Brooke Blurton broke the internet back in May when it was revealed that she would be Australia’s next Bachelorette.
The upcoming season of The Bachelorette Australia 2021 will make global history with the first mixed-gender cast in the franchise.
The 26-year-old will also be the first openly pansexual and Indigenous Bachie lead ever — and she’s finally ready to find the person she’s been looking for.
“I am so ready for this,” the youth worker, who made her franchise debut on The Bachelor 2018, said in a statement released by Network 10. “I’ve done it twice before and now, having the opportunity to choose my person and who I want in my life, is a truly unique and special experience.”
Brooke came out as bisexual when she was in the running for rugby union player Nick the ‘Honey Badger’ Cummins’ heart in 2018. She then continued her journey on Bachelor in Paradise in 2019 where she had a fleeting romance with Alex Nation.
Nick and Brooke. 
Alex and Brooke.
So, what do we know about Brooke’s upcoming season of love?
Where Is The Bachelorette Filmed?
This year’s Bachelorette will participate in a cross-over with HGTV’s Escape to the Chateau – well, not really, but the franchise has relocated to an outrageous French mansion dubbed ‘Le Chateau’.
The new mansion is located in the Sydney suburb of Dural, and debuted during Jimmy Nicholson‘s season of The Bachelor this year.
Given this, we’re placing bets that Brooke and her suitors will be taking up residence there as well – and boy, we can already imagine the kind of shitshows that are boutta go down against that classy AF Parisian backdrop.
Brooke was also papped on a single date with Jamie-Lee Dayz at Prince Alfred Park in what appeared to be the first single-sex date EVER. Jamie-Lee and Brooke previously appeared on The Bachelor together in 2018, after which it was speculated that they were in a relationship.
Brooke and Jamie-Lee on The Bachelor 2018. 
Jamie-Lee in The Bachelorette 2021 trailer.
A group of contestants were spotted stripping down for what looked like Baywatch-themed photoshoot at a heritage-listed property in Sydney’s west, too. And yes, we absolutely will be screaming at the TV for every one of them to Get. Their. Kit. Off.
A Queer Bachelorette Has Been A Long Time Coming
Network Ten’s decision to cast Brooke as this year’s Bachelorette comes after extensive calls for the series to be more diverse.
Since her debut, fans have pleaded with producers to have Brooke handing out the roses, instead of receiving them.
“She’s going to revitalise the whole franchise single-handedly and I cannot wait,” one Twitter user said.
Bachie alum Abbie Chatfield also gushed over the Bachelorette “icon”.
“The best decision made in casting in a LONG time. The Indigenous representation! The queer representation! The icon representation!” she wrote on Instagram.
While some people have their reservations about The Bachelorette’s new format, Brooke is certain this is the right way forward.
“Times are more progressive and sexuality and gender expression are just so fluid these days,” the Noongar Yamatji woman said. “I am not too sure if Australia is ready for it.
“I hope they are. I certainly am.”
Who Else Was In The Running For The Bachelorette?
During episode 75 of So Dramatic! With Megan Pustetto, Megan revealed that while Brooke is the right choice, she wasn’t the only choice for the role.
According to a well-placed source, “Brooke was originally not even an option” when they first started casting. This was due to Brooke being in a relationship when they started casting for the role last year.
“They thought she was off the table,” the insider confessed.
Paulini Curuenavuli. 
Renee Barrett.
The same source said that they were actually considering Renee Barrett, Paulini Curuenavuli and a number of fresh faces too. They also revealed that everyone’s favourite runner up, Abbie, was also in the running.
For a time, the network was super keen on Paulini and even gave her a test run on I’m a Celeb…Get Me Out of Here! Unfortunately, her schedule was just too busy and she couldn’t make it work.
Luckily our Bachie fave took the call and it all kicks off on Wednesday, October 20 at 7:30pm on Channel Ten and 10Play.
Know something about The Bachelorette 2021 that we don’t? Spill the tea here!
Get the tea first! Follow So Dramatic! on Instagram, and tune in on Mondays to get your reality tea fix with the So Dramatic! podcast with Megan Pustetto.
