Reality TV World

'Married at First Sight' star Mindy Shiben: I didn't second guess getting married even without my parents' support

By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 01/14/2020

Married at First Sight star Mindy Shiben says she never doubted her decision to marry a stranger on the Lifetime reality series although her parents were totally against the idea.

As shown on Married at First Sight's tenth season, Mindy, a 34-year-old figure skating coach from Frederick, MD, agreed to an arranged marriage after the show's experts believed they had found her a match, who turned out to be Zach Justice, a 32-year-old fitness professional from St. Mary's, GA.

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But Mindy's parents disagreed with her decision, and they apparently refused to attend her wedding, which will likely be shown on the series' upcoming episode on Wednesday, January 15.

During a recent appearance on Married at First Sight: Unfiltered, Mindy watched back a MAFS clip of herself crying to her sister about her parents' disapproval and how she feared being "embarrassed" on her wedding day because her future groom wouldn't be able to meet her parents.

"That is actually really hard to watch that back. I want to jump in there and give myself a big hug," Mindy said on Unfiltered.

"Obviously my parents not supporting my decision was so incredibly hard."

"Picturing myself walking down the aisle without my dad there and all the things that you do with your parents at your wedding, just thinking about that brings the waterworks," Mindy explained. "It's definitely emotional."

Unfiltered host Jamie Otis -- who starred on Season 1 of Married at First Sight and is happily married to her match, Doug Hehner -- then asked Mindy if her parents' negative reaction to marrying a stranger almost deterred her from being a part of this experiment.

"My parents' reaction didn't really make me second guess this," Mindy admitted.

"I believe so strongly in this experiment and what this is all about, and I knew really in my heart that this is the right thing for me, even without the support of my parents."

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Married at First Sight expert Pastor Calvin Roberson also joined Mindy on the Unfiltered broadcast.

Jamie asked Pastor Cal to reveal the advice he gives Married at First Sight participants whose families are not supportive of this extreme televised experiment.

"As a parent, people often ask me, 'Would I let my kids do this?' And I would. I would because I would trust what I've taught them and trust that they're making the right decisions," Pastor Cal explained.

"You're all grownups, and ultimately, you have to make your own call. And I think every parent respects and knows that."

Mindy, dubbed "Miss Optimistic" by Lifetime, and Zach, "The Fitness Fanatic," were matched by MAFS experts Pastor Cal, Dr. Pepper Schwartz and Dr. Viviana Coles because they're both entrepreneurial and active.

Dr. Viviana also said in the premiere episode of the show's tenth season Mindy is intelligent and driven, which is exactly what Zach was looking for in a partner, while Zach seemed to always maintain a positive attitude.

Given Mindy has been through a lot in her life -- including a devastating miscarriage -- the experts apparently thought it would be best to match her with a man who sees a glass half full rather than half empty.

Although Mindy went into the Married at First Sight process with no support from her parents, she still had her sister and friends backing her up.