Married At First Sight relationship expert Charlene Douglas has paid an emotional tribute to her friend and colleague Mel Schilling, who died on Tuesday at the age of 54 after a battle with cancer. Charlene, 44, described Mel as a 'true gem' and a 'true professional'.
Mel's husband Gareth Brisbane confirmed her death in a statement, saying she passed away peacefully surrounded by love. Charlene said the most heartbreaking aspect of the loss is thinking of Mel's husband and their ten-year-old daughter Maddie, who she described as a 'mini-Mel'.
Charlene, who worked with Mel for five years, recalled cherished moments of dancing together during breaks from filming. 'We'd put the music on and we'd be dancing along to Beyonce,' she said. She also remembered their deep conversations, saying 'we got vulnerable with each other'.
Despite her illness, Mel remained dedicated to the couples on the show. Charlene said: 'She was a real lover of love — she really wanted the couples to work out. She was very committed to helping them through their relationship journey, no matter what was going on for her personally.'
