How Channel Nine are BANNING the MAFS 2026 brides and grooms from becoming influencers and cashing in on newfound fame

Channel Nine has sparked outrage among the cast of Married At First Sight 2026 by clamping down on their influencer ambitions.

Traditionally, contestants regain access to their social media accounts in May, but now, Channel Nine is making them wait until June, Daily Mail can reveal.

However, the real blow is that Channel Nine will no longer post on behalf of the cast, effectively cutting off a key avenue to grow their online profiles.

'We've been submitting photos for weeks, expecting them to be shared like every other year,' one cast member revealed. 

'They've just said no – and we're furious.'

For many, the show isn't just about love – it's an opportunity to pivot into a lucrative social media career.

'We put so much time and money into this, and without the exposure, we're left worried,' another insider confessed.

With few having found lasting relationships, the cast now feels they've lost their biggest shot at turning MAFS fame into a profitable future.

The only bride who isn't fazed with Nine's new rules is Alissa Fay, who managed to get ahead of the game.

As a full–time influencer, she negotiated her existing sponsored posts into her MAFS contract, ensuring she could continue cashing in during filming.

Thanks to her ambassador deal with Chery Australia, she's been able to leverage her TV time into profit.

While other cast members were left fuming, insiders admit Alissa was simply the only one who thought ahead.

Others have quietly created backup profiles just to stay visible.

Chris Nield somehow managed to log back into his main account for a short window to post a video that instantly reignited controversy – before being locked out again.

The clip, which has since circulated widely, showed Chris holding up a handwritten cardboard sign reading: 'NO FAT SHORT CHICKS', with the word 'fat' crossed out – a reference to his notorious list of dating deal–breakers. 

In the accompanying video, Chris doubled down, reiterating that he wasn't interested in women who wore fake tan, came across as needy, or were overweight – comments that had already made fellow grooms visibly uncomfortable on the show.

It follows reports that the hit series has become so toxic that most contestants are lucky to last more than a few months in the spotlight.

Only a handful of brides and grooms from last year's series have managed to turn their notoriety into serious money, while the majority faded into obscurity.

Public relations strategist Adrian Falk says the show has veered so far into controversy that it has destroyed the credibility of the people taking part.

What was once promoted as a social experiment about love has, he argues, devolved into a circus driven by shock value and social media clout.

'It has become a zoo for the most amount of followers,' Falk told Daily Mail.

'Once you have been part of that environment, it is incredibly difficult to rebuild your image. The audience moves on fast and brands are hesitant to align with that kind of chaos. It is short–lived fame at best.'

But despite the fallout, a select few have managed to turn their small window of television fame into genuine earning power, creating what insiders now call the unofficial MAFS rich list.

Jamie Marinos has also emerged as one of last season's highest earners after landing a major commercial partnership with Lynx.

The dating show-style campaign, which became a viral hit online, reportedly paid her more than $40,000 and helped her transition into a full-time digital personality.

Jamie has further boosted her income through club hosting appearances across Australia, taking home around $30,000 in total from event nights alone.

Not far off her is bride Awhina Rutene who has almost made six figures from her stint on the show.

The Perth-based mother-of-one has partnered up with a number of well-known brands for paid partnerships.

Groom Eliot Donovan has gone even further, becoming one of the most financially successful cast members of recent years thanks to a relentless post-show work ethic.

The Queenslander has completed more than 30 brand deals since filming wrapped, becoming an ambassador for brands such as Hugo Boss and Chemist Warehouse, racking up anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000 per sponsored post.

On top of this, he has launched his hugely successful online coaching platform Beachbodies.au which has generated an estimated $60,000 to $100,000 in revenue so far.

If that wasn't enough Eliot has collected between $40,000 to $50,000 in nightclub and public appearance fees around the country.

Eliot's refreshingly authentic persona and edgy humour captured hearts and minds during the season and turned him into a brand favourite. 

Meanwhile, his two ex-wives Veronica Cloherty and Lauren Hall were both forced to return to 9-5 jobs.

Another groom who attempted to cash in on his five minutes is Billy Belcher.

He made a bit of cash taking off his shirt and dancing on stage before returning to work as a plasterer. 

Meanwhile, controversial groom Adrian Araouzou has proved that even a so-called bad edit can be profitable.

He and his twin brother James opened Sauci Pasta Bar shortly after the series aired, and the Melbourne restaurant has already pulled in more than $100,000 in the first few weeks.

Fans often queue for a chance to meet the outspoken groom turned pasta entrepreneur, making the business one of the most commercially successful ventures ever launched by a MAFS contestant.

In a rare breakthrough beyond Australia, groom Dave Hand has made franchise history by becoming the first MAFS participant to secure a Netflix role.

Dave is set to appear on season four of Perfect Match, joining a cast of international reality stars and marking a significant step into global television.

The opportunity has impressed industry insiders, who say it signals that MAFS alumni still have pathways out of local reality TV when selected carefully.

Hand was reportedly paid a handsome five-figure sum. 

Not all participants enjoyed the same trajectory.

Carina Mirabile, once tipped to become the show's next breakout star, has walked away from the spotlight entirely.

She now works full-time as the marketing director of her family's company, Beyond Tools, choosing stability over chasing what she privately described as an exhausting and short-lived influencer life.

Others have returned to ordinary jobs after their storylines overshadowed any chance of commercial success.

Groom Ryan Donnelly has resumed work as a plumber after his disastrous marriage to Jacqui Burfoot imploded both on and off camera, resulting in a string of legal battles between the pair. 

Jacqui insists she is doing 'fine' and has instead focused on cameo videos, her jewellery label and her professional work, telling friends she has put the experiment firmly behind her.

As Falk explains it, these diverging outcomes capture the harsh truth behind the franchise's fame.

'In the early years the show created real stars, people the public genuinely rooted for. Now it is about who can go viral. It is fame without foundation,' he said.

'Until the show shifts back to authenticity, it will stay a zoo. And no one makes it big living in a zoo.'