Married At First Sight bride Carina Mirabile has broken her silence following her shock decision to brutally dump her on-screen husband Paul Antoine at the Final Vows.
In a chat with Daily Mail Australia, the glamorous 31-year-old digital marketing specialist has finally revealed what pushed her to walk away from the relationship and delivered the most savage vows of the season.
Carina left viewers gobsmacked when she dumped Paul in front of the nation – telling him she was ‘done’ and choosing to put herself first after weeks of red flags, disappointment and betrayal.
Now, she’s opened up about the heartbreaking decision, the emotional toll of watching the show back, and where things stand with Paul today.
Speaking candidly, Carina admitted that by the time she stood opposite Paul at Final Vows, her mind was already made up.
‘I think there was a build-up of frustration – you could see it all over my facial expressions. I was essentially clocked out. I’d had enough,’ she said.
‘There were so many red flags along the way. I forgave him so many times, but when it got to that last and final task, that was my breaking point. There was no turning back.’
Carina revealed the final straw came after Paul secretly agreed to participate in the controversial ‘Plan B’ task, where the experts tested the participants’ loyalty by offering them the chance to date someone new.
‘When I read the final task out loud to myself, my gut intuition was screaming that something was off,’ she explained.
‘I knew I was going to say no, but I kept thinking, “What will Paul say?” And if my gut is telling me there’s even a chance he’ll say yes, that’s a red flag in itself.’
She said the entire experience triggered past traumas from toxic relationships.
‘I’m not 25 anymore,’ she added. ‘I don’t have time to muck around and ignore red flags when they’re right in front of me.’
Despite the brutal nature of her vows, Carina insists she never wanted to humiliate Paul – and chose to walk away with dignity.
‘It wasn’t about tearing him down or getting revenge,’ she said.
‘I wanted to be the bigger person and stand my ground, but in a respectful way.’
Reflecting on the emotional moment, she admitted she was ‘nervous, anxious and sad’ but knew she had to put herself first.
‘It was a moment of self-worth – I had to make the decision for my future self.’
Carina also revealed she was torn right up until the end, leaning heavily on her mother for guidance.
‘I was so indecisive, but my mum was there with me in Sydney. She’s forgiving by nature, she gives everyone the benefit of the doubt – just like I do,’ she said.
‘But at the end of the day, she told me it was my decision to make.’
After their emotional break-up, Carina says she and Paul are now ‘just friends’.
‘Time has gone by. When you live with someone every day, of course feelings grow stronger – but now, we’re just mates,’ she said.
‘Every once in a blue moon, I’ll check in to see how he’s doing. Mental health is so important, and I would never want him to struggle or go through hardship.’
She also revealed that despite everything, Paul is still welcome in her family home.
‘My parents are super hospitable and welcoming. They’d still open the door for him, there’s always a feed in the fridge,’ she laughed.
Carina said her experience on MAFS has taught her to trust her instincts – and she hopes her journey inspires others to do the same.
‘The biggest advice I can give is to trust your gut intuition. It’s always right,’ she said.
She also reflected on how difficult it was to watch the breakup unfold on TV.
‘It brought back so many triggers and emotions. I was reliving the trauma of it all,’ she admitted.
‘The hardest part for me was definitely the Final Vows. Not only was I facing my partner, but everyone around me. Even the crew were emotional – it was that real.’
Carina praised the producers for capturing the raw, unfiltered moment without interference.
‘There were no retakes. That moment was real, it was pure, and it was meaningful,’ she said.
Looking ahead to the explosive reunion special, Carina teased there was no shortage of drama – but shut down rumours she was involved in any secret relationships with other grooms.
‘No, not at all,’ she laughed. ‘We’re all friends. I gained incredible friendships out of this experiment, and that’s all I could wish for.’
She described the reunion as a night where ‘everyone needed the talking stick.’
‘All the couples were put under the microscope. It was nerve-wracking facing everyone again, but it was also a chance for reflection,’ she said.
Carina also touched on fellow bride Jacqui Burfoot’s chaotic Final Vows, where Jacqui blasted her groom Ryan in a fiery speech.
‘My approach was different,’ Carina said. ‘I didn’t want to sabotage Paul or tear him down. That’s not who I am.’
‘Everything happens for a reason. I’ve learned that sometimes, walking away is the most powerful thing you can do.’