Masked Singer’s Abbie Chatfield on work-life balance, boundaries and her mystery boyfriend

Oversharing multimedia star Abbie Chatfield reveals the one hard boundary she has managed to keep in place.

It’s possibly a massive understatement to say podcaster, TV host and reality star Abbie Chatfield’s not good at relaxing.

It’s reinforced by the fact that she is sorting coat hangers in her spare room as she navigates back-to-back publicity commitments.

“I’m just doing interviews as I rearrange my spare room, to be honest,” she says, explaining the strange sounds in the background.

“I’m in the final stretch of sorting it all out.”

Another example – Chatfield confesses that on the third day of a five-day health retreat in Thailand, she was going crazy.

“I borderline couldn’t sleep, I needed to do something,” Chatfield explains.
“ … not even bored, it was just the anxiety simmering inside of me. I realised when I chatted with my therapist just how much I work to avoid my feelings. I’ve got to feel my feelings, which is a nightmare.”

After a totally frantic start to this year, the 28-year-old had planned a slower pace to the end of the year. But Chatfield kept saying yes to all the things, juggling TV, radio and podcasting, engaging with her committed and passionate social media followers, travelling the country on a sold-out live speaking tour. Not to mention hosting the latest reality love juggernaut – the Aussie version of FBoy Island.

Panellist Abbie Chatfield for the 2023 season of The Masked Singer.

Part of feeling all the feelings was acknowledging that she needed to step down from her nightly radio show (which she announced on August 17), to focus on the projects which energise her.

“SO I QUIT RADIO!” Chatfield, 28, wrote on Instagram, sharing a video of the announcement. “Lol decided a little last minute after my break. My finale show is tonight!

“I’m really happy with my decision and super proud of myself for letting this role go,” she said candidly.

She’s been rather unfiltered and open about all areas of her life since she first came to our attention on the 2019 season of The Bachelor. From the little things such as recently sharing her unflattering licence pic because she “wanted to be a relaxed girlie who didn’t care if she had her licence photo taken after gym with her hair in rat nest …” to the big stuff such as identifying as queer and being in open relationships.

But Chatfield says she’s better at keeping some things to herself now.

“I do feel that pressure (to share it all) but I’m now very anti anyone knowing who I’m dating,” she says.

She confirmed in June she was seeing someone special but will “never” post him on social media. “I am seeing someone beautiful so it’s nice,’’ she said at the time.

“No one will ever know who it is. I refuse to go to events, I’m incredibly boring, I would rather sit at home with him or my girlfriends.”

And Chatfield’s stuck firmly to keeping him under wraps.

Abbie Chatfield and Joel Creasey at the Logies this year. Picture: Channel 7

“That’s kind of the only hard boundary I’ve managed to put into place,” she shares.

“I’m trying to put more in, my therapist keeps trying to get me to put more in, but it’s been a struggle for her. Poor thing. It’s just going against my nature.”

It’s also a massive struggle for her to keep all of the secrets about the latest season of The Masked Singer. The bonkers, and most over-the-top costume party will see local and international superstars once again step into the spotlight – albeit hidden under spectacular masks created by Oscar-winning costume designer Tim Chappel.

“It’s almost impossible because mum will call me and there are a couple (this year) that mum will be very excited I met, or had selfies with that are on my phone and I can’t share them yet,” Chatfield says, adding it’s made even worse when she knows that some of this year’s singers are friends of her friends and she can’t share that either.

“I mean you want to almost brag to everyone who you’ve met, so I can’t wait as it starts to air so I can call mum and send her photos.

“It’s been killing me.”

Mel B, Abbie Chatfield, Dave Hughes and Chrissie Swan on the new season of The Masked Singer.

Turns out there’s no What’sApp group either so she can debrief with her fellow Masked Singer panellists – Mel B, Chrissie Swan, Dave Hughes and host Osher Gunsberg.

While she can’t give any hints about who’s under the some of the gigantic masks such as the Snow Fox, Crash Test Dummy and the Bad Avocado, she says people will be shook as to the level of talent revealed.

“Dare I say it – it’s bigger and better than last year,” Chatfield says. “Hughesy kept saying ‘That’s big’.”

What’s also back – and also possibly bigger again – is Fridayz Live. And while she’s carefully protecting her energy, Chatfield couldn’t say no to hosting for the second year running.

“Every show (last year) – I was obsessed and screaming and losing my shit,” she says.

“I’m really thrilled about this year and the line-up is just as big, if not bigger.”

Molly O'Halloran, Abbie Chatfield, Ziara Rose and Sophie Blackley at the FBoy Island screening. Picture: Supplied

And she’s not wrong this year’s star-studded concert series which will travel across Australia from November 10 includes Jason Derulo, Boyz II Men, Flo Rida, Kelly Rowland and Havana Brown. Plus her last year’s co-host Fatman Scoop.

“It’s very hard to say no – all the work that’s being offered, it’s not like it’s awful work,” Chatfield says, with a laugh.

“Do you want to fly around with Akon and Fatman Scoop and host shows? Ah yeah, course I do.

“Do you want to watch celebrities sing in front of you and take off masks? Yeah.

“Do you want to host this event? Do you want to host FBOY Island? Yes and yes.

“It’s all really fun stuff – so it is hard to say no. And also because that thing we were saying before – there’s that thing about when you have too much time to think, all that anxiety amps up.

“But I’m trying to be better at figuring out what I actually want to do, not just what I can do.”

So while Chatfield’s very much hoping for a second season of Binge’s FBOY Island, for now she’s embracing the opportunity of cooking for herself at night. And having the mental capacity to walk her dog and just listen to podcasts. Oh and that little matter of completely sorting her spare room.

The Masked Singer Australia, Monday, Sept 11, 7.30pm, Ten

Fridayz Live, tickets on sale from September 5. Dates and details at frontiertouring.com/fridayzlive