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Can saying “I do” to a complete stranger on reality TV really end in happily ever after?

After 19 seasons, Married at First Sight has produced a number of lasting couples, including season 1’s Jamie Otis and Doug Hehner and Nicole and Chris Thielk, who recently welcomed twins. Both are proof that the reality show’s unconventional relationship experiment can sometimes produce successful marriages. But it’s far more common for the couples on the show to flame out on their way to Decision Day, sometimes in a dramatic way. That was the case for most of the cast of Married at First Sight Season 18.

MAFS’s second visit to the Windy City featured five, expert-matched couples. By the end of the season, one pair was still together and two others had found love – but not with their original partners. Now, nearly a year after the Decision Day episode aired, where do things stand with the Chicago cast members?

Camille and Thomas 

Let’s start with Married at First Sight Chicago’s clear success story. Camille and Thomas had a strong connection right from the moment they met at the altar. While there were some bumps along the way, especially as Camille worried about her husband’s lack of swag, they proved they were in it for the long haul by saying yes on Decision Day. 

Camille and Thomas are still together as of early 2026. She frequently posts about their date nights at fun Chicago spots and recently shared that they’re planning a trip to the Dominican Republic in July. Thomas, a die-hard Chicago Bears fan, recently entered a Caleb Williams lookalike contest. In a November 2025 birthday post, Camille called Thomas her “favorite person,” “best decision,” and “the one who makes my heart smile and has a soul that could make the world a better place.”

Emem and Ikechi

Unlike Camille and Thomas, Emem and Ikechi were a mismatch from the start. The awkwardness was obvious at their wedding and only got worse from there. Ikechi felt his wife came on far too strong, while she found him emotionally unavailable. Ikechi moved out of their shared apartment ahead of Decision Day and seemed resentful that he had to continue filming the show. To the surprise of no one, they broke up. Soon after, Emem debuted a new relationship with a man named Brandon.  

Emem and Brandon announced their engagement in March 2025. She’s currently pregnant with their first child together, due in February 2026.

Ikechi has kept a relatively low profile since MAFS. He hasn’t shared any updates on his personal life, but according to his social media, he’s been focused on his art, exhibiting his work in several shows around the country in 2025.

Juan and Karla 

At first, the spiritually-minded hair stylist Karla and entrepreneurial businessman Juan seemed like they might be the perfect opposites-attract couple. Unfortunately, their differences were too great and there was a glaring lack of physical attraction between them, leading them to agree to go their separate ways on Decision Day. 

Since Married at First Sight, Karla has been living her best life, with trips to Miami, Portugal, and New York City, as highlighted on her Instagram. Juan is keeping busy with his various business ventures. He also has a new girlfriend, whom he debuted on his social media shortly after his season of MAFS ended. 

Madison and Allen 

Allen was looking for love on Married at First Sight, and he thought he’d found with Madison. Unfortunately, his feelings weren’t reciprocated. She spent most of her brief marriage trying to change her husband into the man she wanted, mostly by giving him a wardrobe makeover and urging him to go to the gym more often. But before long, she found another gym buddy in David, a fellow MAFS cast member who was married to Michelle. That led to an explosive cheating scandal and the show’s first-ever couples swap. 

While Allen was crushed by Madison’s betrayal, he soon bounced back. He’s now happily dating a woman named Candi, according to his Instagram. Meanwhile, David and Madison are still going strong despite their sketchy beginning.  

“Can’t wait for my workouts with my fave gym partner,” she captioned a recent Instagram video of herself lifting weights with David. 

Michelle and David 

Michelle didn’t get the MAFS experience she hoped for when she married David. She prided herself on her success, working her way from modest small-town beginnings to a comfortable life in Chicago. She wasn’t impressed that her new husband lived in his parents’ basement and smoked cigarettes. The pair got off on the wrong foot and never recovered, though that didn’t stop Michelle from feeling betrayed when she discovered David’s wandering eye thanks to a mis-sent text message. 

Michelle has since moved on from her messy marriage. She appears to be embracing her single status as she shares her cute outfits and life updates on her Instagram. Meanwhile, David has made it clear he has no regrets about picking Madison over Michelle. 

“These past three years have been insane, thinking about how we met and where we are now – our friendship, relationship, and love,” he wrote in a recent Instagram post about his girlfriend. “We’ve learned so much from each other and the things we’ve taught each other are a true blessing. You’re my missing piece, baby, and I’m so grateful for you. I love you more than words can say.”

Married at First Sight Season 18 is streaming on Hulu. 

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