It’s the question on everybody’s lips – where has Married At First Sight star Sam Ball been for the last six months?
The reality TV ‘villain’, 27, retreated from the public eye in May when he suddenly deleted his Instagram account so he could ‘put 110 per cent’ into new opportunities.’
Sam flew under the radar in the months that followed – before eventually returning to Instagram with a photo of himself looking very different with a bald head and clean-shaven chin on Sunday.
EXCLUSIVE: Married At First Sight’s Sam Ball, 27, joined the army and moved to Canberra after deleting his Instagram account in May
In his caption, the former construction worker offered very little information about where he’d been all this time, simply writing: ‘If you see me less, I’m doing more.’
However, Daily Mail Australia can exclusively reveal that Sam has joined the army.
According to insiders, Sam recently graduated from the Kapooka Army Recruit Training program in Canberra, where he is currently lives.
‘If you see me less, I’m doing more’: On Sunday, former Sam unveiled his new look on Instagram – leading fans to question where he’d been for the past six months
Sam ball is back or should we say… Sam bald’: Sam also uploaded an Instagram video of himself showing off his new look in the mirror on Tuesday – while joking that fans should now refer to him as ‘Sam bald’
Top of the class! Sam’s even received the Most Outstanding Soldier award upon graduating the course, according to a post on the Army Recruit Training Centre – Kapooka Facebook page
The news of his army career explains why Sam has shaved his hair, as well as why Sam geo-tagged himself at a popular Canberra bar in his latest Instagram post.
Sam’s even received the Most Outstanding Soldier award upon graduating the course, according to a post on the Army Recruit Training Centre – Kapooka Facebook page.
Sam hinted at his plans to join the army back in May, when he penned an essay to Instagram about his decision to quit the social media platform.
‘I’m going to put 110 per cent of my efforts into these opportunities’: Sam deactivated his Instagram account in May to ‘put 110 per cent’ into the opportunities he wanted to pursue
‘I’ve had some amazing life opportunities fall into the palms of my hands, literally, so I’m going to put 110 per cent of my efforts into these opportunities and delete or deactivate Instagram,’ Sam said in a video uploaded on May 13.
‘I don’t need or want Instagram. I don’t make money from it and I certainly at the moment I do not have a business using Instagram for so there’s no need for it currently.
‘I’ve got some beautiful relationships at hand and want to put all of my energy into these relationships – I don’t want any distractions so I wish you guys all the best.’
Ouch! Sam had infamously fat-shamed his ‘wife’ on their MAFS wedding day last year, telling producers he’d ‘never dated anyone as big’ as her in the past
Sam came to fame on Married At First Sight in 2018 as Elizabeth Sobinoff’s on-screen husband.
He sparked controversy within moments of his debut on the show after fat-shaming Elizabeth on their wedding day, telling producers he’d ‘never dated anyone as big’ as her in the past.
‘She’s got a beautiful face… Maybe I’ll get her running in the mornings,’ he said.
Whoops! Sam came to fame on Married At First Sight in 2018 as Elizabeth Sobinoff’s on-screen husband. He memorably went rogue on national TV and had a steamy affair with co-star Ines Basic (pictured)
Later that season, Sam infamously went rogue by enjoying a steamy affair with co-star Ines Basic.
Sam skipped the series’ reunion episode and was never held accountable for his behaviour.
After the MAFS finale aired in April 2019, it appeared that Sam had high hopes for a career in the spotlight, appointing a manager and setting up a YouTube channel.
Big dreams: After the MAFS finale aired in April 2019, it appeared that Sam had high hopes for a career in the spotlight, appointing a manager and setting up a YouTube channel
However, he promptly abandoned these dreams and began living a simpler life, deleting his Instagram and vanishing from the spotlight.
In January 2020, he briefly resurfaced in headlines after fans spotted him working at a bottle shop in Queensland.
‘I can confirm he is working in a bottle-o in Coolangatta,’ one viewer told fan page MAFSFunny at the time, as they launched a nationwide search for Sam.
Located: ‘I can confirm he is working in a bottle-o in Coolangatta,’ one viewer told fan page MAFSFunny in January, when they launched a nationwide search for Sam
During the fan search, others mentioned they had spotted Sam in Coolangatta.
In February, Sam returned to Instagram to slam his ex-‘wife’, Elizabeth’s decision to return to Nine’s social experiment this year.
‘Good on her if that’s what she wants to do to find love,’ he said during an Instagram Q&A.
‘I wouldn’t do it again’: In February, Sam returned to Instagram to slam his ex-‘wife’, Elizabeth’s decision to return to Nine’s social experiment this year
‘Everyone that’s been in the experiment [before] knows how set up [it is], and what goes on behind the scenes. I wouldn’t do it again.’
Sam once again returned to the public eye in April, when he spoke exclusively to Daily Mail Australia about his strict fitness regimen.
‘I’m training two times a day. I have bought lots, so now I have my own gym set up at home, and other days I improvise outdoors,’ he said at the time.
Sam said he hadn’t put a time limit on his fitness goals but instead was aiming to become ‘more athletic’.
Sam added: ‘I’ll reach [my goal] in a few months, it’s just for myself. I love it, so I’m just enjoying the process. I love being healthy and the lifestyle so if anything, the coronavirus is pushing me to chase my goals even harder.’
‘I want to be more athletic’: Speaking to Daily Mail Australia in April, Sam revealed he was on a mission to beat the ‘isolation blues’ by getting into the best shape of his life