The Bachelor Australia 2017 finale delivered one of the most brutal finales of all time. There can only be one girl at the end and sadly for Elise Stacy it wasn’t her.
Despite being Georgia Love’d by Matty J, Elise was poised and dignified as The Bachelor revealed he’d fallen in love with Laura Byrne.
The pair had a truly spectacular time in Thailand.
We saw Elise really bond with Matty’s family but at the end of the day, the Bondi local had to follow his heart – which ultimately led him to Laura.
Before Matty delivered his news, Elise confessed, “I feel like I’ve found someone I’ve been looking for a long time. And it’s really exciting.”
Before telling Osher, “I am mixed with excitement and nerves. And find myself here now with the possibility of being with the man I love. I’ve really excited about that.”
“Hopefully we continue on the next part of our journey.”
Watch the moment it all went south in the video below
Matty, sadly didn’t want the same thing.
He began, “We have come so far in such a short amount of time. Every time we are together, you are so genuine and honest.”
“You are so worthy of being happy and finding true love. But I’m so sorry it’s not with me.”
“I know how hard this is. I really hope you understand. I’m sorry Elise.”
Being the ultimate trooper, she said, “Thank you for the journey. I am glad I met you and I am happy you have found what you’re looking for, and I wish you all the best in that.”
Afterwards she shared privately to the camera, “I fell in love with a man that doesn’t love me back. It was always a fear of mine to open myself up.”
“I’m confused about whether it was worth it.”
In our exclusive runner’s up interview, we talk to Elise about loving Matty J, her Bachelor Australia 2017 experience, and what she really thinks of Laura…
Elise, 30, WA, marketing executive
“I loved Matty.”
Elise, our hearts are breaking for you! Where’s your head at?
It is such a whirlwind!
I’ve been on autopilot all day and I’m actually really looking forward to sitting down with a wine and watching the final. And I’m so excited for when it’s all out there.
How do you feel now that your Bachelor experience is over?
I look back now and it’s actually been a long time since it started. You’re consumed by something for a really long time and it controls your life.
Since we wrapped up filming, my life has been in a bit of a stand-still.
Now it’s all finished and I’m excited and happy it’s over. Not that I didn’t like the experience, I’m just excited for life to start again.
Elise was first attracted to MJ’s warm gaze.
Do you think you found love?
Definitely! Hands down! [I was] absolutely smitten with Matty.
I feel really lucky to have met someone I genuinely love and I could see a really good future with.
It’s not often you find that and I feel grateful for it.
The marketing exec has been “Georgia Loved” by Matty J.
You’ve had a bit of time to process everything. What are your thoughts on Matty and Laura at this point in time?
It was always going to be Matty’s journey and it was his choice who he fell in love with. It’s not me, I can’t force it.
And ultimately, even though I am in love with him, you want someone that loves you back.
He doesn’t, then I can’t help that and good luck to him.
How have you mended your broken heart and are you over MJ now?
It has been a very up and down process watching the show.
You see amazing things that you have with Matty and you also see amazing things he has with other people. It has been such a roller-coaster and you do relive everything and a lot of those emotions.
I just need to take it as it comes.
“I had everything on the line and going into it I knew if it wasn’t me I’d be gutted.”
How do you feel about being called this year’s Matty J?
[Laughs] I think people say that in a nice way but in the end, Matty came second. He got his heart broken.
Yes, I was a slow burn and then things hit off very quickly. But I don’t like the comparison.
He was the one that got his heart broken.
Do you think Matty and Laura will go the distance?
I’d hope so.
I’d hope that he’d go through this process and find someone that he’d really have a future with otherwise it was a waste of time.
Elise has no hard feelings towards Laura.
The 30-year-old is ready to move on.
You, Matty and Laura all live in Sydney – what do you think would happen if you bumped into them?
It’s always going to be a bit awkward because you’ve got two girls who are smitten with this guy. And you’ve got a guy who genuinely has feelings for both of us.
So it’s going to be a bit awkward but we all get along. Laura and I are good friends and we have no animosity towards each other at all.
It’s been great to hang out with her today and connect again.
Can you walk me through that final rose ceremony?
That day was such a blur. And I… Gosh.
Thinking about that day, I find it really hard to actually go back [to life] before that decision.
[Nervous laugh] Really… Ultimately, you just want to know what his answer is.
The whole day you’re just going through the motions, being told where to go, what to do and when to put your dress on.
But basically I just wanted to rock up there, get it done with and know the results.
“Towards the end it was SO much harder for me.”
Was it hard mentally preparing for that? Did your past experiences with the rose ceremonies help you at all?
Oh my gosh it was COMPLETELY different. It was on another scale, this rose ceremony.
Gosh… I was so invested at that point. I had everything on the line and going into it I knew if it wasn’t me I’d be gutted. It’s really a sickening feeling.
When we reached that point, it was just a completely different scenario.
It really felt like the finale and after meeting his family I knew that I loved Matty. But going through that end week throws you off a cliff.
And the feelings are so much stronger. It was really very painful and everything during that time was just so much more intense.
But looking back, I think I had the potential of being a lot more hurt.
Elise says the final rose ceremony was “very painful.”
What kind of support do you have in the lead up to the finals?
It’s all leading up to that final decision and then it’s all over.
