The surprising reason for Paul’s transformation before MAFS explains why he looks so different

Throwback pictures of Paul Antoine before marrying Carina on MAFS have showcased his insane transformation from bodybuilding gym addict to wellness guru. Pictures began circulating from his fitness Instagram page, and despite them being taken around 2022, he looked starkly different from the red-flag groom we got to know on season 12 of MAFS Australia.

There were some truly hot guys on this season of MAFS, at least when you take them at face value without getting to know them. Red flags aside, Eliot Donovan and Paul were clear frontrunners, but unfortunately, they had a habit of opening their mouths or, in some cases, punching doors. Soon enough, it became almost possible to ignore the icks and focus solely on the eye candy – rude!

But Paul didn’t always look that way, in fact, he underwent an crazy metamorphosis between 2022 and 2025 that was sparked by a sudden realisation. Take a look.

Before meeting Carina, MAFS’ Paul was a bodybuilder

MAFS’ Paul is by no means unfit, and there’s enough evidence to argue that he and Carina were the best-looking couple on MAFS season 12, but these unearthed pictures literally look like another person entirely. Competing in both the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness Professional League Australia championship in 2022, Paul looked considerably more ripped, with each muscle pronounced and defined for competition.

Other pictures uploaded to his fitness account showed him flexing on posing on stage alongside other bodybuilders with that shockingly dark tan associated with the competitive sport.

“Show day on left pic & 2 days post show on right pic. Crazy what carbohydrates and salt can do!” he captioned one pic, which showed his transformation before and after a competition.

Why did Paul stop bodybuilding?

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I can’t believe I’m about to write this, but Paul’s reason for stepping back from bodybuilding does kinda prove that he’s not the one-dimensional reality TV villain we have watched for what seems like months.

Explaining the decision in an Instagram post, he penned: “Bodybuilding was more than a sport, it was a way of life, a discipline that demanded everything from me, my time, my energy, my mental space.

“And for a while, I thrived in that world. But what I once saw as the pinnacle of health, I now see as a paradox. I stepped away from bodybuilding competitions because I realised that when you take it to a certain level, it becomes, in my opinion, both physically and mentally toxic.”

Paul further detailed how the grind can leave you feeling “isolated” from those in your life, going as far as to say that he would skip social plans to prioritise training “above everything else.”

“The people who care about you get pushed to the side, even if that’s not your intention,” he added. “It’s a lonely journey not just for you, but for the ones who love you too. Beyond the physical and mental toll, bodybuilding at a high level is also incredibly isolating.”