As far as appearances go, Adelaide single mum Stacey knows that her blonde hair and designer clothes can make people assume she’s got no substance.
WATCH: Stacey opens up about her decade long battle with anorexia
But there’s much more to this MAFS bride than meets the eye, as
her recently completed law degree – at the age of 25, no less – shows.
“Men often see me as this girl, a one-night stand, nothing exclusive,” she tells WHO. “And girls just automatically judge … I like to keep to myself and some people call that stuck-up, but it’s actually me protecting myself because I’ve been so hurt before.”
With no time for dating and a goal to be married by 30, the mum of two may have found her ideal husband in cheeky businessman Michael, who also has a young child. But is he the father figure she needs for her two young boys, Kosta, 3, and Kruz, 2, after overcoming one hardship after another?
How have you found the whole reality TV experience – not to mention marrying a complete stranger?
It was very testing of your mental strength. Having to leave my two kids, who are under five, at home and then go into this experiment where I could be wasting my time, and then to have all these other girls to deal with. Girls don’t normally like me, so I was like, “This is very overwhelming!”
You weren’t sold on your groom, Michael, at the start …
I thought he wasn’t my typical guy that I go for. My children’s father is at the other end of the earth compared to him, physical wise and personality, and he’s a lot more mature and more serious so that sort of moulded me because I met him so young.
Michael was very immature, very blasé about life, like he didn’t have any life experience like he lived in this little bubble.
But that was fine. I did want someone different to my normal type as things didn’t work out. And I promised myself I’d give the experiment 110 per cent.
What’s the story with your ex, Shane?
I met him when I was really young – 19 – through mutual friends and I wasn’t aware of his lifestyle but I fell for him so quickly. He treated me so nicely, he was beautiful, loving, and I fell pregnant really quickly to him with our first son. At the time, I didn’t realise he actually had charges from ages ago that had come up – assault charges.
That must have been a lot to deal with…
I always like to give people the benefit of the doubt. I stood by him when he ended up going to jail while I was pregnant, and then my brother died [in a motorbike crash] the day my son was born. But Shane rang me every hour to make sure I was OK. He had his friends checking in on me. He’s honestly the greatest person … and I think he’s really ashamed of his past.
Were you really close to your brother?
Yeah, I lost my dad when I was a baby so he took over that role. He was worried I would drop out of law school to have the baby with this guy and he was a bit judgemental on it, but no–one knew him the way I did. I think my brother just wanted me to be single forever!
How are things with Shane now?
It’s weird, because we’re not together but he’s always there for me. I think society likes to judge but what my ex does and who he associates with doesn’t reflect on me – he’s a great dad, we co-parent so well, and he supports us all.
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