Bachelor In Paradise had many colourful characters but none so more than Leah Costa.
When we first met the 25-year-old, she was vying for Matty J’s heart on The Bachelor.
And she was instantly painted as villain. But BIP gave her a chance to re-write her story.
From the moment she stepped onto the pristine Fijian island, the nation got to see a funny, blunt and brave woman – a far cry from her Bachie persona.
So when Leah decided to walk out of Bachelor In Paradise, we knew she’d have a lot to say.
Without further adieu, Leah Costa holds nothing back as she opens up about her BIP experience, failing at finding love and her shock claims that Australia didn’t get to see the real Matty J on The Bachelor.
Leah does not hold back!
Could you talk me through your decision to walk out of the show?
I was just over it to be honest. When I was told no one else was coming I knew I was done.
You probably knew you were towards the end of the show. You didn’t want to just stick around and enjoy the island?
I think the island sounds like a novel idea but it isn’t reality.
Everyone thinks that paradise is really relaxing and it isn’t.
It’s so emotionally draining.
Why do you think it is so draining?
All day every day you’re thinking and talking about wanting to find love.
You’re not really going about having fun.
There were good moments – obviously.
In the morning I’d go paddle boarding but I think it came down to the fact that we had no new stimulation.
So all conversations organically would steer towards talking about who you liked.
And I was always reminded that I hadn’t found someone.
That is all your life revolves around.
We saw you threaten to walk out quite a few times – obviously you actually did it but in the beginning was it more of a knee-jerk reaction?
I think I was thinking who else are they going to bring in.
We were nearly done, I was frustrated and I it seemed like no one else was going to enter.
Everyone was loved up and I was sick of being on the outside. It gets to the point where you kinda lose friends.
Towards the end I didn’t really see Sam and Tara for like 4 days because they were together in their love hut.
It gets to the point where you’re really over it.
Looking back, are you happy you left when you did?
Definitely! I’m very glad I finished what I started.
Watching it on TV I’m not left with the thought of “What if”. I don’t regret anything.
You were so valiant with trying to connect with someone. Was there a point where you thought this was just too hard?
I just wanted to be honest.
Like with Thomas I said no because you sometimes know when there’s no connection.
And everyone deserves the chance to make a real romantic connection.
With Mack for example – everyone thought it was silly for me to not pursue that.
But I was being honest and he needed to know how I actually felt.
Mack seems to regret not trying harder with you – but it sounds like you think that it was for the best?
We were always friends and I knew that wasn’t going to change.
He may regret picking Ali, but I don’t think anything would have changed between us.
It was always going to be a friendship and nothing more.
How hard was it when you didn’t get the chance you wanted with guys like Michael?
That’s the hardest thing for me to watch back. You don’t get to see the extent of our relationship.
We spent SO much time together.
Every morning we’d go paddle boarding and hang out, we’d stay up late talking.
You don’t get to see that we were really close friends. We kept each other there.
Are you still friends?
Umm we do chat occasionally.
It’s a pipe dream to think you’ll all be friends forever. You know life takes over.
You go back to your own friends, family, work.
Your feelings towards American Jarrod were very relatable. Many of us have experienced feeling hot and cold towards someone. By the time he came in, you’d faced some rejection so it is understandable that you gravitated towards his interest in you… Is that an apt way of describing your relationship?
Initially when he came in I had just gone on a really good date with Grant. It was before he got with Ali. And I didn’t want to ruin something with Grant.
And then when Michael left…
I had so many close friends that had gone like Mack and then Michael.
I just gravitated to Jarrod.
He was so lovely and calming and just easy to spend time with.
I think with me it’s very much, “You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.”
That sums it up.
And then Rachael [Gouvignon] came in.
I lost my person. He may not have been romantically my person but he was safe place in paradise.
Did he know how much he meant to you?
Yes! And we’re still very much in contact. He’s great.
Many fans felt like you may have felt an attraction towards Megan?
We’re just good friends! We’ve talked about it but it’s more girls having a cocktail.
I don’t think it would have ever taken off but neither of us are opposed to it either.
I think it’s one of those things, if there’s sparks it will happen or it never does.
You’ve heard that Luke cheated on Lisa – what are your thoughts on the matter?
I think there are two sides to every story.
It’s an unfortunate situation and I feel sorry for both of them.
Life is very different outside of paradise.
You can walk out thinking you can make it would and then reality hits you.
There’s work, schedules, making time to see each other, life commitments – it makes everything difficult.
I’m sorry for both of them, I’m sure they’re both hurting.
How intense are Keira and Jarrod together?
Not really. They’re great! I love them both in their own way.
Going in I never thought I’d love Keira.
They’re very cute, they definitely work together.
They’re perfect. I think [in regards to their on/off nature on the island] it’s very much the same mentality of not knowing what you had until it’s gone.
What about Sam and Tara? There are so many rumours that they were super loved up and couldn’t keep their hands off each other. One report said they were “going at it like rabbits”. Any truth to that?
They’re so happy together. They’re perfect.
Was there anything that happed on the island that didn’t make it to air that you wished did?
My date with Davey. His story is bulls–t.
Him choosing Flo afterwards isn’t how it went down.
He picked me for the date and I didn’t want to be there.
As soon as he realised, when we came back, you see me go straight to the girls.
I was like “Get me out of here!”
On the date he was begging me for a kiss and I just didn’t want to.
Like, I was talking how interesting the champagne glass is… Take a bloody hint mate!
2He came back from the date, and I started chatting and hanging with Mack.
I told Davey that I wasn’t feeling it.
And then he went running back to Flo. He made it seem he was being a good friend going back to her but it was actually because I rejected him.
Speaking of Flo, how did you feel when she got a second chance and returned to paradise?
[Sighs] It was a waste of everyone’s time.
Hers, Jake’s, Megan’s, ours, production, the viewers – everyones! [Laughs]
I was like “Why?”
3Elora got slammed for sharing details about Simone’ s history and it caught up to you when Elora commented on one of your posts – where are you at with both of the girls?
The really interesting thing is on their season of Bachie they were best friends and I fought with the pair of them.
But we’ve made peace since and going into this we were well and truly friends.
In fact Simone and Keira were my roommates.
But with the girls I found myself playing mediator a lot because I got along with them both.
It was a horrible position to be.
I’ve spoken to them since –we’re not good friends but if they were in town I’d get drinks.
Life goes back to normal.
4Do you think they can be friends again?
I think it’s a little high school – you’re forced to be friends with someone you wouldn’t be with in the real world.
I wonder if they will?
Did you prefer your experience on Bach or BIP?
Paradise is awesome it was one of the best experiences of my life.
It was like school camp – just full of laughs.
Bachelor was probably one of the worst, if not the worst.
5Australia really fell for you on BIP. You were funny and honest. Do you think this time round we got to see the real Leah?
I wouldn’t say the real me but it was a lot more fair.
You’re never going to look good when you make comments about people.
And you’re not going to have your good bit make it to air but you definitely saw more of me.
Were the guys you dated more your type or is Matty J more of the sort of guy you like?
I think Matty J. He was why I applied – to me he was perfect down to the ground. He was what I was interested in and what I was looking for.
But I think who he is in reality to who he was on Bachelor were two very different people.
6You know what I’m saying?
He was trying too hard to be perfect and he lost what made him special.
Off camera he was funny and witty, he had this dirty sense of humour and all these qualities that you wanted but it didn’t translate.
He became very vanilla.
Was there someone you’d hope would come into the show?
Actually I was hoping for Courtney which now I realise wouldn’t have been good [Laughs]
Leah wasn’t the only Bachelor In Paradise walk out… Find out why Eden just had to leave!
