Abbie Chatfield beats Grant Denyer to win I’m A Celebrity Australia 2021
Abbie Chatfield said she cried “tears of joy” after being crowned winner of I’m A Celebrity in the ultimate redemption story.
Confidential
Don't miss out on the headlines from Confidential. Followed categories will be added to My News.
It is the ultimate reality TV redemption story – Abbie Chatfield has taken home a series win on I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here!
It was a full circle moment for the former Bachelor and Bachelor In Paradise star, who was portrayed as the villain on those formats.
The 25-year-old secured the title over series favourite, game show host Grant Denyer, while radio host Jess Eva placed third.
She said she learnt a lot about herself in the three weeks living on basic rations of beans and rice in the Australian ‘jungle’.
“I’ve never experienced anything like it,” said Chatfield, who competed on the show to raise money and awareness for chosen charity, Dementia Australia. “It is a roller coaster in here but I think the highs are worth the lows.”
She said she was crying tears of joy after being crowned the winner.
“A year ago I was getting death threats and now @thecrazybull is crowning me!!!!” she wrote on Instagram.
“Crying in the toilets while writing this. I am so eternally grateful to everyone who voted for me and has supported me. I could write an essay about all of the cast and crew, but just know I love you all.
“@grantdenyer, it’s been an honour to know you and you were rooting for me down to the last minute. You’re an incredible man. Mum and @uncle_robbie_j, I love you more than I can describe. And my beautiful Granda Carmel, I love you and this is all for you. $100k to @dementia_australia is the most amazing feeling. I’m going to turn my phone off and enjoy everyone but from the bottom of my heart, thank you.”
The reality TV star looked overjoyed as she celebrated with her co-stars after the show wrapped.
Of his time in the show, Denyer said: “I think I’ve learnt that I am a lot more sensitive than I thought.”
Chatfield has stood out on television and online because she speaks her mind on issues important to her, ranging from body positivity to speaking out against body shamers and being a proud feminist.
Earlier this month, she told Confidential she regularly received death threats and other hate mail on social media.
“I am okay being the sacrificial lamb. It has been my life since the Bachelor,” she said. “I get trolled every day. It ranges from ‘you’re an idiot’ to instructions on how to kill myself, reasons why I should kill myself or death threats.”
Chatfield’s comments came weeks after the Federal Government introduced tough new laws combating online trolling where people who troll children and adults will risk six-figure fines under the world first Australian cyber safety laws.
Previous I’m A Celebrity winners include Fiona O’Loughlin, Freddie Flintoff, Casey Donovan, Miguel Maestre and Brendan Fevola.
Also on the show this year were mothers Toni Pearen and Jess Eva, who say the experience taught them to be themselves again after dedicating their lives to others.
“Considering I have spent the past 10 years just really raising my kids, I kind of relished the fact that I was going in there to be myself because I’d actually forgotten the greater parts of myself,” Pearen said.
“It was really nice to not have to be anything but be myself. That is the part that I really took away from the whole experience. And the kids have a new found respect for me.”
Pearen, 48, is mum to 11-year-old son Lucky and eight-year-old daughter, Ever, while Eva has Fred, six, and Matilda, four.
“When you become a mother, you are so defined by your title,” Eva, 36, said. “You are a mother before you are a human and I think for Toni and I, we found that finding our identity and inner-worth again … of course we want to earn money for our charity but that power and new life we’ve found has changed our lives forever.”
Both women have had to overcome various medical issues as a result of competing on the show.
Eva has had ongoing problems with her ears, while Pearen received five snake bites in a challenge in the first week of the series.
More Coverage
Robbie and Trent swallow our Oscars on the Gold Coast
The TV adaptation of a Queensland-inspired book and a Robbie Williams biopic cleaned up at the Australian version of the Oscars. FULL WINNER’S LIST
Disgraced ex-Nine boss spotted for the first time
Disgraced former Nine news boss Darren Wick has been spotted for the first time since allegations were levelled against him tipped the broadcaster into a scandal and led to a management overhaul.