“They’re doing it for the publicity” is a view many people have when it comes to contestants of The Bachelor and Bachelorette. The Bachelor’s ladies seem to cop the criticism and are often accused of using the show as a platform to boost their influencer status or businesses. But what past Bachelorette winners (and losers)? Where do they go after their five minutes of fame?
I’ve taken a walk/online-stalk through the profiles of past Bachelorette winners and losers and the results are in: that tradie? He’s now a model. The vanilla-flavoured banking manager? An “entrepreneur” and “ambassador.” And all the Bachie couples who seemed so in love? One, in the past 4 years, has survived.
The Bachelorette 2018
In this season Taite, the 28-year-old bank manager won Bachelorette, Ali Oetjen’s heart. It’s been just over a year since the couple got together and it is very apparent that they are still together. Yes, VERY apparent. Taite’s Instagram feed is completely flooded with shots of the two together, a signifier for a healthy relationship for sure. The banking manager gig seems to be a thing of the past, he’s now a personal trainer and has started his own business called ‘Sweaty AF’… very appealing.
After attempting to Instagram stalk Todd King, Ali Oetjen’s runner up of the season, I noticed something very… mysterious. This dude has his profile on private. PRIVATE. It’s unheard-of in the land of C-grade Aussie celebs. Perhaps this move was to avoid the trolls. King has certainly attracted a whole lot of attention after recently being photographed with this season’s runner up of the bachelor, Abbie Chatfield.
Alas, the rule stands: past Bachelorette winners and losers must date other former reality TV stars. There is no other way.
Perhaps the weirdest turn-of-events post-season comes from contestant Wesley Ford, who’s continued to pursue his acting career and appears to be starring in a medieval film…
The Bachelorette 2017
Sophie Monk was Australia’s Bachelorette in 2017. She chose Sydney socialite and successful businessman, Stu Laundy, to be her beau. Things were all very hush-hush after the season finished but it eventually came out that these two are very much no longer together.
In fact, two years after the show, Laundy spoke out on Channel Seven’s Sunday Night about the whole experience. He admitted that one motivation for going on the show was to gain exposure for his hotels and pubs. Kudos for the honesty.
Jarrod Woodgate was the runner up for that season and of course, went on to star on the Bachelor in Paradise where he fell in love with (you guessed it) another former reality TV star, Keira Maguire. It wasn’t long after they started dating that Maguire spilled the beans about their relationship. Nothing screams “mature relo” like confessing intimate details about your relationship with a former flame.
Where is Woodgate now? He’s busy being a “celebrity judge” according to his most recent Instagram post. He’s also an ambassador for ‘Camp Quality,’ a support network for children living with cancer and their families. Amongst all of the drama, at least there’s this wholesome silver lining.
The Bachelorette 2016
The 2016 season’s finale was incredibly dramatic. When Bachelorette, Georgia Love chose Lee Elliot as her man, rejecting Matty Johnson, he doubled over in pain. It was hard to watch. What’s not hard to watch at all, is Johnson holding his and Laura Byrne’s baby, Marlie-Mae Rose. Just look at this photo.
His partner, Laura Byrne is a successful podcast producer and total catch. She recently called-out her man’s ex- flame Georgia Love in a recent podcast ep for a mean comment she’d made online towards this year’s bachelor, Matt Agnew. That’s some badass energy.
Georgia Love and Lee Elliot seem to be one of the only successful love stories to come out of the Bachelorette in years. They’re still together and engaged.
Perhaps the most problematic contestant to come out of this season and maybe even all of the seasons is Rhys Chilton, who seems to stick his foot in his mouth on the reg. This guy is right on par with this season’s Bachelorette contestant Jess, who is all of Australia’s toxic masculinity squeezed into one man. According to Daily Mail Chilton has taken to fat shaming women. He recently posted a photo of a plus-sized model and apparently said: “Dudes don’t have a movement promoting beer guts as attractive. It’s as if we understand it’s not healthy.” Ah yes, the classic “men know all” stance. Inspiring.
Chilton’s Instagram account mysteriously disappeared after he received backlash for the comments but not before a bunch of publications screenshotted his problematic posts.
If I’ve learnt anything from this intensive deep dive into the world of past Bachelorette winners and losers, it’s this: C-grade Australian celebrities seem to exclusively date… each other. So, to the people foaming over that Todd guy from last season (AKA everyone), its time to say goodbye to your chances.