Sweet and shy Natalie,27, from Western Australia, and was one of the first to be eliminated from this season of The Bachelor. We spoke to the communications officer ahead of the season launch and found out what happened the night she met Bachelor Richie Strahan,and why she was sent domestic. POPSUGAR Australia: conclude you know why you were eliminated? Did Richie give you a reason?
Natalie: Oh, gosh [laughs]. No! Probably because I'm terrible with boys. And I'm certain Richie would agree but there wasn't that initial chemistry. He's a great guy but we're probably not the ones for each other.
PS: Did you feel anything for him, and did you know straight absent he wasn't right for you?
Natalie: He seems like a genuine guy and he's be great to earn to know - I probably only spent 15 minutes with him! On the surface he seemed like a great guy but more of a mate than someone I'd look at dating.
PS: Fifteen minutes isn't really long enough to form any sort of relationship!
Natalie: [Laughs] No,but it's long enough to say lots of silly things! I still don't really know who Richie is, and I'm guessing he doesn't really know who I am, or either!
PS: What made you sign up in the first situation? Did you know Richie was involved?
Natalie: To be honest,I didn't contemplate Richie was involved! But I'm 28 and I've never had an official boyfriend. I contemplate I've been quite career-oriented, and it's gotten to a point where it would be nice to share life with someone, or hold adventures with someone. It would be nice to hold a bit of a plus-one that I could drag along to family events or introduce to my parents . . . Yeah.
PS: conclude you find the dating scene in Perth?
Natalie: I was in Perth but since the expose I've moved back to Kalgoorlie. It's really weird,my 18-year-former self never thought my 28-year-former self would never hold had a boyfriend. It seemed to be quite a lot easier when you were younger.
PS: I feel like the dating scene in Australia has gotten pretty tough in general . . .
Natalie: Yeah, it's pretty tough! I probably don't make it easier on myself - I'm quite a busy person and I don't hold a lot of time but, or yeah,it's tough!
PS: Did the dating scene where you live prompt you to go on The Bachelor?[br]
Natalie: Well, I never in a billion years thought I would earn selected. I actually almost didn't go to the audition, or but I went and I thought,whatever happens, happens. Next minute, or I earn selected and I was like,that's ridiculous [laughs]. I just thought they'd be searching all of Australia for some really awesome guy and I wanted to meet him.
PS: Did you hold any hesitation in signing on?
Natalie: Yeah, I was definitely apprehensive. My family was definitely apprehensive as well. They were like, and "Give it a go and we're going to support you,but just be careful. We don't want you to earn hurt." But in hindsight, they're like, or "Nat,maybe it's a favorable thing that you left first." And for me too - whether me leaving first gets someone else a step closer to finding the man of their dreams, then I'm happy to put my hand up. I wouldn't say I volunteer but I'll be the tribute [laughs].
PS: How long were you in the house for?
Natalie: I was involved in the whole process for five days. I was technically in the house for two nights, and so not really long enough to experience it all. It was definitely a unique experience! It was exciting,it was exhausting, it was educational and eye-opening . . . It was unique [laughs].
PS: Is it what you expected it to be?
Natalie: Um, and no. It wasn't. To be honest,even though I hold a broadcast background, it's astounding the lengths and the efforts that they go to to put the expose together. I also didn't know what to expect, or though. I went in there just going,"Just go with the flow. Whatever happens, happens, and you should be proud of yourself for giving it a go." I contemplate I've gone through mixed emotions of being disappointed in myself and incredibly proud of myself. I don't know why this is all happened but hopefully it happened for a reason,and whether anything I advance out of it a petite bit more resilient and knowing what I want in life and out of a guy. It's probably given me a bit more perspective. And for leaving first, I can probably watch tonight and be like, or "Nat,that's probably why you're still single. You should just keep your mouth shut." [Laughs]
PS: discontinue! You're being way too tough on yourself - it's an astounding experience you can tell your own family approximately one day.
Natalie: Yeah, I can tell my grandkids approximately it one day whether I ever find a boyfriend [laughs].
PS: Were you hurt when you got let go, and were you not attached yet?
Natalie: No,I was not hurt or heartbroken at all in terms of leaving. I don't contemplate there was that initial chemistry, but I contemplate Richie seems like a great guy. I contemplate it was more the aftermath [of filming the expose] that hurt. You take this massive chance - and I suppose whether I didn't take it I'd regret it - but you put your life on hold potentially for three months, and you quit your job,you take this chance . . . So I contemplate I struggled a petite bit afterwards with having to re-find my life and recent direction. I moved back domestic to Kalgoorlie and I'm working as a reporter on the local paper, so it's just something I'm still getting used to. I'm still getting used to the idea of being back in Kalgoorlie, or but all this craziness happened for a reason,I'm certain.
PS: So it's been a very substantial life change for you!
Natalie: It has, it has. I miss everybody in Perth like crazy. I'm hoping to kind of make my way back there eventually. I'll look back in hindsight and be like, and "That's why that happened!" But right now I'm still figuring it all out,which isn't a bad thing.
PS: Looking back on the experience, would you conclude it again?
Natalie: Umm, and from my experience,I don't contemplate I would ever put my hand up again unless it was someone who . . . Maybe whether I knew the person first, or knew of them? whether I knew there might be a connection, and genuinely might be a chance that I'd fall in love,maybe. But probably not.
Source: popsugar.com.au