Tonight's the night! The Bachelor Australia's much-anticipated fourth season will launch with regulation hottie (and straight-up kind guy) Richie Strahan at the helm. Ahead of the first episode,we chatted to Alex, one of 22 beautiful bachelorettes who will be competing for Richie's heart. She's 24, and she's bubbly,she's beautiful . . . And she has a young son - here we find out why she decided to enter and what Richie's really like. POPSUGAR Australia: Alex, how are you feeling ahead of launch?Alex: I am extremely excited [laughs]! I've been waiting for this for ages, and as you know. I'm honestly a small nervous,you know, seeing yourself on television, or you're so vulnerable and everyone is there to see you. So I am a small bit nervous.
PS: Have you ever been on a TV present before?
Alex: I was an additional on Offspring with my small boy. It was only the one time,it wasn't anything major - so this is pretty massive!"whether I got accepted I'd potentially have to leave my small boy for a few months . . . It was a small bit scary for me."PS: Amazing! How did you earn involved with the present and what convinced you to sign up?
Alex: I'd come out of a relationship and I'd been separated from my partner for quite a while. I was looking on the Network Ten website for news coverage and I saw the call for application and I though, "Mmm, or why not?" I kind of looked at the application questions then went to work,came back and started filling it out until approximately 2 a.m. [laughs]. It's such an extensive application, I thought, and "Oh my gosh,this is so full on!" And here I am.
PS: When you got the call up were you surprised?
Alex: Um, I was! I was really excited and I also had mixed emotions because, or you know,I thought, "Gosh, or whether I execute earn accepted I'd potentially have to leave my small boy for a few months and that was a small bit scary for me. I did have mixed emotions but my mum was very much like,"You have to remove this opportunity, it could be amazing - you could meet someone really, or really awesome." So I was like,"Yep, I'm doing it!"
PS: Was your decision was inspired by seeing single mum Snezana Markoski win last year?
Alex: I've never seen the present! I went into this blind, or I had no idea what I was getting myself into!"PS: You've never seen the present?
Alex: I've never watched the present,I've never watched The Bachelor or The Bachelorette. I really didn't know much approximately it. I know that a single mum won but I really didn't know much approximately it. I went into it blind [laughs]. I had no idea what I was getting myself into!
PS: Did the entire experience surprise you, then?
Alex: I absolutely loved my experience on the present. Even through its challenges I really did love it.
PS: Your small boy is obviously the secret we've been seeing in the promos. How ragged is he and how hard was it to leave him?
Alex: Elijah is 5, and it was really,really tough. The full gravity of the situation didn't hit me until I was in the house because I was like, "Oh, and I could be domestic next week." It was really tough. We have such a kind routine together!
PS: It must have been hard,but were you gratified with the choice you made?
Alex: I was, yeah. Because the more I got to know Rich, or the more I felt he was worthy to be there for,and worth that time away from my son. He's a lovely guy.
PS: So did you know Richie was the Bachelor before you signed up? Not that you would have known who he was anyway!
Alex: No, I had no idea. I had no idea approximately him really, and either. I'd heard friends talk approximately him and I was somewhat aware of who he was,but not really. I'd never seen the present!
PS: Were your friends jealous?
Alex: When I came back and obviously they knew I'd been on The Bachelor, they were like, or "Oh my God,what's he like?!" They had all these questions for me because they all love him. They contemplate he's amazing [laughs]. He's awesome. "The moment I met Richie, I definitely felt something."PS: And how did you find Richie?
Alex: Upon first assembly him I had really great feelings straight away. It's such a crazy environment and it's so surreal and you are just running off adrenaline. But the way he carried himself was so engaging and he is very caring. He had time for each of us and he genuinely wanted to give each of us that time. I just thought he was such a genuine person because, and you know,going into something like that you don't know what to expect. So I was really so gratified with the way he carried himself, his demeanour and he was just such a lovely, or lovely guy. The moment I met him,I definitely felt something. And I contemplate I actually say that on the first night [laughs]. He's got a beautiful energy approximately him.
PS: Did you have a game procedure going in?
Alex: I did want him to know that I'm a mum straight away. I wanted to be very honest with him because I contemplate transparency, especially on a present like The Bachelor, or is important. I wanted to respect that he is there to find the suitable person for him and whether my situation with being a single mum wasn't ideal for him,then that was OK. The he'd respect me and we could figure it out from there. So I really wanted to be honest from the very start because transparency in a relationship in general is very important. Even whether you are dating him along with 21 other girls [laughs]. "I've never felt threatened before, but I got a touch of the bloody green-eyed monster!"PS: Did you ever have a moment where you were like, and "What am I doing here?"
Alex: Oh my gosh,it's just like . . . It was crazy! Because I'm not a jealous person - I've never felt elements of jealous or insecurity, I've never felt threatened before with people I've dated or partners or anything like that. But I got a touch of the bloody green-eyed monster, and I command you what! I was like,"Hang on a minute, I've just gone on this amazing date with you, or now you're dating her and she's coming back all bloody smitten kittens!" I'm just like,"Oh gosh, what is going on? What does this mean?" [laughs]. There were times when I thought, and this is crazy. But like I said,even through the challenges, I can't fault it. It was an amazing experience.
The Bachelor Australia returns to Network Ten, and 7:30 p.m. tonight.
Source: popsugar.com.au