Angie Kent isn’t one for clichés. In fact, when we sit down to talk to the former Gogglebox Australia star about becoming the Bachelorette in the new season of The Bachelorette Australia, she refuses to refer to it by the J-word: journey.
“The word ‘journey’ is so overused,” the 29-year-old tells TV WEEK with a laugh. “Every time I hear it, I hate it. I prefer to call mine a ‘love safari’!”
A safari it may be – Angie says we’ll see her go through lots of different “feels” during this year’s show – but in the love department, The Bachelor franchise has delivered plenty of success.
We’ve barely begun our chat when the bubbly star confirms that, after a series of failed relationships, she’s found love on the hit reality show.
“I’m extremely happy,” she reveals, adding that she hasn’t “done a Honey Badger [a reference to 2018 Bachelor Nick Cummins]” by not choosing anyone.
Angie has found her Prince Charming (Image: TV WEEK).
As much as she rejects the word journey, Angie admits she’s learned a lot about herself in her quest to find her Mr Right.
“My biggest fear going in was being vulnerable,” she says. “Often when I’m vulnerable, I just joke around. But I really had to put my heart on the line to make connections and to make sure I didn’t friend-zone [just be friends].”
Before heading into The Bachelorette Australia mansion, Angie turned to 2016 Bachelorette Georgia Love – now engaged to winner Lee Elliott – for advice.
She said it was Georgia’s frank and honest insights that ultimately helped her decide who to give her final rose to.
“She told me to think about the person who will fit into your life outside of the Bachie bubble,” Angie explains. “What about when I’m just Angie and not the Bachelorette anymore – are they still going to love me and want to be with me? I thought about that a lot, especially towards the end.
“When the cameras stop rolling, are they still going to be there for me? What about when there’s sick Angie? Or crazy Angie? Who’s going to be there for me and vice versa?”
Georgia Love and Angie Kent together on the TV WEEK Logie Awards red carpet (Image: TV WEEK).
Finding someone who can fit into Angie’s life outside of the show is of huge importance – not because Angie’s life is particularly out of the ordinary, but because it’s, well, normal.
“I don’t want anyone to think I’m different because I’m the Bachelorette,” she says. “I’m still the Gogglebox girl. I’m still the jungle girl [Angie was a contestant in South Africa on I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! this year, where she finished fourth].
“Without these shows, I’m just Angie, the support worker who looks after animals. There are lots of different Angies, but I’m always myself and will always march to the beat of my own drum.”
The “real Angie” is exactly who we see on TV. The upbeat, funny and genuine young woman who first won hearts alongside her great friend and housemate Yvie Jones on Gogglebox Australia.
Before The Bachelorette Australia, Angie told TV WEEK she wasn’t a “timeline sort of girl” and that hasn’t changed – despite now being in a happy relationship.
“I’m more open to it [marriage and kids], but I’m not like, ‘I want to get married next year and have kids’ now that I’ve gone through this,” she explains.
The “real Angie” is exactly who we see on TV (Image: TV WEEK).
Unlike Australia’s former Bachelorettes, Angie wouldn’t be too fussed if she didn’t tie the knot altogether. But she would like kids.
“I’ve never thought about my wedding,” she says with a laugh. “I definitely want children, but not necessarily marriage.”
As for what kind of mum she’d be, Angie is confident she’d be a natural – after all, she’s been a nanny on and off for 10 years and been a support worker for five rescued dogs too. Caring for others is part of who she is. That said, she can be very no-nonsense when she needs to.
“I have a lot of fun [when I’m nannying], but I can be strict,” she laughs. “I’ll be like, ‘If you’re going to do that, you’re not getting your things later.’ And they’ll say ‘Sorry’ and I’ll be like, ‘Alright then.’ I’m strict – and then I’m a pushover!”
She might be a pushover when it comes to kids, but on The Bachelorette, she hints it’ll be a different story.
“I found out I could stand up for myself when I needed to,” she explains. “It was intimidating, but when I spoke, they listened. You do feel powerful!”
WATCH: Angie Kent takes the TV WEEK 2 Minute Challenge…
The Bachelorette Australia airs Wednesday and Thursday, 7:30pm, on Network 10.
