Weekend Gold Coast Bulletin

IT’S BEEN A ROCKY MAFS ROAD BUT DAN IS FOCUSSED ON LOVE

- ASHLEIGH JANSEN

MARRIED At First Sight’s Dan Hunjas has broken his silence on the cheating rumours that rocked the reality show’s debut this week.

Following the emergence of photos that appear to show him canoodling with one of his wedding guests — fellow Gold Coaster Samantha Symes — Mr Hunjas said, “My focus is with (on-screen ‘wife’) Sandy (Jawanda) and the show at the moment”.

The 43-year old moved from Hervey Bay to the Gold Coast four years ago following his second divorce, applying for the TV series in the hope that “… from literally tens of thousands of applicatio­ns I would be expertly matched with the best possible person”. However, it hasn’t been smooth sailing. “It’s certainly been both great and challengin­g,” Mr Hunjas said.

“Sandy and I share some similar values, however there are some concerns around lifestyle and compatibil­ity.”

Mr Hunjas also addressed speculatio­n that comments made by his guests during the onscreen wedding ceremony referred to Ms Jawanda’s ethnicity.

“After speaking to my friends, they confirmed that their comments were absolutely about the setting and how onesided it all appeared,” he said.

“They were initially concerned that our personalit­ies didn’t align and it wasn’t until Sandy loosened up a little and started to have some fun that my friends felt more at ease with the pairing.”

Mr Hunjas told the Bulletin he had intended to go into MAFS with an open mind following his previous two marriages.

“I made a promise to simply just surrender to the process and be open to new experience­s,” he said.

“My first marriage was a situation where we were both young in a small regional town and we basically just followed the rules of what society expected.

“In my second marriage, we travelled the world, built businesses, grew together and then ultimately grew apart.”

The Mermaid Beach resident who lives “a very active lifestyle” has worked in digital marketing for 21 years, but says his sights are set on new challenges for 2023 with his first tequila bar opening in Tweed Heads early this year.

 ?? ?? Dan Hunjas at home on the Gold Coast; and (inset, top) with ‘wife’ Sandy Jawanda; and friend and wedding guest Sam Symes (bottom). Picture: Glenn Hampson
Dan Hunjas at home on the Gold Coast; and (inset, top) with ‘wife’ Sandy Jawanda; and friend and wedding guest Sam Symes (bottom). Picture: Glenn Hampson

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