While many fans have pegged Irena Srbinovska as the woman to steal Locky Gilbert’s heart on The Bachelor, a new report has claimed the frontrunner “stepped away” from the show midway through filming earlier this year.
The 31-year-old nurse, according to the Daily Mail, decided to take a step back to return home to Melbourne to help on the COVID-19 frontlines.
Her decision to return home came as the Channel 10 series was forced to halt production due to the ongoing pandemic, and while the other women were waiting for their Zoom dates with the Survivor alum, the publication states that Irena chose to continue working.
“Hearing about what was happening in the world was heartbreaking, especially being a nurse,’ the reality star told New Idea. “My heart was torn, a part of me was selfishly devastated that the show was stopping, but then the other half of me was so eager to get back home and fight COVID.”
“It was hard saying goodbye to Locky and the girls, but also so rewarding that I could do my part to help out with the pandemic,” she added.
The news comes as eagle-eyed fans spotted Irena leaving major clues on Instagram, suggesting that she does, in fact, win Locky’s heart.
As picked up by the So Dramatic! Instagram, one fan wrote: “I hope we get some more love story and less of the drama—I have stopped watching for now,” a fan wrote on Instagram about this season’s very drama-heavy plotline.
Irena responded: “The love story is coming I promise,” which was accompanied by a smiling face with love-heart emoji.
Meanwhile, another fan has also noted that Irena and her BFF Bella Varelis, no longer follow each other on Instagram, which is surprising seeing as they are so close on-screen.
“Notice how Irena and Bella don’t follow each other on Instagram… definitely means one of them wins so it is awkward now,” one user noted.
And while betting websites have all tipped Irena to take out the top spot, even current contestant Areeba has her eye on the Melbourne-based nurse to win, saying that there’s no way Bella is the winner as that outcome would be “too obvious.
“Where is the suspense? In all honesty, if I was making the show and Bella won, I would be like, ‘oh okay,'” she revealed in an interview with Perth Now.
“I think Irena [will win]. I think Bella is too obvious, there is way too much connection already. Irena is a sweet girl.”
