Ten’s bisexual Bachelorette: ‘I’ve found the love of my life’

Brooke Blurton reveals why she doesn’t care about the show’s troubled ratings and hints at the show’s final result.

Firstly, the team at Stellar would like to say how sorry we are to hear the news of your sister’s recent passing [Blurton’s older sister Ky died in WA in August, while Brooke was in Sydney filming The Bachelorette Australia]. We hope you and your family are doing OK.

Thank you. I really appreciate that. We’re just taking it day by day. I’m here in WA to be with my family right now.

“I don’t really like the word journey” (Picture: Damian Bennett)

It can’t be easy straddling the line between being a public figure and trying to lead a private life, particularly in times like this. How do you do it?

I’ve found that I have a good balance between what I’m posting on social media and what I keep private. I think I’ll continue to maintain that. I’ve built this beautiful community [on social media] in the past couple of years of being in the public eye.

Each of my followers has watched my journey [laughs]… I don’t really like using the word “journey”. They’ve seen me grow and progress and have little wins, but also heartbreak and some tragedy.

You first appeared on the 2018 season of The Bachelor with Nick “The Honey Badger” Cummins, followed by Bachelor In Paradise a year later. Both times your search for love was unsuccessful. Now you’re the star of The Bachelorette. Why do this again?

Something that hasn’t changed from the first time doing it until now is my motivation to find someone. Previously I haven’t been shy of dates but finding that person who really loves me wholeheartedly was always something that I wanted.

On The Bachelor, he wasn’t my person. And then I gave it another crack; I’ve always been someone who doesn’t give up on things too easily. I’ve always wanted to find the love of my life. And I thought The Bachelorette was the perfect opportunity. People get cast for me. If you put it out into the universe about what you want, it comes full circle. And it worked!

“I feel excited and grateful that I can show that representation” (Picture: Damian Bennett)

So you’ve found the love of your life?

Oh, yes [laughs]. Yeah, I have, absolutely. I’m really, really lucky, and I’m really excited about the show airing and about my relationship. I’m honestly counting down the days [till the show airs]. I just want to be able to share with my family and friends about how happy I really am.

You’re making history in Australia as the first Indigenous Bachelorette, and globally as the first bisexual Bachelorette – meaning that you have both male and female contestants vying for your attention. That must feel momentous.

I feel excited and grateful that I can show that representation. I never really had any intentions in life that this would be as big as it is. I’ve always just broken down barriers and stereotypes my whole life. I feel like it just comes naturally for me to do this. I do pinch myself.

But I was so prepared, and still am prepared, for what’s to come. I feel pressure to make the community I’m representing proud and make sure they’re getting the right representation. But I can only be myself. It’s got me this far [laughs].

Brooke Blurton features in this Sunday’s Stellar.

This year’s season of The Bachelor with Jimmy Nicholson – who found love and recently moved in with the show’s winner Holly Kingston – did poorly in the ratings, generating a lot of headlines. Does this make you worried about how your love story will be viewed?

Jimmy and I have different stories and different experiences. I’m really glad that he found someone in the end but I actually don’t stress myself out about ratings.

I’m just more excited that people get to see me, my personality and just the whole show, because I think that regardless of ratings, it will still be a great experience – and a great show.

The Bachelorette Australia premieres at 7.30pm on October 20 on Network 10.