After months of teasing they’re locked in

preview for Lucinda Dated a Friend’s Ex! MAFS Australia & The Honesty Box

It’s finally happened, after months of keeping us in suspense and claiming they were “just friends” Married at First Sight Australia’s Billy Belcher and Awhina Rutene have officially confirmed their relationship.

The pair who met on the recent season of the Nine series, took to Instagram and shared a joint post of them together. In the carousel of images Awhina is seen holding her phone and posing in front of a mirror while Billy stands with his back to the camera and has his arm wrapped around Awhina’s waist.

They then shared a number of date images and captioned the post: “I’ll keep this one 🤭”. Billy then commented underneath the origianl post, thanking followers for their support on the relationship, saying: “Me and @_awhinarutene can’t thank you all enough love you guys 🙏🏼❤️.”

 

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A post shared by Awhina (@_awhinarutene)

The couple met during filming for Married at First Sight Australia season 12 in which they were both married to different people. Awhina was paired with Adrian and Billy with Sierah, however both their marriages failed and since then the pair have been heavily rumoured to be dating.

They’ve always denied there was something romantic between them, but if you look back over the last few months, there’s been plenty to suggest they’ve been together this whole time. Take a look at all these clues.

All the not so subtle hints Awhina and Billy have been together this whole time

They were photographed out together – February 2025

While Married at First Sight Australia was airing both here in the UK and in Australia, Billy and Awhina were papped hanging out together in the Perth, where they’re both from.

In a series of photos the pair were seen walking together with their arms around each other. At the time we didn’t know if their marriages had made it but this was essentially confirmation it was over for Billy and Sierah and Awhina and Adrian.

Awhina says the pair are just friends – April 2025

Despite the cosy looking pap pictures Awhina went onto deny there was anything romantic going on between the pair, telling Nine: “Look, Billy and I are just friends! We’re very close. I kind of wanted this chapter closed before I start dating again.

“I’ve been on the experiment to find a partner, which is really still my goal. I want to grow my family. I just I needed this chapter closed so that I could actually do it properly, and I didn’t want to start anything off on the wrong foot.”

They looked cosy at horse racing together – April 2025

Following the series finishing airing in Australia, Awhina and Billy shared a number of pictures and TikToks together at a horse racing event in Perth.

In one Instagram post Billy had his arm around Awhina and she was seen looking up at him lovingly.

 

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A post shared by Billy (@billybelcher7)

They also shared a TikTok together referencing the time their exes Sierah and Adrian went for dinner together, captioning it: “Our exes ate a plate of meat, but who really ate?”

They throw a joint MAFS watch party – May 2025

Though the show finished in Australia in April, at the end of May Billy shared a TikTok of the pair having a joint watch party to “Celebrating our s**t shows of a marriage”.

In the video they’re seen fizzing up champagne bottles and releasing them over a pool and laughing together.

Billy shares a TikTok about Awhina’s son – end of May 2025

Throughout her time on Married at First Sight Australia Awhina made it clear how important her son was to her. She didn’t introduce Adrian to him at any point.

However, Billy has met her son and at the end of May he shared a TikTok of himself with Awhina and her son doing a dance together and captioned it: “And then there was three 🔐.”

If that’s not a soft launch we don’t know what is.

Awhina shares a video of Billy with her son and gushes about Billy’s family – June 2025

A few days later Awhina then shared a different video of her son talking animatedly to Billy at a restaurant. In the clip the pair are seen conversing happily and Awhina captioned the sweet video: “I almost forgot this was the whole point.”

The comment section was flooded with people sharing their happiness for Awhina and she took her time to respond to many people.

During this one person had commented: “Whether friends or more, Billy will be such a positive role model. Knew him growing up as a kid here in the UK (my son is same age) & Billy’s mum & stepdad are the best humans & Billy is the result of pure love & nurturing, they gave him safety & stability 🙏🏼💞.”

Awhina then replied to the sweet comment, expressing her love for Billy’s family, saying: “I love Billy’s parents they’re amazing 🫶🏽.”

Ok we could not be more obsessed with this new MAFS couple.