Married At First Sight’s Davina Rankin has spoken about her shock split from her husband Jaxon Manuel after just one year of marriage.
The reality TV star got emotional as she opened up about her heartbreak over the break-up on her podcast Who? Me.
“We were just different people from the ones who tied the knot all those years ago,” she told listeners.
The couple were married in April last year, one year after welcoming daughter, Mila-Mae. The Queensland-based pair exchanged vows in front of 100 guests at the picturesque Fins at Plantation House on the Tweed Coast in NSW after four years of dating.
Of their split, Davina says their priority is it to “morph into the best versions of ourselves for our sweet daughter”, but is not denying it has been a bumpy ride.
“This journey has been one of the most gruelling challenges I’ve ever faced,” she admitted. “I have a whole family to consider and the desire to keep everyone happy.”
Davina also expressed her disappointment that they never got to enjoy their newly-renovated house as a family.
“It was starting to make me feel sick thinking I wasn’t going to be able to be around this newness,” she said.
Davina announced her split from Jaxon – a Gold Coast business owner – last month.
“Relationships are hard,” she wrote on Instagram Stories at the time, alongside a photo of the sun setting on a beach.
“Given the recent speculation, I feel like I need to confirm that Jax and I have separated.”
“I will at some point discuss this further, but my current focus is learning to navigate my new normal while providing a seamless and loving transition into co-parenting for our daughter.”
The statement came months after fans noticed she had quietly unfollowed her husband on her Instagram account, of which he barely featured since August last year.
The reality star turned wellness author was a controversial part of season 5 of MAFS, where she embarked on an emotional affair with fellow participant Dean Wells, all while she was matched with Ryan Gallagher.