SOPHIE’S CHOICE TO FIND THE ONE
PLAY
favourite meal, but Sophie says that’s her dating life anyway.
“It’s all out there about me anyway,” she says.
“If I was on the show or if I went on a date in real life, they can Google me either way. “It’s no different. “I do want to be treated normal, but at the same time they’ll be taking on my lifestyle, it’s a different lifestyle. So they do have to be a bit prepared for that.”
As the first celebrity to star in the reality romance franchise, Sophie has also been faced with public backlash, saying she’s using the show as a platform for further publicity.
Throughout the promotional phases, however, Sophie has maintained her authenticity and genuine yearning to finally find her other half.
“I don’t need the career move,” she says.
“I don’t need the fame. If you watch it you’ll realise, I’m totally me in it, because I have to be.
“It’s made me very vulnerable.
“It’s a bit embarrassing because I cry a lot, but I took a risk doing it.
“A big risk but most people I think they’ll watch and realise its genuine.”
Sophie says the cameras, the tabloid scrutiny and the potential for nationally televised heartbreak didn’t detract from the magic of finding love.
“It’s made it so much better,” she says.
“It’s forced me to get to know these people so slowly.
“I tried to be strategic and not rush in because I’ve always made mistakes, but with this process I knew I had time and I knew I had to be a bit smarter.
“It wasn’t easy because everyone behind the scenes is working really hard to make me fall in love, so I just had to be patient.
“I can be spontaneous or I guess I can jump the gun, but the whole process really works.”
The process certainly has worked for Sophie, who confirms that she not only survived the show but emerged with a partner she’s not engaged to, but can undoubtedly see a long-term future with.
“Yes, I’ve definitely found the one,” she says. “It happened towards the end, kind of slowly developed and towards the end I just knew.
“We can only talk on the phone now. It’s hard because I’m really bad at secrets, but it does kind of make it better. It’s exciting.”
She’ll be waiting a while, with her season kicking off on Wednesday.
She says that’s OK ... in the meantime she’s happy to take some time to gather herself, relax and spend time with her family right here in her hometown.
“I think I’m happy to just chill here for a while. I love it here, I love the weather,” she says.
“I’m such a GC (Gold Coast) girl. Everyone thinks it’s a bit bogan but I think it’s cool.
“So now I’ll just take a break and hang with my family.
“It’s been a pretty crazy few months so some chill time will be good.”