Just like that, The Bachelor Australia is over for another season–but not without its dramatic finale episode to put the cherry on top. It was an episode full of (to be expected) cringe-worthy moments, from Bella and Irena meeting Locky’s mother together to the double-up “I love you’s” leading a, rightfully so, very confused Bella home.
The night before the decision, Locky told Bella he loved her and even wrote a poem on his arm–a touching tribute to their first meeting on the red carpet. It’s easy to see why then, when Locky admitted it wasn’t her he had chosen for his final rose, she was audibly shocked (and pissed off).
“When I told you I love you, I meant every single word,” Locky told her. “I know you don’t see where your future is at the moment. I think I need just a little bit of certainty. I just don’t know if I can see us working.”
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Bella responded, “I just don’t get it. Yesterday, you told me you were in love with me.”
While Locky tried to give her some half-hearted excuse, she perfectly responded: “You can’t turn this around on me,” (yes, Bella!), before turning to the producers and saying, “can I leave?”
Now, Bella has taken to Instagram to reflect on the finale episode.
She began, “I’m not entirely sure where to even start…When Locky told me he loved me and couldn’t wait to make me happy for the rest of my life, I believed him and trusted him whole heartedly. We connected on so many levels right from the beginning, some you saw, but most you didn’t.
“Having three months outside of filming completely changed the aspect of the show, it brought normality to the connection and we grew into what felt like a real relationship.”
“Looking back; I’m proud of myself. I gave it my all, I was true to myself and I wore my heart on my sleeve,” she adds. “Whilst it’s not my fairytale ending, the laughs and the memories will last a lifetime. I want to say thank you to my on-set Bachelor family who were with me up until the very end, thank you for making me laugh through my endless tears that night.
“To everyone that supported me on this crazy journey, the people out there who don’t even know me but continue to keep the vibes positive and especially the people who got me through a few of the hardest moments, you know who you are, and you’re the real ones.
“I’m a firm believer that things happen for a reason and now was not my time, I’ll never stop being a hopeless romantic and I’m sure my happily ever after is still out there. Hopefully I don’t need to kiss too many more frogs 🐸✨”
Prior to the finale, Bella took to The Bachelor’s Instagram to share a heartfelt message about her Bachelor journey.
“Never in a million years did I think I would be stepping out of the limo that first night and meeting someone who I’d connect with on so many levels,” she wrote. “After a very long, incredible journey and seeing Locky with my loved ones, I have a full heart and I can definitely picture my life with him, which is simultaneously exciting and petrifying.”
She continued, “Regardless of the outcome, this has been one heck of a wild ride and I’m so grateful for the beautiful people I’ve met along the way and everything I’ve learnt about myself.”
Ahead of the final episode, Bella also took to her own social media pages to share both her final look of the season–a stunning strapless purple-hued gown from Georgia Young Couture–and a reflection of her experience in the Bachelor mansion.
She wrote, “After a long, incredible journey we’re finally here ✨ I’m so excited at the prospect of finally finding my happily ever after.”
Following her red carpet entrance, where the 25-year-old marketing executive gifted Locky a heart pin to wear on his sleeve–so he would remember “to always wear his heart on his sleeve”–Bella was pegged as a favourite to win. Although, things were not easy for her as tensions in her friendship with Irena began to show cracks in her and Locky’s relationship.
While Bella didn’t walk away with Locky in tow, she has since been rumoured to be living with castmate Bec Cvilikas in Sydney. Bella has also been spotted with several fellow Australian reality TV stars, including Bachelor In Paradise alum Nathan Favro and Jad Nehmetallah from Gogglebox.
