Stamp of approval
REALITY TV STAR NADIA STAMP HAS DISCOVERED MORE SINCERITY AS A CARER FOR ASSISTANCE DOGS
NADIA Stamp says dating on Married At First Sight felt “artificial” and no one can tell you who to love.
As promos for the next season of the Nine dating show begin to stir controversy, the 38-year-old opened up about her failed relationship with Anthony Manton, which sparked national scrutiny after Manton dubbed her as “frigid” for holding back on intimacy.
“In that environment it’s very artificial,” said Stamp, who has swapped men for dogs by partnering with Brisbane’s Empower Assistance Dogs as a puppy carer.
“You are stuck in this little bubble and you have superficial relationships.
“The biggest thing I learnt is to trust myself; no one should tell you who you should love and how you should love ... to trust in my instinct and give myself that validation that it’s OK if you want to take time and not rush into a relationship.”
Having to relive a breakup on national television after having already dealt with the split was difficult for Stamp, who saw a lot of Manton’s comments for the first time as the show aired.
“He didn’t see if I was OK. He’s lucky I’m a woman that has a lot of experience and am comfortable with myself ... because that’s the kind of stuff that you say to people and it scars them for life,” she said.
“It was just awful that feeling of well I’m actually over it and I’m ready to move on with my life but you can’t move on with your life on reality TV until everyone’s ready to move on.”
Manton wrote to new contestant Dean on Friday after backlash around his comments in a promo about wanting a wife to “obey him”. “Find a rock and crawl under it buddy,” he wrote to his Instagram story on Friday. “You’re probably not a bad bloke ... but you’re gonna (get) slammed.”
Stamp is still coming to terms with the effect Married At First Sight stardom has had on her work and dating life.
She said becoming a puppy carer for Empower Assistance Dogs, who train Assistance Dogs, was a way to “use the recognition in some kind of positive way”.