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Brooke Blurton named as the next Bachelorette
Brooke Blurton has been announced as Australia’s next Bachelorette in what is a huge win for diversity and representation for the reality series.
The 26-year-old is the first openly pansexual star of the show and as a proud Noongar-Yamatji woman from Western Australia, she is also the series’ first Indigenous lead.
“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," Brooke said.
"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.”
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Casting for the dating show is open now, encouraging both men and women aged 23-35 to apply, with filming to start in June this year.
The Bachelorette Australia host, Osher Günsberg, said be couldn't wait to get started helping Brooke find love.
“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," he said "I can’t wait to get started on helping our Bachelorette Brooke find that kind of love.”
It will be Brooke's third time looking for love, after Aussie's first met the star on Nick ‘Honey Badger’ Cummins' 2018 season of The Bachelor, before she quit the show close to the end of the season.
She then also made an appearance on Bachelor In Paradise, where she spent time with Alex Nation.
Brooke joins Jimmy Nicholson on the franchise in 2021 after he was announced as Australia’s next Bachelor earlier this year. The Sydneysider is of New Zealand and Fijian heritage.
Brooke is a passionate youth worker, particularly working with those who have experienced homelessness and trauma. She is also an ambassador for suicide prevention charity R U OK?.
With suicide one of the leading causes of death in young people, Brooke has openly spoken about how identity can play a huge part in those statistics. And she has seen the effects of life’s challenges first hand, having lost her mum to suicide aged 11.
“One of the reasons I'm a part of R U OK as an ambassador, is to empower people with knowledge on the signs someone is struggling, so they can trust their gut instinct and start a conversation that could change a life," Brooke tells Yahoo Lifestyle, as she takes part in Tread as One, a joint initiative between Anytime Fitness and R U OK to raise funds and awareness for suicide prevention.
"Going for a walk or run or doing a workout with a friend is not only a mood-booster, but a great way to carve out some time together, where you'll be able to tell if something's not quite right.
"If you have a regular training session or walking time with someone, you might notice signs like if they're skipping workouts, or they look or act different, or maybe they're just in a low mood.
"You don't have to be a mental health expert to start a conversation, just a good listener and a good friend. It takes a lot of courage to speak up and openly about if you're not feeling great, but when you have a regular time when you see someone, there's more chance you'll feel connected enough to them to open up."
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