Stephen opens up about the tragic childhood accident that left him with a facial scar on MAFS 2024
Married At First Sight's newest groom Stephen entered the experiment with one simple goal – to find his perfect match and someone who his family would adore.
But before he walked down the aisle to meet his husband Michael, the 26-year-old opened up about a difficult part of his childhood that left him with a facial scar.
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In an emotional scene, which you can watch above, Stephen explained how was involved in a horrific car accident when he was just eight-years-old.
"It was a front-on collision on the freeway," he said. "I remember waking up to the sound of mum screaming. Unfortunately the guy that did crash into us did pass away."
Stephen opened up about how his scar in an emotional moment on MAFS. Nine
Stephen said the recovery was more intense than the incident itself.
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Michael and Stephen's Wedding Album
"Going to school for the first time, and the kids being scared to be around me... the reality of like, this is what I look like now. This is what everyone else is seeing," he said.
In a heartbreaking moment, Stephen recalled how he started preparing from a young age that he might get "rejected" in future because of what he looked like.
Stephen revealed he felt he could be "rejected" during one heartbreaking time in his life. Nine
"That's definitely something I've carried with me," he said.
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But above all, it's his family that have kept him strong.
Stephen is one of eight children, and is an identical twin himself.
He has a huge Italian family, and his relationship with his mother and stepfather are incredibly important to him.
Stephen says family are everything to him. Nine
"I've got an awesome family who are super supportive," he added.
"No one allowed me to dwell in my own sorrow. It was like – this has happened, we move on. I'm really thankful for that."
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When he met Michael at the end of the aisle, the chemistry was electric as soon as they clapped eyes on each other.
We can't wait to see how their MAFS journey continues.
Married At First Sight continues Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now. Catch up on 9Now.
