Australian TV star Mel Schilling, known for her role on the reality show “Married at First Sight” as a relationship expert, has died of cancer aged 54.

Her husband, Gareth Brisbane, announced her death in a statement shared on her Instagram page on Tuesday, revealing that she passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones.

“Melanie Jane Brisbane-Schilling passed away peacefully today, surrounded by love,” he wrote.

Mr Brisbane recalled how in her final moments, she gathered the strength to whisper a message to him and their daughter, Maddie, even as cancer had taken away her ability to speak properly.

“It took all of her remaining strength, and that gesture summed up our wee Melsie perfectly. Even then, her only thought was for Maddie and me,” he said.

He praised her ability to become both a new mother and a television star at the age of 42 remaining dedicated to her work and family, despite undergoing years of treatment, including chemotherapy.

“To most of you, she was Mel Schilling – matriarch of MAFS and queen of reality TV. To Maddie and me, she was our wee Melsie: an incredible mum, role model, and soulmate,” he said.

Her husband also thanked friends, colleagues, and members of the Married at First Sight family for their support during her illness.

The dating coach had been open about her health issues in a post shared in March.

She stated that she was diagnosed with colon cancer in December 2023 after doctors discovered a tumour during a scan. 

Though the tumour was initially removed and was cleared, further tests in February 2024 showed the cancer had spread to her lungs. 

She underwent 16 rounds of chemotherapy while continuing to film Married at First Sight.

Later, she was selected for a clinical trial tailored to her gene type, due to begin in March 2026, given her hopes of recovery.

However, she mentioned that her condition became worse and the cancer eventually spread to her brain, and despite undergoing radiotherapy, doctors informed her that there was nothing they could do anymore.

“Hearing those words changes everything,” she wrote at the time, adding that she would continue to fight while surrounded by her family.

Ms Schilling was a widely recognised relationship expert, author, and media personality who started as a dating coach before becoming popular in reality TV.

She appeared as an expert on multiple versions of ‘Married at First Sight Australia,’ where she guided couples through complex relationships, leading her to appear on the show’s UK version. 

She authored books focused on confidence, dating, and personal development. 

Her work was often centred on helping women develop healthier relationships.