Earlier this year, tens of thousands of New Zealanders were fascinated by the goings-on on The Bachelor. What do you feel you achieved during your involvement?
I think the biggest achievement was being able to remain true to myself the whole way through the ‘journey’. It’s very easy to caught-up in the bubble that is The Bachelor. There were a lot of moments where I had to check that I still wanted to be there and just continue rolling with the highs and lows of the show!
There must have been many challenges. Can you describe a few?
I think the biggest challenge I had was not being able to communicate freely with my friends and family especially as these are people you would naturally call on for support in times of need. The irony of the situation was that at the end of the day those who really supported you were the other girls in the house. Smaller challenges existed like no phone, no music, no gym, no morning coffee stops at my local café!
Of course there would have been some unforgettable and amazing experiences. Tell us more about the best parts of being one of the ladies on The Bachelor.
The whole experience by and large was incredible: the things we did, the places we went to and saw were all truly amazing. Definitely one of the best parts was meeting some of the girls, some will be friends for life. I loved being in Hawaii in the beautiful sunshine and equally had the most amazing date at Spicers Lodge in Queensland — very luxurious!
What advice would you give to future bachelorettes?
I think the best advice would be to go in with eyes wide open. It’s very easy to be caught up in the bubble, and I think it’s really important to be completely realistic of the situation. We are thrown into a mansion with 22 other females all biding for one guy, and not everything is as you see on TV! So it’s just about being a realist in a very un-real situation, I guess.
What is the one enduring piece of wisdom you will take with you on life’s journey?
Be true to yourself and proud of doing just that. Particularly in times where situations can be portrayed in unsavoury light it’s easy to be swept up in public perception, but you know who you are and those most important in life definitely know the real you and love you for it. I am so grateful for the endless support from family and friends (and now total strangers) throughout the whole journey.
Life after The Bachelor?
I’m excited about life, and it’s nice to be able to talk about the experience now the series has wrapped. Who knows what the next chapter will bring? But I’m just happy to throw myself back into work, spending time with friends and family and getting back to my favourite coffee spot… Oh, and I guess meeting a nice guy is on the cards at some stage too!
