A new season of The Bachelorette Australia brings a new flock of faces to our news feeds—and perhaps unlike other season that’s gone before it, we’re not mad about it.
Indeed, the 2021 instalment marks an historic first for the franchise, with the traditional (and dated) “boy meets girl” format turned on its head.
Brooke Blurton is this year’s leading lady—the first Indigenous and bisexual Australian to helm the series.
It means that Brooke’s batch of contestants include both men and women—a cast with real representation for minorities, and it celebrates the LGBTIQ+ community in way we’ve never seen throughout the almost decade-old franchise.
To add, the show itself is serving up the familiar drama that catapulted the show into popularity.
So with this in mind, it would be safe to say we’re watching this season with gusto.
Of course, we can’t always be available to lap up every minute of every episode on a Wednesday and Thursday night when it airs on Network Ten. But given how much more invested we are in the series this year, we’re all no doubt desparate to know who stays and who goes as we edge closer to finding out who the winner is.
So in case you missed it, here we recap every person (so far) who has left the Bachelorette mansion without one of Brooke’s roses.
Johann
Johann was the first to go following a dramatic cocktail party where he was left in the bottom two with Jess. The New South Wales carpenter took the hit on the chin however, happily sharing on Instagram: “Holy smokes what an experience! I had a hell of a time. What an amazing group of people to meet and what an absolute gem @brooke.blurton is, I wish her all the very best!”
Beau
“Short and sweet, just like Brookie,” Beau shared following his early elimination in episode 2.
“It was an epic experience nonetheless and I’m wishing all those beauties left the best of luck.”
Ritu
Ritu’s strong and vibrant personality didn’t go unnoticed, but she was sadly eliminated in the third episode.
“Thank you for having me Brooke,” she wrote on Instagram after her final rose ceremony.
“It was sweet to watch everyone vying for your heart and to get to know everyone in the mansion-verse.”
Jess
In episode four, a shocking rose ceremony saw four contestants leave the mansion. Jess was the first to go—but she took the blow with dignity.
“What a journey this has been,” she wrote on Instagram afterwards.
“I am not only surprised, but I am also proud of myself for having the courage to put myself out there and get out of my comfort zone,” she said on Instagram after her exit.
Emily
25-year-old vet Emily was next to be sent home in the explosive episode.
“Unfortunately I didn’t find love with Brooke but I did find it with some amazing friends I’ll keep close to me forever,” she shared of the experience on Instagram.
Bec
Bec was humble on her exit, writing on Instagram: “So grateful for every single one of these amazing and incredible women. You are everything.”
Matt
The fourth and final contestant to go in episode four’s mass cull was Matt, who kept up his comedic outlook in the aftermath.
“Pros: Breathed the same air as the stunning @brooke.blurton, what a woman! Met some incredible people, who I hope to stay friends with for a long time. Got out my comfort zone and enjoyed an incredible experience,” he wrote on Instagram.
He concluded: “Cons: Still single. Still am terrible with women. Now hate pumpkin.”
Carissa
Carissa made a heartbreaking exit from the show in episode five on her own terms, taking Brooke aside at a cocktail party to tell her she couldn’t “fall in love this way” while the Bachelorette continued to build connections with the other contestants.
Jess
Jess’ time in the mansion was cut short when she was eliminated in episode 6. The 28-year-old HR consultant came into the show as an intruder but was one of the first of the four to be sent home.
Ryan
Ryan caused a rift in the mansion when he admitted he was developing feeling for someone else in the mansion—Jamie-Lee. When Brooke found out, he was sent home.
Steve
Steve’s final rose ceremony from the mansion was the definition of a quiet exit—and that’s likely because he was entirely unsurprised.
Speaking to Network Ten after the elimination, he said: “I kind of thought my time was up, explaining that he felt his connection with Brooke was “surface level” in comparison to the other contestants.
Taje
23-year-old Taje’s exit left her, Brooke and a bunch of the show’s fans rather emotional. While the Youth Worker said a tearful goodbye to the Bachelorette, Taje later explained how content she was following the experience.
“I’m proud to be part of this,” she told Network Ten.
“Maybe it wasn’t meant to be that we were together, but I wished [Brooke] all the best and it was a beautiful moment to me, especially being another First Nations woman.”
