The First Episode of the 2021 “Bachelorette” Gave Us All the Representation We Were Hoping For

With a welcome to country and a queer kiss on episode one.

Last night, the first episode of the highly anticipated 2021 Bachelorette season aired on Aussie screens, and in case you’re a bit behind on Bachie goss, this season shares the love story of the world’s first bisexual bachelorette, and Australia’s first, First Nations bachelorette, proud Noongar-Yamatji woman, Brooke Blurton.

The world's first bi-sexual bachelorette and a proud indigenous woman 🙌🏻

Australian TV breaking down barriers and I am here for it 🏳️‍🌈💪🏻

Make sure you watch along and show networks this is the kind of diversity we are after. #BacheloretteAU

— Nick Iadanza (@nickiadanza) October 20, 2021

Brooke’s appearance on national television is already a huge step in the right direction for LGBTIQA+ and Indigenous representation, especially for young people watching. But last night, Channel 10 went above and beyond to show Australia just how much they want to celebrate community and culture.

For the first time ever, the Bachelorette Australia opened with an acknowledgement of Country and sensitivity warning stating “We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this program is filmed. We pay our respects to the Elders and Peoples past and present.”

“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that the following program may contain images, voices and names of deceased persons,” Channel 10 stated.

Then as Brooke walked down the red carpet to the mansion, Indigenous Elders conducted a traditional welcome to Country. I’m sure there wasn’t a dry eye in the nation, there defs wasn’t from me.

We pay our respects to Elders and Peoples past and present. #BacheloretteAU pic.twitter.com/lYl6fX5B3Q

— #BacheloretteAU (@BacheloretteAU) October 20, 2021

While this kind of welcome is long overdue, it marks the start of a shift in the way Aussie media represents Australian heritage and culture, and it’s just so beautiful.

After Brooke’s red-carpet appearance, the contestants started arriving, and not only were there multiple BIPOC, but there was an amazing mix of different people from vastly different backgrounds.

A standout contestant was Darvid, who described himself as Brooke’s “Persian prince”, and took his red-carpet meeting as an opportunity to share his culture with Brooke over some tea—very wholesome and very sweet.

Other names worth mentioning were Taje, another First Nation’s woman who introduced herself to Brooke in her traditional Indigenous language, and Carissa who painted Brooke a picture of a rainbow turtle (which just happens to also be Brooke’s totem) to represent her connection with Brooke and the queer community.

Darvid went on to receive (spoiler alert) the ‘white rose’ for his first impression, which means that he gets to go on the first single date with Brooke. While many viewers were rooting for one of the ladies to get the white rose, Darvid’s openness and willingness to be vulnerable and share himself and his culture just ticked so many boxes.

okay but given the bachelor franchise's history of emasculating and generally fucking over ethnic men, its really nice to see Darvid get the white rose and front runner music <3 #BacheloretteAU

— Soaliha ✨ (@Soaliha_) October 20, 2021

And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, Channel 10 gave us the first kiss of the 2021 season, between two women.

After an emotional reunion on the red carpet, previous contestant on the Honey Badger’s season of The Bachelor (also Brooke’s first season) Jamie-Lee expressed her ever-growing feelings for Brooke, and the couple shared a beautiful kiss during the cocktail party.

🚨First kiss alert 🚨 #BacheloretteAU pic.twitter.com/Ch0JvKOfuI

— #BacheloretteAU (@BacheloretteAU) October 20, 2021

On top of being beautiful and emotional, the kiss between Brooke and Jamie-Lee brings so much representation and validation, not only to queer relationships but to bisexual people.

Two girls just pashed on prime-time television with no derogatory association but total acceptance. What a moment. Congratulations @Channel10AU @TheBachelorAU @oshergunsberg - feeling so proud! #TheBachelorette #TheBacheloretteAU

— Whitney Plowman (@_worldofwhitney) October 20, 2021

Nothing about the kiss was sexualised or made to look awkward and it’s stunning to see such emotional vulnerability already on episode one.

Reactions from viewers were ecstatic to say the least, with heaps of bisexual and pansexual people celebrating the representation on their screens.

Cheering and crying: they started with an acknowledgment of country and then Osher explicitly called Brooke the bisexual bachelorette 😭🙌🏼 #BacheloretteAU

— Hannah McCann (@binarythis) October 20, 2021

The start of this episode has already beaten every other Bachelor/Bachelorette season ever in history in all countries #BacheloretteAU

— Imo (@imogenrq) October 20, 2021

I don’t like reality dating shows but seeing an Aboriginal, bisexual woman leading #TheBacheloretteAU is incredible. Watching a HAPPY bisexual story makes my bi/pan heart sing. Representation matters.

— Mary | AZ 💉💉 (@dormousesighs) October 20, 2021

I am so brimming with joy & love in my heart ahead of tonight’s premier of The Bachelorette🌹
This is a moment fam - we are getting blak JOY on mainstream TV 😭🙌🏽 The focus not on deficit, trauma, or fear but on JOY & love. A pan, blak Bachie means so much 🌈🖤#BacheloretteAU

— Amy Thunig (@AmyThunig) October 20, 2021

As a bi-dude, pretty great to see this sort of representation in prime-time tele. Round of applause @oshergunsberg and crew 👏
💜🌹💜🌹💜🌹#BiChelor #Bachelorette #BacheloretteAU #TheBacheloretteAU

— Leon Sjogren (@Leonsjogren) October 20, 2021

feels like there’s been more diversity, culture and warmth in the first 20 minutes of #BacheloretteAU than there has been in the entire bachie franchise - I love it, it’s good vibes

— Isha Bassi (@Isha_Bassi) October 20, 2021

On top of viewers, previous Bachelor contestant (and also a bisexual woman) Abbie Chatfield, shared a series of Instagram stories of her crying her eyes out reacting to the first few minutes of the episode.

(Image: Instagram (@Abbiechatfield))

With so much vulnerability, representation and sweetness from the first episode, we already have such high hopes for the rest of the season. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

You can catch up on the first episode of this season’s Bachelorette on 10Play and catch new episodes every Wednesday and Thursday from 7:30 pm local time.

History. #BacheloretteAU pic.twitter.com/ERc0bBQnhC

— Osher Günsberg (@oshergunsberg) October 20, 2021

Header Image: Channel 10