The transgender bride set to take Married at First Sight UK by storm transferred to an NHS hospital at the age of 21 before spending £50,000 on cosmetic surgery to be ‘taken seriously’ as a woman, MailOnline can today reveal.
Channel 4 viewers will see 29-year-old Ella Morgan, born Evan Morgan, marry a male contestant amid a row over whether the groom was told off first or not.
Mrs Morgan is seen in MAFS trailer telling her new husband her ‘big secret’ after they got married, after admitting her transition made her fear rejection after being treated like a ‘dirty secret’ in the past .
However, Channel 4 has now revealed that they told the man in advance that he would marry a trans woman. It is understood the man is ‘furious’ at the way the broadcaster treated him during his time on the show and afterwards.
But the Bristol-based beauty and fashion consultant says she is determined to be a star of the show to ‘shed light on the struggles and realities of being trans’, adding: ‘We are not freaks or mentally ill. I’m still just like any other girl.’
She spent £50,000 to create the body and face she ‘envisioned’ before her transition began, but admits she will have more cosmetic surgery in the future.
Ella Morgan, 29, was born Evan Morgan (pictured before her transition) and is one of the new stars of Married at First Sight UK
Channel 4 became embroiled in a fake row after pretending a man appearing on their show Married At First Sight UK didn’t know he was linked to a transgender woman (Picture: Ella Morgan)
Ella (right) said she was about six when she knew she felt different and was ’11 or 12′ when she knew for sure she was transgender
Ella says, “Evan is still a part of me,” but she wants to be taken seriously as a woman
Mrs Morgan (in red on the right) says her parents (mother on the far left, father on the far right) and her three brothers (also pictured) have been very supportive
Ella has spoken at length on the Transform website about her gender reassignment operations and cosmetic surgery.
She says that when she was “11 or 12,” she realized she wanted to transition. “I knew then that I needed that surgery and I wanted to do it,” she said.
She had her sex change when she was 21 at an NHS hospital in Brighton, where she also underwent breast reconstruction surgery. She has since paid for a second breast enlargement and facial fillers, worth £50,000.
Describing why she said: ‘You have to look feminine to pass as a woman, otherwise people won’t take it seriously. I was under a lot of pressure to look good.
‘I had to plump my face. It was very meager and meager. My body is as I imagined it. Part of me wants to do a little more with the filler, a little more with the breast implants. That’s how I am. I am all or nothing.
‘I also had laser hair removal for several months, including on my face, and voice therapy at a local hospital, although my voice didn’t really bother me as I’m quite articulate anyway and have a relatively feminine voice.
“Evan is still a part of me. Trying to erase that by changing myself through surgery was never going to solve everything, although I always thought it would.
‘I’m very grateful that I had surgery, hormones, laser hair removal and the rest because it made my life easier and helped me become the person I knew I was, but procedures can’t fix everything. Money cannot teach you to accept yourself as the whole package, inside and out.”
Ella, who is originally from Bristol, told MailOnline that she is proud to be trans and that she is ‘just like any other girl’
In an interview with MailOnline, Ella has opened up about her relief at appearing on Married At First Sight UK as she says she no longer has to hide.
Ella Morgan says her TV appearance is meant to inform viewers
Ella has spoken at length about her gender reassignment surgery and cosmetic surgery
Ella admits that some members of her family were unsure and even angry about her decision to transition.
She said: ‘My mum found the GP leaflets under my bed so my secret was out. Although she was a little shocked at first, she was very helpful. But Dad was a different matter: he didn’t look at me for three months, which was awful, but then he wasn’t very informed about it.
My brothers started to realize what was going on and being three men, they were not happy with the idea of a transgender sibling. They didn’t seem to agree with my change, but when my father saw that the rest of the family had a negative opinion, he started coming over and we started talking. He realized that I was his child, whether it was a daughter or a son, and he didn’t want to lose me. He saw that this was what I had to do to be truly happy, regardless of what others thought.
‘I had surgery in April 2015. My father was incredibly supportive and came with me while he stayed in a hotel so he could be there for me. My mother also accompanied my father for a few days. I didn’t understand at the time how hard it was for them to see me go through this, and I’m so grateful that they were there for me. It was the ‘end’ of the son they once had, yet the beginning of my new life as the real me.
‘I really hope that I have made my parents proud as a daughter. And I hope my brothers are proud to call me their sister. I’m so proud of them. They showed me how it is possible for people to change their mindset when they find themselves in difficult situations. They have accepted me and are treating me the way I always dreamed of.”
Channel 4 has sparked a fake row after pretending a male contestant didn’t know he was ‘married’ a trans woman.
Now in its eighth series, Married at First Sight UK pairs 16 singletons who meet for the first time on their wedding day. The series follows the couples through their marriage, which is not legally binding.
Miss Morgan, 29, is the first transgender contestant to appear on the show. She told the Mail: ‘I’m really proud of it because when I started this I was scared to say I’m transgender, but now I can hold my head up. I changed a lot of people’s minds and I also found myself. I am proud that I am transgender and that it is just a label. I’m still just like any other girl.
“I don’t want to be anyone’s dirty secret, but I feel like people aren’t well educated these days.”
In a statement, a Channel 4 spokesperson told the Mail that “the groom was told before the ceremony that the match found was a trans woman.”
The spokesperson added: ‘This is the first time (Married At First Sight) has featured a trans bride, so to ensure fully informed consent, and with the bride’s consent, the groom was told that the match found for him was a transgender. woman. In every other way, the integrity of the format was maintained.” Channel 4 bosses said there was a ‘high duty of care’ attached to the competition.
Last year, Married at First Sight faced controversy after one of its participants, George Roberts, was accused of emotional abuse by three ex-girlfriends. He denied all claims.
It is not the first time Channel 4 has been accused of misleading viewers. In 2007, chat show Richard & Judy was found to be rigging the call-in process by charging £1 for telephone entries – even though the successful contestants had already been chosen.