Julia and Grayson are fan-favourites on MAFS. She just told us exactly why their relationship works.

If there is one thing we know about the Married At First Sight pressure cooker, it's that it's not just a search for love. It's also a social experiment in vulnerability. 

Last week, we watched Julia walk down a very windy aisle to meet Grayson. But it wasn't just the nerves of the impending wedding that had her heart racing — it was the weight of a conversation she knew she had to have. Julia is openly bisexual, and while she's proud of that identity, she knows exactly what the societal perception of her sexuality looks like.

Julia sat down with Mamamia to chat about that wedding day hesitation, what we didn't see on screen, and why she views her time on the show as a "permission slip" for others to be themselves too. 

Watch: Julia and Grayson on Married At First Sight 2026. Article continues after video.

For years, MAFS has faced criticism for its lack of diverse representation across the board, but particularly when it comes to different sexualities. While the show claims to be a reflection of modern dating, the casting has historically stuck to a very narrow, hetero-normative script that seems to overlook the lived experiences of many Australians.

So to see Julia be herself so openly on the show is very powerful. 

When Julia sat Grayson down at the wedding, you could feel the tension. It wasn't that she was ashamed. Far from it. It was that she was bracing for the stereotypes that have plagued bisexual individuals for decades.

"Society [is] indoctrinated to have misconceptions and misunderstandings about bisexuals. 'We're greedy,' and I don't think we're often understood fully. There might be this kind of perception that we're not loyal and that we'll always have a wandering eye," she told Mamamia.

Image: Nine

Julia hit the nail on the head: if you're a loyal person in a monogamous relationship, your sexuality doesn't change your character. 

"It's not really about being bisexual," she said. "It's actually about integrity."

We all love a man in a suit, but Julia was looking for something deeper than a well-tailored blazer. It turns out, Grayson's history with the AFL — or rather, his exit from it — was what really sparked the connection.

"I learnt that pretty early on, around him not being able to get into the AFL due to injury. That showed me that this person has experienced grief. They've experienced pain... and that is character building. That's the turn on for me," she explained. 

While most people look for a partner with a clean slate, Julia was looking for the cracks. Having navigated her own battles with bullying and depression — something that wasn't explored on screen — she knew she needed someone who had been through the fire and come out the other side.

"Not much of this was shown, but I have a backstory of being quite severely bullied when I was younger, and worked through many of those difficulties as an adolescent with depression," she said.

"I've overcome those things. I've had 36 years of experience and have continued to build resilience. I think that Grayson exudes those characteristics as well."

Image: Nine

Representation on MAFS has historically been scarce and, frankly, a bit clumsy. By showing up as a "grounded, real, and honest" bisexual woman, Julia is hoping to change the narrative for anyone watching at home who doesn't feel safe in their truth yet.

"I think it is a permission slip to live authentically and truthfully to yourself... I'm really proud of this facet of my identity. It's not all of me. It's a part of me," Julia said of the representation she provides for others.

In a show that thrives on "he said, she said" chaos, Julia's calm insistence on being seen as a whole person — not a trope — is the most radical thing she could do.

Feature Image: Nine.