Reality TV star Brooke Blurton has described her tumultuous re-entry to everyday life since wrapping up The Bachelorette, detailing online abuse and the struggles of being in the public eye.
The 27-year-old Yamatji and Noongar woman says she received the abuse after her relationship with Bachelorette winner Darvid Garayeli ended.
"The filming itself has been one of the best experiences that I've ever done in my life," she told NITV's The Point program.
"I was able to be a part of something that's never been done before in the Bachelor franchise. Being the first First Nations lead, yeah I still pinch myself for that moment.
"But the stuff afterwards, it's been bloody tough."
Bachelorette star Brooke Blurton says she was blindsided when Darvid Garayeli publicly announced their break up. Source: Supplied
'A very vulnerable place'
Garayeli publicly announced their break up on social media without Blurton.
"It was actually a private break up, until he decided to go live and put it out to the world," she said.
"Being in the public eye already is so difficult, like dealing with criticism and dealing with trolls and putting yourself out there in a very vulnerable place. It's already so hard to navigate.
"It's a lot of pressure and I had no choice in any part of it going public, I would have preferred not to but it did.
"I feel like it was just to humiliate me, to have one over me, and what else did I have to do?
"I was silenced. I was defenceless. I just had to cop it. And that's exactly what I did."
Brooke Blurton was The Bachelorette's first-ever Indigenous lead in the show's history. Source: Network Ten
'Just all rumours'
Brooke was already struggling from the loss of her sister, who died soon after the show wrapped up filming.
She said she felt defenceless as negative commentary grew about their relationship.
"My followers have not been the ones that have sent any type of horrible message.
"It was more the tabloids and the online forums... that were really writing the negative commentary, and it was just all rumors, speculation, assumptions.
"I had cheating accusations put on me and... I had no say."
She says she has "no regrets" doing the show, particularly given the significance of the representation for First Nations and the LGBTQI communities.
But the biggest lesson has been "not to be so hard on myself".
"I love TV and I am not scared about it. Maybe (I'll) just avoid reality love shows!
"But the next part of my chapter is really healing and spending and enjoying the time with my family.
"Getting back on Country and doing the things that matter."
Watch the full interview on NITV's flagship current affairs program The Point on NITV tonight at 7.30pm and later on SBS and SBS On Demand.
