Brooke Blurton has discussed how Jackie ‘O’ Henderson inspired her during her stint on The Bachelorette while also opening up about her relationship with her ex G Flip.
The reality TV star, 29, first appeared as a single woman on The Bachelor before soaring to huge fame as the first LGBTQ+ and First Nations Bachelorette in 2021.
She has previously spoken about how she pushed to get the same pay as her male counterparts, and has now revealed how Jackie, 49, inspires her to always advocate for it.
Brooke said it has been ‘hard’ to speak about pay disparities in the industry, citing Jackie openly discussing the gender pay gap on her and Kyle Sandilands’ own radio show.
Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Australia while promoting her NAIDOC Week partnership with Francesca Jewellery, Brooke shared: ‘I believe all women should have equal pay regardless.
‘Someone who has really inspired me is Jackie O, she should 100 per cent be getting paid the same as Kyle.
‘That for me is motivating for when opportunities do arise that you’re getting those equal rights to the male talent. It’s been hard to speak about in the industry previously.’
Jackie has often voiced her upset at the pay issues at her radio show’s station KIIS FM and walked out earlier this year upon learning it has the highest gender pay gap disparity amongst Australian radio networks.
Brooke Blurton – who has partnered with Francesca Jewellery – spoke to Daily Mail Australia about how Jackie ‘O’ Henderson inspired her to get the same pay as her male counterparts on The Bachelorette
Brooke, who has used her fame to become a gender equality and First Nations advocate, also discussed how she feels about The Bachelor franchise being axed.
The reality TV series and its spin-offs were among a line of programs temporarily slashed by Channel Ten this year amid a round of cost-cutting at the network.
It has been claimed the future of the embattled network is uncertain as it continues to bleed television shows amid sliding ratings and an advert revenue crisis.
Brooke admitted it is ‘sad’ the franchise will be leaving screens as she noted how the popularity of streaming services such as Netflix have seen TV channels take a dive.
She shared: ‘Through The Bachelor series, there’s been such beautiful people and it’s given us such a showcase of great Australian talent and Australian public figures and people who are now doing great things.
‘It is a bit sad that it’s closing off, but then I guess there’s such a push for more streaming services. Mainstream TV is lacking at the moment and streaming services is where it’s at.’
Jackie has voiced her upset at the pay issues at her show’s station KIIS FM and walked out this year upon learning it has the highest gender pay gap disparity among Aussie radio networks
After The Bachelor’s axing, Channel Ten also reached another hurdle when it was forced to stop broadcasting in Mildura due to rising costs, with fears the channel could shut down in more Australian states amid the struggles.
Brooke insisted she doesn’t think the future of free-to-air is in trouble as she told how there is still a huge audience for live TV, rather than people only tuning in online.
She said: ‘I feel like there’s such an older generation that still watch TV. It might not cater to all demographics but there is still a need for mainstream TV and free-to-air, we spent so many years behind the TV it would be sad to give it up!’
She added that she has no worries about what The Bachelor host Osher Günsberg will do next as she remarked: ‘I’m sure in a matter of time we’re going to see him doing fabulous things.’
Brooke became a household name on Channel Ten’s The Bachelorette, where she featured as the leading lady looking for love, and left the show with Darvid Garayeli.
However, the couple went their separate ways shortly after, and Brooke has now given an insight into her love life since leaving the reality matchmaking series.
In December, Brooke confirmed she dated non-binary drummer G Flip, 30, in 2021 and told how they have maintained a close friendship ever since.
Brooke also discussed her ‘sadness’ about The Bachelor franchise being axed by troubled Channel 10 but said she has no worries about what ‘talented’ host Osher Günsberg will do next
She said of their bond: ‘G and I are still such great friends, we talk all the time. That’s the best thing about the LGB community, just because we dated for a split second it doesn’t mean we can’t be friends after or still talk and have such a positive and healthy relationship.
‘It’s probably one of the best things about being part of the LGB community is the acceptance and love that’s there. We occasionally check in with one another, talk, say hello.’
Brooke also showed her support for G Flip’s marriage to Selling Sunset star Chrishell Stause as she gushed over the couple’s ‘beautiful’ relationship.
‘They’re smashing music goals and their relationship with Chrishell is so beautiful,’ she went on.
‘It’s so aspirational, their type of love and commitment to each other and doing long distance and stuff like that.’
As for own love life, Brooke said she is single but isn’t dating, instead focusing on studying acting – with the hopes of creating a Heartbreak High-style show in the future to tell First Nation stories.
Brooke also spoke about her relationship with her ex G Flip – who she dated in 2021 – and revealed they still have a very close and ‘healthy’ friendship
She revealed: ‘I am married to my work! I used to hate that saying, but it’s not that I’m not still hopeful – I really am – but it hasn’t been a huge priority of mine unfortunately. I have everything I need so I guess I’ve found love in other places.
‘I found the joy in having my dog [Cobar], he gives me so much and I can’t even get a text back from a guy!
‘How the f**k can a thing that doesn’t talk or speak give you so much love and a guy can’t even text you? It’s embarrassing!’
She also ruled out a return to another reality dating show and vowed that her fans will never see her making a bombshell entrance to Love Island.
‘I don’t like being in bikinis so I wouldn’t go on any Love Island,’ she shared.
‘I also struggle to flirt these days, I don’t know how to flirt, so I think my dating days on shows are very much over.’
Brooke was a fan favourite on the seventh series of The Bachelorette but confessed she didn’t think she would be ‘interesting’ when she first joined the franchise.
‘I honestly thought when I started The Bachelor series that I wasn’t going to be that interesting,’ she shared.
‘I was so obsessed with sport and having a healthy lifestyle and that’s all I really about.’
Brooke also showed her support for G Flip’s marriage to Selling Sunset star Chrishell Stause (both pictured) as she gushed over their ‘beautiful’ relationship
She admitted that she felt some ‘pressure’ as the first LGBTQ+ and Indigenous Bachelorette because she wanted to successfully represent her communities.
‘Thinking about it now, I did feel a lot of pressure to make the season a big success, not just from a network position but more of an advocacy and representation position,’ she shared.
‘Not only am I representing queerness but also First Nations people. So that’s a lot of responsibility. I just tried to do my best and be as genuine and authentic as I could in that experience.
‘We all know TV can be very consuming and there’s articles out there that people have spoken about having lack of support for their mental health during different shows, so I tried to be as transparent with that as I possibly could.
‘I tried to do my best while also falling in love, which isn’t as easy as I thought it would be!’
Brooke has used her platform to become a First Nations advocate and has now partnered with Francesca Jewellery for the NAIDOC week of observance.
She has collaborated with the brand to create a stunning charm necklace featuring the quote ‘Stand In Your Truth’, with 10 per cent of proceeds being donated to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.
Brooke has collaborated with Francesca Jewellery to create a charm necklace featuring the quote ‘Stand In Your Truth’, with 10 per cent of proceeds being donated to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation
She said of the collaboration: ‘Giving back to community is so important with everything I’ve done through my career and advocacy work.
‘Francesca have made it happen, not just being something that has to sell but also an opportunity for people to support First Nations literacy and education. It’s a beautiful collaboration.’
‘The necklace features a quote very special to my heart, Stand In Your Truth,’ she continued.
‘Stand in your truth is a mantra that I use to reflect on her past lived experiences, and to inspire and empower my future. It encourages anyone to acknowledge where they’ve come from, and where they are going.’
Brooke’s Stand In Your Truth charm necklace is on sale with Francesca Jewellery now.
