“I wished I was matched with literally anybody else on the cast other than Sam.”

Relationship coach Jess had a tough time on Stranded On Honeymoon Island, after dealing with her on-screen husband’s anger and jealousy.

In the end, the couple decided to part ways at the final decision, with Jess telling Sam he “fumbled the bag”.

With all the drama around these two — including Sam being jealous of Jess’ instant attraction to Emanuel — did Jess consider sliding into anybody else’s DMs after the show wrapped?

“After filming, I wished I was matched with literally anybody else on the cast other than Sam. I mentally re-matched us all repeatedly. But in reality, no, [I didn’t pursue anything romantically],” Jess tells Chattr.

“There was definitely no sliding [in DMs]! We all had each other’s numbers and were in touch after the show. Everyone was trying to decompress and support each other through a pretty intense experience. Emanuel and I chatted in the same way — I think both of us were processing a lot at the time.

“Since then we’ve both healed and moved on.”
Jess and Sam on the show. Image: Seven

Jess responds to dating and relationship coach criticism

It was tough to watch Jess stuck in a toxic relationship on Stranded On Honeymoon Island, and her professional role as a dating and relationship coach has come under fire from viewers.

However, her ability to embrace her “own mistakes and messiness” might just be what makes her a “relatable” dating coach.

“As a dating coach, I’m not immune to difficult relationships — I’m human first. I’ve always shared my own mistakes and messiness openly, because that’s where real growth and relatable truth live,” she says.

“Before Stranded On Honeymoon Island, I’d been happily single for a long time, but I was quietly starting to open up to the idea of love. It was a challenge to approach the experience with vulnerability and remain open to connection.”

Sam wasn’t Jess’ top pick, and she didn’t have any control over who she ended up on the island with, yet she still gave her all to the experiment. Isn’t that what the show is all about?

“I did choose to stay open and give it a real shot. I wasn’t unaware; I was observing. I paid close attention to our dynamic and to the small behavioural inconsistencies — of which there were many,” she recalls. “I leaned far too into optimism — and although it may not have all made the edit, I often guided our conversations toward rationality and neutrality.”

She’s “proud” that she ended up putting herself first in the end, and says it’s made her better when it comes to relationships.

“Recognising the misalignment, setting boundaries, and walking away, wasn’t a failure. It was a reflection of the self-worth and self-trust I help others build,” she explains. “Now, I know what I need, and what I won’t compromise on — and I’m proud that I chose myself in the end.”