The number of Aussie men getting Botox is “absolutely” on the rise despite a Married At First Sight bride calling it “unmanly”.
Gia Fleur made the disparaging comments just days out from the end of the Channel 9 experiment for the 2026 season.
In an interview with WHO, the 35-year-old lashed out at her match, Queenslander Scott McCristal, and said he wasn’t manly because he “got Botox”, “didn’t drink” and “worked in an office”.
However, skin expert Isabella Loneragan told Yahoo Lifestyle getting Botox shouldn’t be seen as emasculating.
“I absolutely have noticed an increase in men seeking beauty-focused treatments,” she said.
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Even though the Channel 9 show has teased Gia and Scott could survive the experiment in recent promos, she’s been open about moving on with a new man.
The former disability support worker has since found love with Love Triangle’s Alan Wallace since MAFS finished filming.
She said Alan was the type of man she wished she was matched with on MAFS because he was “smart”, a “tradie who will drink a beer” and “be manly”.
While everyone’s entitled to their dating preferences, times are changing with Aussie men.
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Are more men getting botox?
Data published by YouGov in 2024 revealed 27 per cent of men had undergone non-surgical treatments in the 18 months prior.
What might surprise people is that only 24 per cent of women had done the same.
The data revealed 8 per cent of men had Botox, 19 per cent had laser, and 11 per cent had received another kind of injectable or filler.
Comparatively, 10 per cent of women had invested in Botox, 14 per cent had laser, and 7 per cent got other injectables.
An ABC report echoed these stats, with one clinic saying only 5 per cent of men got Botox in their “early days”, but that’s now jumped to 15 o 20 per cent.
Are Aussies cutting back on their drinking?
When it comes to drinking, one in five Australians said they don’t drink, according to the 2024 Drinkwise Australian Drinking Trends report.
Reasons given were:
They simply aren’t interested
They’ve never had it or don’t enjoy it
They don’t like being drunk or hungover
They couldn’t afford to keep up the habit
Lightspeed’s annual State of Hospitality report found 40 per cent of Aussie diners now order fewer or no drinks at all.
Bottomless brunches are on the decline, and an overwhelming majority of Gen Z Aussies are keen on going on dates that don’t involve alcohol.
Gen Z are also 20 times more likely to abstain from alcohol than Baby Boomers, according to Flinders University.
FARE Australia also revealed late last year 44 per cent of Aussies who drink alcohol want to drink less or stop drinking altogether.
Gia Fleur said her new boyfriend was ‘manly’ in comparison to TV husband Scott McCristal. Source: Married At First Sight/Gia Fleur
Aussies warned over having ‘rigid’ dating preferences
Melissa Ferrari, a psychotherapist and relationship counsellor, told Yahoo Lifestyle there was nothing inherently wrong with having preferences when looking for The One, including wanting a “manly” partner.
But she warned that having preferences that are “too rigid” can narrow the opportunity for real connection.
She also cautioned against putting labels like “manly” or “unmanly” on people.
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“The idea of a ‘traditional man’ is far less clear today than it may have been in the past,” she said.
“Masculinity now shows up in many different ways. For some men it is being practical and hands-on, for others it is emotional intelligence, self-awareness and partnership.
“In healthy relationships, those qualities can sit side by side.
“Traits like getting Botox, choosing not to drink, or working in an office do not make a man less masculine. They reflect personal choices, lifestyle and identity.
Fellow relationship expert Samantha Jayne added that Aussies should avoid replicating Gia’s beliefs.
Relationship experts Samantha Jayne, left, and Melissa Ferrari, right, weighed in on the comments. Source: Samantha Jayne/Melissa Ferrari
“I’m a big believer that if you don’t have anything nice to say then don’t say anything at all,” she told Yahoo Lifestyle.
“No one is perfect; be mindful of feelings and give people the opportunity to be their own person,” she said.
“It’s really up to them as to what they do and the choices they make. You can decide if you want to be with them or not without any negativity.
“If you’re constantly nitpicking by pointing out flaws, trying to mould a person to be your ideal and push your beliefs on a person, it destroys attraction.”
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