Married at First Sight bride Melissa Rawson has revealed her biggest career move since moving her young family to the Gold Coast.
The 35-year-old now works night shifts at The Star as a hostess in the casino’s “high roller” areas.
Unlike most former MAFS contestants, the mother of two chose a blue-collar job in hospitality rather than trying to live off her 15 minutes of fame with a podcast, memoir, and influencer career.
On Monday, Melissa explained the details of her new role on her personal blog, Her Second Shift.
‘Last month, while browsing LinkedIn, I came across an interesting ad for a host. The industry and the nature of the work piqued my interest,” he wrote.
‘After just one interview, I got the job within a week and earlier this month I officially started my new role as a Premium Service Host.
MAFS girlfriend Melissa Rawson is now a premium host at The Star casino on the Gold Coast
“More informally I work in the high roller areas.”
Melissa added: ‘While confidentiality agreements and filming bans prevent me from sharing too much, I can tell you this: working in the high roller sections of a casino is an extraordinary experience.
“In such a vibrant environment, there is always something unexpected that makes me say ‘Wow’ every day.”
The self-proclaimed mummy blogger has maintained a large following years after his appearance on MAFS due to his candid revelations about fatherhood and his unfiltered confessionals.
In her extensive blog post, Melissa detailed the difficulty in finding work after appearing on the ‘controversial’ TV series in 2020.
‘Honestly, I couldn’t care less about the past; however, an employer may think otherwise,’ he continued.
“So I wanted to avoid causing problems for myself or guests by socializing too openly, dealing with drunk or unruly clients, and overlooking potential conflicts of interest by not fully disclosing my background.”
Melissa previously worked for the Victorian State Government in the road law sector and said she was pleasantly surprised by how much she enjoys her new job.
Melissa previously worked for the Victorian State Government in the road law sector and said she was pleasantly surprised by how much she enjoys her new job. Pictured with her husband Bryce Ruthven and twin sons Levi and Tate, three
Flowers that Melissa’s husband, Bryce, bought her to celebrate her first week on the job
In a blatant swipe at her former job, the mother praised the casino for the benefits it offers its employees, which she says outpace those of the government.
These include one free buffet meal per shift, uniform laundry service, penalty rates for evenings, weekends and holidays, and 30 per cent staff discounts at all group-owned facilities.
“The perks at The Star are fantastic, especially compared to my years in government, where the only benefit I received was an annual flu shot,” Melissa wrote.
The former reality TV personality also noted that “discretion” is of utmost importance for the casino’s wealthy clientele.
That meant she had no choice but to be honest with her employer about her time on national television.
“To this day, I still attract the occasional curious person who comes across me and wonders, “I’ve seen her before; Where do I know her from?” he continued.
“Fortunately, the company, especially my leaders, have been very supportive.”
Melissa called her first night shifts “eye-opening.”
“Every shift is different,” he said.
“The psychology of entertainment, risk and reward is something I’ve never considered in depth before and now makes me question even my own simple financial decisions.”
“So far, work has been really enjoyable,” he added, praising the diverse cultural backgrounds of his coworkers.
‘As for the guests? They’ve all been lovely so far, some more interesting than others…’ he joked.
‘It’s never a boring day!’
Melissa last worked in the hospitality industry over ten years ago, and encouraged others to try new jobs, which at first glance might not seem like ‘the right one’.
‘A job you may not think is right could end up being the one you really love! So why not jump in head first and give it a try? You might be pleasantly surprised!’ she concluded.
The season eight sweetheart shares her two-year-old twin sons with husband Bryce Ruthven, who she met on Channel Nine’s dating experiment.
Bryce and Melissa’s relationship was easily the most controversial during the explosive season.
He was infamously branded “toxic” after he told Melissa that she wasn’t his “type” on the show and sparked a huge reaction from fans at the time.
Fortunately, the couple worked things out and legally exchanged vows in February at a beachside wedding ceremony in Sorrento, Victoria.