While one contestant feels unimaginable joy, another is left crushed. Such is life for contestants on The Bachelor Australia.
In tonight’s nail-biting finale, fans watched on as Jimmy Nicholson declared his love for Holly Kingston. But, before he could make things official with the love of his life, he had to say goodbye to Brooke Cleal.
The runner-up was left devastated by the split, asking “why would you do it here?” as Jimmy broke the news to her.
Brooke was visibly heartbroken in the finale.
(Image: 10)“You made this whole experience real for me,” Jimmy started to tell her at the rose ceremony.
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“I’ve been infatuated with you from the very start. We made some of the nicest memories I’ll ever have.”
“You let me into your crazy little world and I’ve loved every second of it. It’s been nothing but amazing,” he continued, before a dramatic pause.
Brooke’s face fell and the tears began to fall as she realised this wasn’t her happily-ever-after moment.
“Whenever we spoke about the future, it was always really difficult for us,” Jimmy continued. “You are perfect in every way and I would never want to change you, but we are two different people. And it breaks my heart but I have to say goodbye.”
“Why did you do it here? Why here? In Alice Springs?” she asked him between tears.
“Honestly, I had no idea which way I wanted to go and I have been thinking so much about this and I… there’s just too many unknowns for us,” he responded.
“Maybe you’re not for me then,” she said, struggling to get her words out. “Because I need someone to take risks with me. I need someone to take risks. And… I fell really hard. And it’s a shame.”
Jimmy and Brooke appeared smitten on the show.
(Image: 10)Ahead of the emotionally charged final rose ceremony, Brooke and Holly both shared statements to camera about their love for Jimmy.
Their comments stood in stark contrast, with Holly cherishing how “easy” her relationship with Jimmy was while Brooke opened up about her imperfect compatibility with the Bachelor.
“I’m not perfect for Jimmy and I know that,” she said honestly. “I am not perfect for him. But he likes my imperfections.”
“I know we’re going to have challenges but I know it’s going to be balanced out with so much love and I know it’s me and him at the end. I know it is. I can feel like it is. I do think Jimmy is in love with me.”
“When you know, you know. I just know that I’ve won his heart,” she said, before later finding out he was in love with Holly.
Brooke felt certain of her connection with Jimmy.
(Image: 10)Meanwhile, Holly addressed her feelings in a simpler manner.
“Falling in love with Jimmy has felt incredible,” she said. “It’s definitely not like me to drop the L Bomb so quickly, but when you know you know.”
“I know that Jimmy and I are just perfect for each other. It’s as simple as that. I can see a lifelong future with him. It’s easy. It works.”
“The thought that he might be feeling the things that I’m feeling for someone else is really, really petrifying,” she continued. “I mean I just don’t understand how we could have what we’ve had and it not be me.”
In the end, Holly was the one for Jimmy.
(Image: 10)While the show has been airing, the contestants have left their social media accounts in the hands of Network 10 representatives.
Now that the finale has dropped, Brooke has shared her first statement about the split.
“From the moment I met you on the red carpet, you had this cool way about you that instantly made me the quirk ball between us (thanks),” she wrote on Instagram on Thursday evening.
“Your intelligence was highly admired, but the balance with the fun, was even better! We had so much fun on our dates, in fits of laughter, sore cheeks and saying somewhat the silliest cringeworthy things (thanks).”
“This love story might be over, but I wish nothing but the best for the beautiful, down to earth couple, and I am so happy you both found love,” she signed off.
Here’s hoping Brooke finds her own happily ever after, too.
