Married At First Sight has long billed itself as a social experiment.

But insiders say next year’s season is shaping up to be less about finding love and more about securing blue ticks, brand deals and reality TV stardom.

Daily Mail Australia can reveal that a staggering number of the upcoming brides and grooms already boast significant public profiles, high-level industry connections or thriving businesses – prompting claims the ‘love story’ has been hijacked by contestants looking to cash in.

Leading the pack is Melbourne-born glamour model Gia Fleur – already being dubbed the ‘wildest bride in MAFS history’.

Before signing up for the show, the tattooed blonde partied with Playboy icon Hugh Hefner, starred in a Nicki Minaj music video and lived a high-octane Hollywood lifestyle.

Photos obtained by Daily Mail show Gia posing alongside the late publishing mogul inside the Playboy Mansion, wearing a plunging corset and a confident smile at one of his infamous soirées.

Married At First Sight has long billed itself as a social experiment. But insiders say next year’s season is shaping up to be less about finding love and more about securing blue ticks, brand deals and reality TV stardom.  (Pictured: Gia Fleur)

The glamorous blonde once partied with Playboy icon Hugh Hefner, starred in a Nicki Minaj music video and lived a fast-paced Hollywood lifestyle before returning home to cause chaos on the small screen. (Gia, pictured right, with Hugh Hefner)

She later landed cameos in French Montana and Nicki Minaj’s Freaks and Gillespie’s Take Me Back, complete with big hair, body-hugging outfits and full glam.

Since returning to Australia, Gia has built an outspoken, no-filter persona on social media – with sources calling her ‘bold, brash and TV gold’.

She will be paired with fellow tattooed contestant Scott McCristal, 33, a Gold Coast businessman who is no stranger to reality TV, having already appeared on Million Dollar Island and Holey Moley.

He runs three ventures – A Lend Finance, Jetski United and McCristal Motors – and boasts over 25,000 Instagram followers.

Real estate and real ambition

Adelaide rental consultant Rebecca Zacharia is another bride entering the experiment with an already-polished corporate profile.

A licensed real estate agent and auctioneer with six years in the industry, she has deep ties to the property development sector and a reputation for networking, client relationships and self-promotion.

Industry insiders claim her MAFS stint is the perfect platform to boost her personal brand, expand her client list and position herself as a high-profile personality in the lucrative Adelaide property scene.

She will be paired with fellow tattooed contestant Scott McCristal , 33, a Gold Coast businessman who is no stranger to reality TV, having already appeared on Million Dollar Island and Holey Moley

 Scott pictured on Million Dollar Island

Groom Danny Hewitt is also firmly embedded in the property game, known in his hometown as a high-performing real estate agent.

Danny’s social media presence already showcases a mix of sales wins, luxury listings and personal branding – leading critics to accuse him of using the show as a marketing exercise rather than a genuine bid for love.

From the sports desk to the wedding aisle

Bride Ankita Karungalekar is a familiar face to sports fans, having worked as a cricket presenter and TV personality.

With an established media career and strong presence in the sporting world, her appearance on MAFS has raised eyebrows among viewers who suspect she is looking to transition from sportscasting to reality TV fame.

Unfortunately for Ankita, the outspoken bride was pulled from the show while her ‘groom’ Micah Lomu, a Sydney-based finance broker, is under investigation.

Insiders tell Daily Mail that the newlyweds were told they were ‘no longer required on set’ after returning from their honeymoon.

Neither Micah nor Ankita attended the show’s first dinner party, which was filmed on August 5.

Adelaide rental consultant Rebecca Zacharia is another bride entering the experiment with an already-polished corporate profile

Groom Danny Hewitt is also firmly embedded in the property game. Known in his hometown as a high-performing real estate agent

Bride Ankita Karungalekar is a familiar face to sports fans, having worked as a cricket presenter and TV personality

With an established media career and strong presence in the sporting world, her appearance on MAFS has raised eyebrows among viewers who suspect she is looking to transition from sportscasting to reality TV fame

Ankita has remained tight-lipped since news of the scandal broke – but earlier this week, she posted a cryptic sunset image to her Instagram Story that read: ‘Was SO close to having everything I wanted.’

Influence is the endgame

Nurse and part-time influencer Alissa Fay already boasts a massive online following of more than 270,000 TikTok fans, thanks to her glamorous lifestyle and high-energy content.

Friends describe her as ‘fiery but loveable’ and ‘someone who doesn’t back down from a challenge’.

Fresh out of a high-profile relationship, Alissa is tipped to be one of the most talked-about brides of the season – but sources say she ‘won’t put up with nonsense just to stay in the experiment’.

Her knack for thriving in the spotlight has some predicting she’ll turn MAFS into her biggest platform yet, opening the door for brand deals and mainstream media work.

The rapper groom

David Momoh, who performs under the name ‘Kavelli’, is a Nigerian-born rapper and creative who has already made a name for himself in Australia’s music scene.

Nurse and part-time influencer Alissa Fay already boasts a massive online following of more than 270,000 TikTok fans, thanks to her glamorous lifestyle and high-energy content

Her knack for thriving in the spotlight has some predicting she’ll turn MAFS into her biggest platform yet, opening the door for brand deals and mainstream media work

Featured in Complex Australia’s Get Familiar in 2017 and active in the arts ever since, Kavelli’s MAFS casting is being read by some as a deliberate career move to reintroduce himself to the mainstream and reach a wider audience.

‘Half this cast already have businesses, brands or influencer deals waiting in the wings,’ one production source told Daily Mail Australia.

‘Love is the storyline, but followers and fame are the real prize – and everyone knows it.’

Runaway to the dinner party

Gold Coast model Brook Crompton brings a ready-made glamour factor to the series.

Having already built a career in front of the camera, Brooke’s MAFS debut is seen by some as a strategic move to boost her modelling opportunities, land lucrative ambassador roles and grow her brand beyond the fashion world.

‘Brook’s the life of the party but has her friends’ backs no matter what,’ says a mate.

When she’s not fronting the catwalk Brook works as a talent acquisition specialist.

She already boasts over 5,000 followers on Instagram.

David Momoh, who performs under the name ‘Kavelli’, is a Nigerian-born rapper and creative who has already made a name for himself in Australia’s music scene

Gold Coast model Brook Crompton brings a ready-made glamour factor to the series

Former journalist and celebrity interviewer Julia Vogl has rubbed shoulders with Hollywood royalty including Cher, Kate Winslet and Matthew McConaughey

Julia (pictured) interviewed several high profile celebrities as a celebrity interview for The Project

The journalist-turned-confidence coach

Former journalist and celebrity interviewer Julia Vogl has rubbed shoulders with Hollywood royalty including Cher, Kate Winslet and Matthew McConaughey.

Now based in Sydney, she’s reinvented herself as a confidence coach, helping women reclaim their self-worth through speaking events and online programs.

Friends describe her as magnetic, articulate and ‘the type who can get people to reveal their deepest secrets without even realising it’.

Julia’s also known for her style reinventions – from pixie cuts to waist-length waves – and insiders believe her charm and media savvy could make her one of the breakout stars of the season.