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MAFS star Martha's bold admission: 'Forever be underestimated'

She's starred on two reality TV shows (so far) and established a name for herself as a beauty influencer all while maintaining a high-profile relationship, but Martha Kalifatidis thinks she'll always be underestimated.

In an exclusive chat with Yahoo Lifestyle, the former Married At First Sight bride opened up about why she expects the public — and in some instances, her peers — to continue to misjudge her potential.

Martha Kalifatidis wearing a white top in a Zoom interview with Yahoo Lifestyle
Martha Kalifatidis told Yahoo Lifestyle that she'll 'forever be the underdog'. Photo: Yahoo Lifestyle.

'Forever underestimated'

Like many Aussie celebs before her, Martha got her start on reality TV which has been both a blessing (she met her partner, Michael Brunelli, on MAFS in 2019) and a bit of a curse.

"Look, I'll forever be underestimated," she says. "That's not going to change for me, and that's okay. I'm okay with that.

"I know I came off reality TV and reality TV in Australia is frowned upon for some reason. I don't know why; everyone seems to enjoy [watching] it so much."

Nowadays, with a 620,000 strong Instagram following and multiple brand endorsements under her belt, Martha has come to terms with being seen as the underdog.

"It just means I'll have to work a little bit harder, and that's okay, I'm not afraid of hard work."

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Martha Kalifatidis posing in a bikini
Martha has established herself as a beauty influencer on social media. Photo: Instagram/marthaa__k.

Celebrity Apprentice success

It's no secret that Martha wasn't expected to last long as a contestant on the recent season of Celebrity Apprentice, but she ended up making it all the way to the final four.

While she didn't win — Shayna Blaze took out the top spot — she did walk away with $40,000 for her anti-bullying charity, Bully Zero as well as the respect of her co-stars and viewers at home.

It wasn't easy, though. Martha also told Yahoo Lifestyle that she used to get 'so scared and stressed' before facing Lord Alan Sugar in the boardroom that she made panicked calls to Michael from the set.

"'You were so scared, so stressed, you actually couldn't put a sentence together'," she says, quoting Michael.

Martha Kalifatidis and partner Michael Brunelli pose for a selfie together in their bedroom
Martha's partner - and former MAFS 'husband' - Michael Brunelli was 'so supportive' during her latest reality TV stint. Photo: Instagram/marthaa__k.

Wedding talk

Martha praised Michael for being 'so supportive' throughout her gruelling stint on the show, which would often see filming continue long into the night.

"I would come home after filming like, dead, exhausted and he would always be happy to hear me out. I can't say one bad thing about him," she says.

As for whether the couple is planning to walk down the aisle anytime soon, Martha wouldn't give too much away.

"Maybe yes, maybe no," she says. "[Getting married] is not the most important thing to us, we're working on our brands and our businesses."

Martha did hint that they might end up having kids before saying 'I do'.

"Maybe we might start a family before we get married, I don't know. I don't actually have an answer. It would be nice but I just don't know, we're so busy," she says.

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