Bachelor Australia 2021: Favourite Holly Kingston responds to critics

After one week, Bachelor frontrunner Holly Kingston has been dubbed a Trump supporter and planted actor. Now she’s fighting back.

It has been a baptism of fire for Bachelor frontrunner Holly Kingston – days after first appearing onscreen, she’s found herself at the centre of two controversies.

Betting odds to be the last woman standing in the race to win Jimmy Nicholson’s heart quickly tipped in the 27-year-old’s favour after the season premiered this week on Ten.

But online sleuths were quick to dig up presumed dirt on the Sydney marketing manager – “evidence” she may be a planted actor as well as a Donald Trump supporter.

It was revealed Kingston starred as Alice in nine episodes of ABC3 teen drama Ready for This in 2015 and was often referred to as an actor in various third-party Instagram posts.

Bachelor Australia 2021 contestant Holly Kingston. Picture: Ten

The Bachelor frontrunner Holly Kingston was an actor before working in marketing. Picture: Instagram

“I played a minor role in a television show over six years ago after I graduated from university,” Kingston said.

“Whilst I enjoyed my time doing this, my passion is in the field I currently work in. I have over five years’ experience in marketing working for awesome Australian brands and that is where my sole focus is.”

Kingston’s political views also came into play after a supposed pro-Trump post from her Instagram account in 2018 resurfaced.

The post saw her posing with a large American flag during a trip to the Wisdom Tree in Los Angeles, California, and was captioned with “#MAGA”, referencing Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan.

Holly Kingston said she made this 2018 #MAGA Instagram post in jest. Picture: Instagram

After Bachelor fans took to Twitter to voice their disapproval, Kingston said the post “was made in jest and with complete sarcasm intended”.

“It’s fairly evident I use satire a lot on my social media platforms,” she said.

“This comment in no way, shape or form is an accurate representation of my political beliefs.”

Ahead of this week’s Bachelor episodes, Kingston said she hoped fans could turn their attention to her true intentions of finding love with pilot Nicholson.

“Leaving my whole world behind and entering into this experience came with such a massive build up,” she said.

“I went to bed every night for the weeks prior wondering who this guy would be and if we would get along and have chemistry.

“The first thing I noticed when I met Jimmy was that he made me feel instantly comfortable.

“He made me feel at ease and like he was genuinely interested in my story, which isn’t always easy when you have 23 girlfriends.

“Let’s just say I don’t think this season will be boring by any stretch.”

The Bachelor Australia returns Wednesday at 7.30pm, on Ten.

Originally published as Bachelor Australia 2021: Favourite Holly Kingston responds to critics