So you’re out in the wild again! [Laughs]. After that, we had access to anything you’d normally have. But up until that point, even when we were away, we were in lock down like it had been before.
The 30-year-old told Matty, “I am falling in love with you.”
“I don’t fall for people very often, but I kind of know when I do.”
Matty and Laura’s romance is finally public. How are you preparing for that and all the loved-up social media snaps?
It’s been a long time coming. It’s been months. I’ve had a while to prepare for it.
0From my point of view, I can let my guard down again and I’ll be able to speak and act freely and not have to hold or hide any emotions.
That’s what I’m really looking forward to.
It looks like you’ve stayed in touch with many of the girls but have you spoken or been in contact with Matty?
I think after watching the finale, you know the answer to that…
Elise saw a future with the Bondi boy.
Being in the top two with Laura, what is your relationship like with her now?
Up until now, we haven’t seen each other since the show aired. And I think that’s appropriate.
To be honest, we weren’t allowed to see each other because paps are everywhere and that would show the answer, so we’ve been told to keep a low profile.
1That’s where it’s at.
Telling someone you love them is hard but doing it on national TV is so brave! Did you find it scary to share your feelings with the cameras rolling?
[Sighs] This is going to sound so cheesy and I know how cheesy I sound but during those moments it was just the two of us.
And that’s all I really cared about.
Watch the moment Elise changed everything for Matty with this sweet game
A lot of the girls who were eliminated earlier on didn’t really mind sharing Matty but how did you deal with the fact your boyfriend was dating your friends? Was it hard separating your Matty from say Laura’s Matty?
Oh my gosh! Yes definitely. The girls earlier in the competition aren’t really as invested. You know this is how the show works so you go along and deal with it.
2But towards the end it was SO much harder for me. Laura and I are quite different people, so I found myself kind of questioning Matty. I kept thinking about who he wanted and whether he actually wanted me.
I couldn’t tell if he was after a girl who was similar or different to him… The whole thing really plays mind games with you. I didn’t like it.
Sharing Matty was one of the hardest parts of the competition.
But she treasured their moments.
Was it hard watching yourself back?
Ummm it’s been good and bad.
I mean, there have been some great moments. You remember how much fun you had and you get to relive that again. But seeing him macking on with other birds is quite hard.
I had to turn away and I wouldn’t watch it fully. I actually just skipped through those bits.
3Who are you watching the finale with?
I’ll be at Channel 10!
Elise wouldn’t do the Bachelorette.
What was it about Matty that attracted you to him
His gaze!
He stares into your eyes like he’s staring through you. He makes you feel like you’re the only person there. And that was really nice.
Is he someone you’d go for outside the mansion?
Yes! Matty is definitely my type.
4If you were to write down a list of things that I look for in a man that’s “technically my type”, then you’d be describing Matty.
Relive the very first moment Elise met The Bachelor
Describing their relationship, “It was a slow burn and then things hit off very quickly.”
The nation adored your family on homevisits and the time your your dad dropped by to cook with Matty. Did you expect that?
That was such a fun day and we all just clicked!
It was like a bunch of mates just hanging out. There were a few jokes here and there which we didn’t get to see.
I left the day feeling really great and very proud of my family. They had a great time and they got to meet Matty, it was probably one of my highlights from the show.
5What are your loved ones thought on your Bachelor experience and of Matty?
They’re very protective over me.
When I signed up for the show I knew what I was getting myself into. But I never thought I’d have to bring them so much into the picture. But I’m just so thankful that they embraced it.
They weren’t too skeptical of Matty. Actually, my brother was a bit iffy about him when he met him.
It was purely based on the fact that Matty was on a reality TV dating show. But my family put that aside and they actually took the opportunity to get to know him.
They did really like him and I’m thankful for that.
Elise’s dad became her “ultimate wingman.”
Your family were so open and kind to MJ! It was one of the nicest home visits we’ve seen on The Bachelor!
6They really were!
At first, when I said I was going to do the show I did not think they’d be react they’d react the way they did.
I actually thought they would say to him, “No way! Don’t even come in the door!” [Laughs]
But they got their heads around it. It was very nice in the end.
Check out Elise reflecting on that home visit!
You’re so likeable and level-headed. We can totally imagine you going to your local pub and hitting it off with people. Something like The Bachelor is a very intense way to find love. What made you decide to apply?
Good question! I mean I’m still single [Laughs.]
7I remember thinking why not mix it up! I was about to turn 30 and someone floated the idea to me and I went along with it. I’m a big “yes person” and I decided to throw myself into it and here I am!
Would you do anything differently?
Not at all! I wouldn’t change a thing.
Elise’s family have been her biggest support.
The former athlete has no regrets.
It was a very intense house dynamic – how did you cope?
I walked around the mansion with Lisa.
When it was really intense I just removed myself from the situation. I’d go do a few laps. Yes, I cried at times when it was all too much but I put myself in that position.
8I had to give up control and I had to do things I wasn’t comfortable with so I just found my ways to cope.
Would you consider doing the Bachelorette?
Ummm… I don’t think I could to be honest.
I was so hurt [by tonight’s finale] and I couldn’t ever imagine putting someone else through that. I’d personally find it really hard to do that to another person.
The Perth beauty is ready for what’s next!
Elise Stacy & Matty J’s Love Story In Pictures
