Australia’s New ‘Bachelorette’ Brooke Blurton On Her World-First Season Dating Men & Women
In this day and age, good news doesn’t come often, which means when it does happen — we simply must celebrate! And it doesn’t get much better than Australia’s longest-running reality dating show casting its first Indigenous and queer bachelorette in Brooke Blurton.
We all know Brooke and have watched her for the past three years in her pursuit of love. She made history on the 2018 season of The Bachelor for coming out to Nick Cummins, before dumping him ahead of the finale… where he infamously chose no one. Brooke then appeared on 2019’s Bachelor In Paradise where — after dating both Alex Nation and American Alex — she left the show when she realised she hadn’t found The One.
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Brooke is the perfect pick for this show. She’s a fan favourite, who also happens to be a kind and caring soul. The youth worker from WA and proud Noongar-Yamatji woman looks set to provide the shakeup this series desperately needs, especially after last year’s lacklustre season of The Bachelorette with Elly and Becky Miles at the helm.
Ahead of her groundbreaking season, we chatted with Australia’s freshly crowned bachelorette, Brooke Blurton.
On the response she’s received from The Bachelorette announcement:
“[The response has been] very positive, my phone is blowing up! I’m really excited, my friends and family are very supportive and my followers are like, ‘This needs to happen!’,” she told us.
“I did feel a bit of anxiety this morning, but I think that’s good. I care about it. I was nervous.”
On her decision to sign on as The Bachelorette:
“It’s about timing, I’m in a fabulous time in my life where I feel secure and stable in terms of where I’m at mentally and overall in relationships. I’ve been single for a year and I’ve explored and I’ve dated. I’ve gone on so many bloody dates. But now I think I look for a lot more in a person beyond their profile or if they’re an athlete or whatever, I look way beyond that,” she said.
“From my previous relationship, you know, it was a great relationship but the timeline was off. If you’re not really in it and you’re not invested, that can be devastating and heartbreaking. It’s always me and them on the wrong timeline. I just want to have someone — whether it’s settling down or creating a life — I just think it’s the perfect time for me.”
On whether she had been asked to the The Bachelorette in past years:
“This is the first time they’ve asked! Last year COVID happened and then the year before, I was in a relationship. So, even if they had asked, I wouldn’t be able to say yes [laughs],” Brooke said.
“It’s always really hard to have returning contestants, right? Is this something that the Australian public want? It’s about finding the right person to fit,” she said. “I love the franchise and being a part of it, so it was a no-brainer to say ‘yes’. It just happened to be perfect timing.”
On her iconic Honey Badger dumping and whether she could see him dropping in as an intruder:
“I don’t think I dumped him, I think he dumped me!” she said. “I don’t think he would return [to the show] if I’m being honest, he’s in a very loving, committed relationship, which seems to be very positive and I’m happy for him. I don’t think there’s any concern he’d come on the show.”
On what her sexual identity preference is these days:
“There is no preference with terms and titles. I haven’t put those titles on myself, but I’m obviously very open to both sexes — male and female. However you title it, or identify with it, that’s for other people to interpret. At the end of the day, I’m just going to introduce myself as Brooke, my sexuality doesn’t need to be my title.”
On being the first Bachelorette (or Bachelor) in the history of the entire international franchise to cast men and women:
“Oh my god, I’m excited. I mean, why not? Times are more progressive, it needs to happen. Channel 10 have really adapted the show and listened to feedback, and taken on what the Australian public want to see on mainstream TV. I really hope that it’s not a big thing, I’d hope times are more progressive,” she said.
“I’m just thinking of all the young girls and guys, the younger generation, that will feel represented and feel more comfortable about being themselves and how they want to express themselves through gender expression or through their sexuality. It’s exciting times ahead.”
On being the first bachelorette who is Indigenous:
“I think this is huge and I think this is great. As a young person, I watched TV as a kid and I didn’t really feel represented. I feel like I’m making a huge shift on mainstream TV on Channel 10. I’m often speechless, I don’t know how to put it into words.”
On wanting a more diverse cast of contestants to choose from:
“Absolutely, I hope that happens. Going into this, I want to feel that my needs and wants are being meant. The person that I want to be with, I hope they have aligned cultural values as me. I think there will be a lot more focus on inclusion and diversity, but I don’t want to oversaturate it either.”
On how men and women being cast on the show will work in the mansion:
“We’re not too sure logistically, but I feel that the men and women will live independently [in the mansion]. We haven’t filmed yet, so it’s exciting that we get to figure that out,” she said.
“I hope they interact with each other really positively. I’m not solely focused on how they interact together, I would hope they would be focused on interacting with me, as that’s the point of the show. I’m the one in control of who I spend my time with.”
On what she’s looking for in her dream partner:
“In terms of physical traits, I want someone who is active and takes care of themselves, someone that loves themselves and takes pride in their appearance. Then there’s the mushy stuff and dreamy stuff, I want someone who is compassionate, emotionally intelligent, and someone who has similar values and morals to me. I don’t have a strict type.
“I’ve always been really open and transparent with who I am — and that won’t change this season. But I think people will get to see more of my personality and who I am, which I don’t think I got to show on previous seasons.”
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If you’re looking for love, you can apply to Brooke’s season here.