sydney hotel to film her at her most venerable ahead of Monday’s reunion.
In an exclusive interview with Daily Mail Australia, the 27-year-old nurse from Hobart talks about her harrowing experience on the show, feeling isolated by her co-stars and the truth about the Cam Woods sexting scandal.
Faced with a potential confrontation in the meeting, Tayla said she’ll apologize, even though she doesn’t know what she’s apologizing for: “Everyone just says ‘say sorry, so it can be swept under the rug.'”
Visibly distraught and struggling with a panic attack, Tayla confided, “I just don’t know what the story they’re after…and if they’re all going to come after me for this stupid thing.” [alleged scandal with Cam].’
Tayla described Cam as a supportive and kind friend during the show, and while “they get along great”, she said that their geographic distance made a romantic relationship nearly impossible.
Sitting on her hotel bed, makeup-free, sobbing her head off hours before the meeting, Tayla revealed her heartbreak over dinner: “I’m putting ice on my face because I’m so swollen from crying all night.”
‘This show, this experiment… I can’t do it. It’s cruel. My mind just doesn’t feel like it’s right after that,” he continued.
On his friendship with Cam:
Talking about her friendship with Cam, Tayla said she had nothing but praise for him.
He’s a really good guy. He has been so kind to me throughout all of this and was a great support system.
She explained that Cam’s encouragement helped her get through the show despite feeling isolated and harassed by other female participants.
Visibly distraught and struggling with a panic attack, Tayla confided, “I just don’t know what the story they’re looking for is.” And if everyone is going to come after me for this stupidity [alleged scandal with co-star Cam Woods]’
Talking about her friendship with Cam, Tayla said she has nothing but praise for him: “He’s a really good guy.”
The special moment with Cam that didn’t air on TV:
Tayla said Cam was one of the few cast members who stood by her after she read a deeply personal letter at a dinner party and it didn’t make it to TV.
“After that big moment at dinner, he was like the one I was watching the whole time. I was shaking, my whole body was shaking, and I just said, ‘I can’t do this, I can’t do this.’ ‘And he said, ‘no, you can,’ Tayla recalled.
“He came over and hugged me and got me my chair and a glass of wine and made sure everyone was quiet. He was pretty amazing, actually.
‘I have so much time for him… I’ve talked to all his friends. They’re all beautiful and they’re cheeky bastards, like they’re all just like him.
But Cam lives a long way from me. I’m on Tassie and he’s on Darwin, so, you know, that makes it pretty impossible for anything. But yeah, I’ll always be Cam’s friend.’
Tayla explained that she and Cam were one of the few cast members who were very supportive of her after reading a deeply personal letter at a dinner party that didn’t make it to TV.
What really happened on that Facetime call:
Addressing the Facetime incident, Tayla explained that Cam’s actions were a joke and she didn’t think it was bad, even though her co-star Lyndall did.
‘Cam was in town and all his friends FaceTimed me, he calls me, he did it at the club for everyone to see, not just me.
And there were so many people there that it was a very brave move. He did not care. But it was funny, I guess he and I have the same sense of humor, just a little goofy and I didn’t think it was bad, but Lyndall definitely did.
‘I don’t think the boys really cared, not at all. I think they also thought it was funny.
Addressing the Facetime incident, Tayla explained that Cam’s actions were a joke and she didn’t think it was bad, even though her co-star Lyndall did.
Tayla talks about the future with Cam:
Tayla remains hopeful for her future despite the challenges of living thousands of miles away.
“When there’s no one and no cameras around, it’ll be so much easier to be ourselves and have fun again and be stupid,” he laughed.
The lovesick MAFS girlfriend gushed about their wild and rowdy personalities: ‘We both get really rowdy. We both know how to party and have fun. So I think we will.
She then revealed her uncertainty about whether they will ever connect, adding: “I’m not sure about that.” But I mean, Cam is a handsome guy. Well, he’s my kind of guy.
Distance can be a challenge for lovebirds, but Tayla still has hope: “I guess we’ve talked about things and the reality is that we live a long way from each other.” I have to take two flights and then drive to the middle of nowhere to see Cam, and I can’t do that.
Tayla acknowledges the long-distance challenges between her and Cam, but remains hopeful for their future.
‘I always say the truth’:
The Hobart-based nurse emphasized her strong moral compass and honesty throughout the show, even as it drew backlash.
She revealed that some contestants would act differently on and off camera, which left her confused and betrayed.
‘At least I can go to bed at night knowing I’m a pretty decent person, even though I probably don’t look like I am.
‘I was very honest with Hugo about where I sat with him romantically and I was absolutely killed for it. But wouldn’t it be worse if I just induced it?’
The Hobart-based nurse emphasized her strong moral compass and honesty throughout the show, even as it drew backlash.
She revealed that some contestants would act differently on and off camera, which left her confused and betrayed.
The hardest thing about going to MAFS:
Tayla said the hardest fight in MAFS was the manipulation and distortion of her words, leaving her feeling unable to trust anyone.
“That constant feeling of not knowing if I can trust someone or say something because it’s going to be manipulated. And that’s what happened to me many times,’ she explained.
‘It was like completely taken out of context or like the rumors started absolutely out of nowhere. And it was hard because I felt like I couldn’t even project what I wanted to say half the time.’
Despite his negative experience, he joked that his dream would be a sponsorship with Blundstone Australia.
In the interview, Tayla also revealed that her TV husband, Hugo Armstrong, (pictured) has yet to apologize for mistreating her during her time on the show.
No apology from Hugo:
In the interview, Tayla also revealed that her TV husband, Hugo Armstrong, has yet to apologize for mistreating her during her time on the show.
‘No, I did not do it [get an apology].
I don’t know what’s real about this damn thing. I really don’t. It’s the weirdest thing.
Married at First Sight continues Monday at 7:30pm on Channel Nine