‘Married at First Sight Mzansi’ Star Portia Baloyi Explains Why Her First Marriage Collapsed
- Married at First Sight South Africa Season 2 star Portia Baloyi opened up about her first marriage during an interview on The Relebogile Mabotja Podcast
- She spoke fondly about her ex-husband and revealed details of why her first marriage ended in divorce
- Some social media users praised her honesty, while others critiqued her for exaggerating her first marriage experience
- Briefly News spoke to psychologist Michele Naude, who shared the psychological and emotional risks of marrying too young
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Source: Original
Married at First Sight Mzansi star Portia Baloyi has opened up about why her first marriage ended in divorce.
While the Married at First Sight South Africa Season 2 co-star had previously spilt the tea on her divorce from co-star Bongani Luvalo, little was known about her first marriage. With Season 2 of the reality show wrapped up, Portia Baloyi, like her co-stars, went on The Relebogile Mabotja Podcast and opened up about her first marriage, among other things.
Portia Baloyi reveals why her first marriage ended in divorce
On Thursday, 23 October 2025, The Relebogile Mabotja Podcast shared a snippet of Portia Baloyi’s interview on X. In the snippet, Portia spoke fondly of her ex-husband, whom she said was 12 years her senior.
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“OK? Uh, he was a protector. Yeah. You know. I hope I don't say his name when I'm talking about him. I met this guy older than me, 12 years older than me. And, you know, when a person does everything and anything, right? Look at this man, you know I’m a baby around him. You're like, you know, OK, baby, you know, and I'm thinking, oh, OK, not bad, you know, not bad,” she said.
When asked why her first marriage ended, Portia Baloyi emphasised that, at just 21, she wasn’t ready to become a wife and stepmother. The instant life changes overwhelmed her.
“But at the time when I met him, I wasn't ready to be a wife. I wasn't ready to be a mother. And just like that, I was an instant mother. Instant wife. So instant, you can't go out. Instant, you can't wear that. It's like, so everything just changed. And I was like, but I'm only 21. I was a baby. So it's like, this is too much room. I still want to go out. I still want to groove. So that wife that he wanted, then it's this person now. Then I wasn't that person,” she explained.
Watch the video below:
Briefly News spoke to Michele Naude, who shared the psychological and emotional risks of marrying too young. She explained that in our early 20s, we're still developing our identity.
She emphasised that marrying before fully understanding oneself can limit personal growth, resulting in feelings of confinement and frustration.
"In our early 20s, we are only emerging from the stage of Identity formation, which starts in our teenage years. Many people continue learning how to distinguish themselves, develop their own identities, and establish independence from their caregivers well into their early twenties. Marrying without understanding our own needs can stifle self-expression and cause feelings of control, confinement, and frustration, which could lead to exiting the marriage early on to explore and become our own unique selves. Women are often expected to put their spouse’s needs before their own, resulting in neglect of their own needs," Naude said.
SA reacts after Portia Baloyi shares why her first marriage ended
In the comments section, social media users applauded Portia Baloyi for sharing her story, while others criticised her for seemingly victimising herself.
Here are the comments:
@__Nakabini applauded:
“I know Portia mentioned she’s very private, so please thank her for sharing herself with us. 🥺🫶🏾”
@Scarcity34 critiqued:
“Portia got married in 2016, lobola (Sept) and the white wedding (Nov). She must stop the married at 21 story. She is no child bride, and she had a well-developed frontal cortex when she got married. She knew what she was doing. Like she knows that she is lying.”
@Fanzo12974034 asked:
“So they all brought their past traumas to the show?”
Source: Instagram
Married at First Sight star Palesa Mphakhi’s team apologises
Meanwhile, Briefly News reported that Married at First Sight Season 2 star Palesa Mphakhi's management team issued a statement addressing the backlash she received after an interview on Podcast and Chill.
Mphakhi appeared on the podcast alongside Makoto Phumodi on 16 October 2025. The management company mentioned that Palesa would release her own apology and statement to address the disgruntled fans.
Source: Briefly News
