MAFS bride Jamie Marinos reveals why she ditched her life in Australia: ‘Run, don’t walk’

The Season 12 bride moved abroad with her sister earlier this month.

Jamie said Athens is her “favourite city in the world” and a conversation with her sister led to a permanent change of postcode.
(TikTok/Instagram @jamiemarinos_)

Married At First Sight bride Jamie Marinos has revealed the simple question that convinced her to leave Australia and start a new life in Greece.

The reality TV star moved to Athens with her sister earlier this month after a conversation over breakfast made her realise she no longer wanted the life she’d built in Melbourne.

“My sister said to me, ‘If you had everything go your way — your perfect apartment, your dream job — would you love the life you live in Melbourne?’” Jamie recalled in a recent video.

Jamie’s answer was immediate.

“I was kind of like, no. I know there’s something more for me.”

That conversation ultimately led the Season 12 bride to pack up her life and relocate to Athens, a city she describes as her “favourite in the world”.

Jamie said the idea first emerged during a trip to Greece with her sister last year, when the pair discussed whether they could see themselves living there permanently.

Jamie was paired with Dave Hand (pictured right) on the reality tv show last year.

Jamie was paired with Dave Hand (pictured right) on the reality tv show last year.
(Channel Nine)

At the time, they were also considering moving to London, but after returning home to Melbourne, the possibility of relocating overseas refused to go away.

After their breakfast conversation, the sisters decided they had little to lose by taking the leap.

“Worst comes to worst, we move, we don’t like it, we go back home,” Jamie said.

“Or it works out, and I live this incredible life.”

The 28-year-old said she experienced a similar feeling before moving from Adelaide to Melbourne years earlier, but recently realised she no longer felt inspired by her life in Victoria.

“I knew there was this bigger life for me. I had to take a chance to figure out where I’m meant to be,” she explained.

Jamie’s decision comes amid growing signs that many young Australians are questioning whether they want to build their future at home.

Research from housing provider Home in Place found 53 per cent of Australians aged 18 to 35 would consider moving overseas for more affordable housing, while 16 per cent said they definitely would.

Now settled in Greece, Jamie said she feels confident she made the right decision despite the risks involved.

Part of her motivation came from the realisation that life is short and opportunities shouldn’t be wasted.

“Not everyone’s going to get it, but this makes me happy. And I feel proud of myself that I did it,” she said.

Jamie, who supports herself through content creation and brand partnerships, has also encouraged others dreaming of a life overseas to stop waiting for the “perfect” moment.

“If you have the choice to live life how you would love to live it, then do it. Go do it now. Run, don’t walk.”

CRE: https://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/mafs-bride-jamie-marinos-reveals-why-she-ditched-her-life-in-australia-run-dont-walk-002635936.html