Married At First Sight bride Katie Johnston quit the experiment on Sunday night following a disastrous match with groom Tim Gromie.
And the 37-year-old already has her next business venture lined up, following the liquidation of her former company last year.
Katie has spent her time since filming wrapped on MAFS creating ‘a free online course to help other women recognise toxic traits in themselves and potential partners’ according to Yahoo Lifestyle.
‘Most people have no idea that Katie has a degree in behavioural science and a major in psychology, and she’s very passionate about using everything she’s been through and learned about herself to help other women,’ a source told the outlet.
Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Johnston for comment.
On Sunday night’s Commitment Ceremony, Katie opted to leave after the experts accused ‘husband’ Tim of ‘gaslighting 101’.
‘You deflected, you blamed her for everything, you said she broke your trust, you said that you were the most honest of the two of you and ultimately made her feel like she was going crazy,’ said John Aiken.
‘I know that I am strong, independent and somebody worthy of love,’ said Katie, before leaving the experiment for good.
It comes after Daily Mail Australia exclusively revealed Tim made it painfully clear he had no interest in getting to know her when camera’s weren’t rolling.
Photos showed Katie sitting on a bench sipping coffee and looking downcast during filming.
She also appeared pensive as she walked through the city alone at Social Society in Zetland with her headphones on and clutching a takeaway cup.
A production insider has revealed Katie did everything she could to salvage the situation with Tim, even attempting to build a friendship in hopes they could at least work together to stay in the experiment longer.
‘She really tried. Katie wasn’t just there for fame, she wanted guidance and to see if MAFS could put her on the right path,’ the insider told Daily Mail Australia.
‘She didn’t go in expecting a fairytale, but she at least wanted a shot at something real. Tim refused to give her that.’
According to the source, Tim had already ‘checked out’ of the experiment early on and made ‘absolutely no effort’ to form any sort of connection with his bride.
‘He was brutal. It wasn’t just that he wasn’t physically attracted to her, it was like he didn’t even want to be around her,’ they added.
‘He barely spoke to her off-camera. She would sit there trying to engage in conversation and he would just nod along, but you could tell he wasn’t listening.’
Katie, who had pinned high hopes on the social experiment, was reportedly ‘devastated’ by Tim’s disinterest.
‘She wanted to give it a real go and was willing to be flexible. If they couldn’t be romantic, she thought they could at least work together as friends and see where that took them. But he wasn’t even open to that,’ the insider explained.
During their wedding, Tim visibly recoiled from Katie’s touch and later confided in producers that she was ‘totally not what he wanted.’
His reluctance only intensified in the days that followed, leaving Katie with no choice but to navigate the experience on her own.
‘She felt like nothing was going right for her. She thought this could be the fresh start she needed, but instead, she was just left feeling even worse about herself,’ the insider said.
Despite the fractious beginning, the pair soldiered onto their honeymoon in Tasmania’s Cradle Mountain, where the awkwardness persisted.
Tim once again sparked outrage, with fans branding him ‘foul’ and ‘awful’ after a crude remark directed at Katie left viewers reeling.
The controversial reality star made an offhand joke that sent social media into meltdown, with some fans even calling for him to be ‘banned from the show’.
This month, it was revealed the ‘social enterprise’ business helmed by Johnston has debts of nearly half a million dollars, including unpaid superannuation to its employees.
Documents from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) show Wild The Lifestyle Co Pty Ltd – directed by Katie Johnston – was placed into liquidation on June 28 last year.
During her time on the show, Johnston described her job as being ‘CEO of a social enterprise group of restaurants – we split our profits helping others who are doing it tough and help them with emergency food and emergency housing’.
The group known as EATS has a number of restaurants in southeast Queensland and Wild the Lifestyle Co was the business responsible for two Sunshine Coast locations at Eumundi and Sunshine Plaza.
Johnston is not accused of any wrongdoing and EATS, which stands for Empowering All Through Support, is still operating despite the collapse of Wild the Lifestyle Co business.
According to the liquidator’s report, the company owed $493,927 when it collapsed.
Unpaid superannuation accounted for $150,709, while $190,980 was owed to the tax office, and $141,174 was owed to Mercedes Benz Financial Services relating to loans for two cars – a 2020 Mercedes Benz GLE300D and a 2017 Mercedes-Benz SLC200.
Following the liquidation EATS Eumundi was sold to the company EATS Nambour Pty Ltd, also owned by Ms Johnston, while EATS Sunshine Plaza closed its doors.
Ms Johnston said she intended to repay the money.
‘The repayment plan is in place and being maintained. Covid ruined a lot of businesses and continues to ruin people’s lives as we struggle with cost of living and mass business closures,’ Ms Johnston told The Sunshine Coast Daily.
The group still operates restaurants at Carindale, Kawana and Pacific Fair along with the Eumundi location.
Among the causes it donates money to are poverty stricken communities in Peru.
Ms Johnston was a finalist in the 2021 Young Business Woman of the Year Awards held by the Sunshine Coast Women’s Business Network.