Mark and Sam were a Survivor power couple. He's found love with another contestant.

Australian Survivor winner Mark Wales has sent reality TV fans into a spin by hard-launching a relationship with another legend of the game: Phoebe Timmins.

For the uninitiated, Mark first competed on Australian Survivor in 2017 before returning in 2022 to be crowned sole survivor. Phoebe got her Australian Survivor start back in 2016, and then returned to compete on Australian Survivor: All Stars in 2020.

So yeah, they're basically Survivor royalty. And they're in love!

"I'm very, very lucky to have met someone who I really love," Mark wrote on Instagram.

"She is kind, honest, thoughtful, very smart, has a huge heart, is a great mother and an even better partner."

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A post shared by M A R K W A L E S (@mark.a.wales)

The post was flooded with comments, including a few from former Australian Survivor castaways sharing warm sentiments.

Lochlan Gilbert wrote "Aww two of the nicest people I know." Felicity Eggington added "So happy for you two." Janine Ellis commented "Congrats Mark. Everyone deserves love!"

The post featured several images of Mark and Phoebe together, alongside Phoebe's daughter, whose face was covered with a heart emoji.

Image: Instagram/@mark.a.wales.

Phoebe welcomed a daughter last year who, to be clear, she has confirmed to us is not Mark's child. Their romance only began after she was born.

"Mark and I were old acquaintances who reconnected through genuine friendship towards the end of last year. At the time, he was separated and single, and I was adjusting to life as a new mum, so romance was far from my mind," Phoebe told Mamamia.

"What grew between us happened slowly and naturally — over time, a more meaningful connection developed, which really caught me by surprise. It wasn't something either of us sought out, but it's turned into something really lovely."

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A post shared by Phoebe Timmins (@bephoe)

Mark and Phoebe have been dating for almost six months, and going public with their romance was not a decision that Phoebe took lightly.

"I live a fairly private life. Survivor was a significant part of my journey years ago, but life has moved forward in many ways since then," Phoebe said.

"I haven't ever seen myself as a public figure, so I didn't really think much of Mark sharing it. I simply haven't been very active on socials recently."

Phoebe's privacy is something that she especially values now that she's a mother.

"I'm a proud solo parent, and I've always chosen to protect my daughter's privacy — that won't change. She is the most important person in my life, and her story is hers to tell when and if she chooses," Phoebe said.

"Mark and I are dating and enjoy a special connection. While he's a wonderful support and shares a deep understanding of parenting, I've never had a co-parent and continue to raise my daughter independently."

Phoebe and Mark are currently in a long-distance relationship as her career has taken her to a work opportunity in Abu Dhabi, where she currently resides.

Image: Instagram/@mark.a.wales.

"Right now, I'm focused on an exciting professional opportunity in the UAE and continuing to grow in this chapter of my life. Mark is incredibly supportive, and he visits when he can. We're enjoying the relationship for what it is," she said.

"People will always speculate, but this is really a simple story: Two people who'd known each other for years reconnected at a time when we were both single and open to something new. It's a happy, hopeful story, and we're both grateful for it."

She said the response to Mark's social media announcement "has been a little overwhelming," to take in — especially from invested Survivor fans.

"I still feel a strong bond with the Survivor community — it was a huge part of my life. That said, my focus now is on parenting and my career in Abu Dhabi. Life has evolved."

Watch the introduction package for Miles, the 2025 winner of Australian Survivor. Post continues after video.

A lot of the reaction online has concerned Mark and his ex-partner, Samantha Gash.

Mark and Sam first met as contestants on Australian Survivor in 2017. Their chemistry was clear to both viewers and fellow contestants, and while their 'power couple' alliance made them targets in the game, their relationship blossomed beyond the show.

In November 2017, Sam announced she was pregnant, and their son, Harry Locke Wales, was born in March 2018, becoming the first-ever Australian Survivor baby.

Mark and Sam tied the knot on 14 December 2019, almost exactly two years after they met on the show. While they never announced an official breakup, Mark and Sam stopped appearing on each other's Instagram pages a year ago, leading to fan speculation they had parted ways.

Phoebe maintains that she and Sam have remained amicable throughout. "Sam is a remarkable woman," she told us.

"There's only ever been mutual kindness between us, and that hasn't changed."

We've reached out to Sam and Mark for comment.

Feature image: Instagram/@mark.a.wales.