Brooke Blurton makes television history as the first Indigenous, LGBTQIA+ lead of The Bachelorette Australia
Brooke Blurton as Australia's next Bachelorette. Courtesy of 10play.com.au, 2021.
Proud Noongar-Yamatji woman and social worker Brooke Blurton has been announced as Network 10’s next Bachelorette! This television history-making announcement has been generating a massive stir on social media as Brooke will be the Bachelorette’s first openly bisexual and First Nations lead. For the first time, the show will be allowing both men and women to apply (Vogue Australia, 2021).
Brooke is no stranger to this reality tv show franchise, having appeared on the sixth season of The Bachelor (starring former Australian rugby union player Nick Cummins, aka The Honey Badger) and the spin off series The Bachelor in Paradise in 2019. As the first openly bisexual Bachelorette, Brooke’s season will see both men and women fight to win her heart (NIT, 2021).
The announcement via her personal Instagram account attracted the support from figures such as musician Emily Wurramara, artist Rachel Sarra, and writer and creative Nakkiah Lui (NIT, 2021).
Brooke has been open about her sexuality on both television and social media. In an interview with the podcast The Babble last year, Brooke mentioned (2019) that she would be “open” to becoming the next Bachelorette, however she expressed doubt that broadcasting Channel 10 and fellow Australians would be as accepting:
“I’m a little bit different in the sense that I date both sexes and whether Channel 10 and Warner Brothers would be up to a bi Bachelorette (is the question).”
She also opened up, in an interview with the Daily Telegraph, about leading the franchise saying (2021):
“I am not too sure if Australia is ready for it. I certainly am. If it makes people feel uncomfortable in any way, I really challenge them to think about why it does.”
In the lead up to the filming of this year’s The Bachelorette Australia, host Osher Günsberg, announced his support for Brooke’s search for love (2021):
“We are a nation of people from so many different backgrounds, so many different cultures and so many different experiences, yet we all have one thing in common – we all want to be loved in a way that is meaningful to us. I can’t wait to get started on helping our Bachelorette Brooke find that kind of love.”
Doubts aside, Brooke expressed to 10 Play (2021) her excitement for the show:
“I am so ready for this. I’ve done it twice before and now, having the opportunity to choose my person and who I want in my life, is a truly unique and special experience. My perfect person is someone that loves me for me. I hope they offer shared values and compassion for others. All the dreamy things! I’m so excited and hope that I finally find that person I’ve been waiting for.”
Casting for the show is still open. Both men and women are invited to apply. Game on!