Married At First Sight UK star Leah has publicly confirmed her new relationship with professional footballer Maz Pacheco, just months after her dramatic split from TV wife Leigh.
From Friends to Romance
In an exclusive interview with Nonchalant Magazine, Leah revealed that she's dating someone she's known for 13 years - Women's Super League defender Maz Pacheco, who currently plays for Everton and previously represented Aston Villa.
"So I'm dating a girl I've known 13 years," Leah told the publication. "She's a footballer and yeah we've always kinda kept in touch ad hoc on like Instagram and stuff."
The TV bride explained that their romantic connection began after she properly exited the reality show, describing the relationship as "really, really nice."
Timing and Support
Addressing potential concerns about the relationship's timing, a source told The Sun that while Leah did bump into Maz while she was still with Leigh in a public space, "nothing romantic took place until after the marriage ended."
Leah emphasised how supportive Maz has been throughout her post-show journey, noting: "It's nice because it's somebody that she just gets me for me. She just wants to roll with it. She's got a thing going on as well. So she's always so busy with everything and she's really, really supported me throughout this whole journey post show being aired as well."
Football Career and Education
Maz Pacheco boasts an impressive football career that includes being an England youth international and signing for Liverpool at just 17 years old. Her professional journey has taken her through Doncaster Rovers, Reading, West Ham United and Aston Villa before joining Everton.
Remarkably, during her footballing career, Pacheco earned a law degree from the University of Sheffield in 2020, demonstrating her commitment to both sport and education.
The new romance blossomed in the months following the filming of Married At First Sight and Leah's bitter on-screen split from Leigh, whose marriage was troubled from the beginning with frequent disagreements and accusations of flirting.
