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Another season of “Married at First Sight” brings another batch of six singles hoping to find wedded bliss in a new city, this time Miami, Fla.
The FYI network reality show, which returns for Season 4 on Tuesday at 8 p.m., headed further south after two seasons in New York and its most recent in Atlanta, to a city known for its diverse population and party culture. Following all three of the Season Two and Season Three marriages ending in divorce, “MAFS” also brought in two new experts to help match their newest couples.
One of this season’s participants, Sonia Granados, had been a fan of the show since Season 1 and never thought she’d sign up herself, but when a friend sent her the casting notice, she decided to apply on a whim.
“I went to the casting call myself. I didn’t tell my friends until a little later on because I thought they’re going to think I’m crazy, which they do,” she tells The Post.
Tom Wilson had never seen or heard of “MAFS” when he went to an informational session for what he initially assumed was a dating show. After asking tons of questions, he decided he liked the concept.
“They actually take the time to figure out exactly who you are as an individual first and then find someone that complements you,” he says. “They’re doing this for what you need and not what you want.”
The three new “Married at First Sight” couples will be revealed in Tuesday’s season opener, which begins with a 45-minte matchmaking special followed by the 75-minute premiere episode. Here’s an introduction to the brides- and grooms-to-be.
Derek Schwartz, 35
Before becoming an account executive, Schwartz served in the Navy and was raised by a single mother, who he is close with. He enjoys being active, spending time with his dog and working on his music in the studio.
Ideal qualities in a spouse: Ability to make him laugh and a good communicator.
Biggest fear: Failing at something that he commits himself to.
Heather Seidel, 32
Seidel works as a flight attendant and enjoys being active, traveling to new places for her job and cooking for family and friends. Her parents are still married, and she looks to their relationship as a model for her own marriage.
Ideal qualities in a spouse: Ambitious, strong-willed, sense of humor.
Lillian Vilchez, 24
A realtor by trade, Vilchez’s parents divorced when she was a teenager when her mother found out her father had a second family, and she no longer has a relationship with her dad.
Ideal qualities in a spouse: A man with a strong work ethic who is loving, loyal, honest, funny and patient.
Why she wanted to get married at first sight: A frustration with the current dating scene.
Nick Pendergrast, 32
Pendergast’s parents divorced when he was young; he now works as a vacation rental manager.
Dating history: Single for two years.
Ideal qualities in a spouse: Someone who is independent, confident and can bring him out of his introverted ways.
Why he wanted to get married at first sight: Since his last relationship ended, he hasn’t been able to meet a woman he can envision starting a life with.
Sonia Granados, 33
A social worker who finds foster care for refugee children, Granados’ parents divorced when she was 15, which proved a difficult time in her life.
Dating history: She had a boyfriend for two years starting at age 24, since then it’s been a string of six-month relationships. Single for five months.
Ideal qualities in a spouse: A family man with an upbeat personality who is honest, chivalrous, a good communicator and can make her laugh.
Why she wanted to get married at first sight: “I’m 33 and I’ve dated every type of guy there is. I thought I’m doing something totally wrong … why not let people who are experts do this for me, since I’m clearly not good at it.”
Tom Wilson, 29
Wilson is a designer who works on yacht interior construction and lives out of a coach bus that he converted into a luxury mobile home. “It filters [women] out pretty quick,” he says of his RV lifestyle.
Dating history: Single for a year and a half, most recent relationship lasted three years.
Ideal qualities in a spouse: A woman with a sense of humor who is laid-back, active, trustworthy and has similar values.
Biggest fear: Being matched with someone shallow. “That’s all you really run into in Miami. It’s all face value – watch, belt, what kind of shoes do you have on. I was worried I was going to be stuck with someone who was only concerned about monetary things and image, not so much about who you are as a person.”
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