When we first learned beloved Bachelor alum Elly Miles and her sister Becky were both going to be The Bachelorette Australia for 2020 earlier this year, we were both excited and brimming with curiosity.
From just how the show’s format would work (Would they get their own sets of contestants each? Would they go on the same dates? Would they wear matching cocktail dresses?), to what it was like to be mark a world-first for the global Bachelor franchise, we had plenty of questions — especially following the release of the show’s trailer.
So, to get a little insight ahead of The Bachelorette Australia 2020’s premiere, marie claire caught up with the sisters and to find out how it all came about and what we can expect in the season ahead.
Never in Bachelor franchise history has there ever been two Bachelorettes right from the get-go, and especially not sisters. Tell us a bit about how it all came together. Did you both get approached? Did it take one convincing the other?
ELLY: [Laughs] We were both approached together. I think when they were doing the casting process and doing a bit of scouting, they probably saw photos of my sister and I on my Instagram and of our travel videos when we went to Europe, and I think just thought it would be something a bit different and an interesting dynamic. We definitely bounce off of each other in a really nice way, so I think they sort of came up with it all on their own!
Speaking of two Bachelorettes… What can you tell us about how the series will work? Will there be two pools of contestants?
ELLY: No, there aren’t two pools of contestants. You could definitely tell there were guys maybe chosen who suited me a little bit more, or Becky a little bit more, but ultimately, we both met one group of guys.
BECKY: And it was up to us to figure it out!
ELLY: And then we both dated different guys. I think there was definitely a lot of concerns like “Oh crikey, are they going to fall for the same bloke? Are they going to be kissing the same bloke? Are they going to be going on the same dates as each other?” No, none of that happened at all [laughs].
BECKY: Our strategy going into it was that we both wanted to get to know all the guys and sit down and have a chat. On the red carpet there, there were definitely some moments where we were like “Oh, he’s cute!”, but we’re not possessive types of girls.
There was never a moment where it was like, “Ooh, he’s mine!” We just wanted to be able to sit down and have a chat to the boys and see where their heads were at because, you know, there are two of us!”
Would you say you have similar taste in men or approach to dating? Was that something you were worried about going into filming?
ELLY: Not really. On paper, we want all the same qualities in a partner and a relationship. We both really value respect and honesty, and we just wanted to be with a good, down-to-earth decent person—someone who’s really kind. In the past we’ve never been attracted to the same kind of guy. And if Becky’s interested in someone, I want her to be happy and I want her to go for it.
Heading into it, I was like; I want Becky to find the love of her life too. I want to do that alongside her, I want to be there to support her with that. It’s never been a concern for us that we would potentially be fighting over guys because it just doesn’t work like that [for us]. You know, anyone who Becky’s interested in goes in the ‘brother basket’ [laughs].
BECKY: It’s the same for me. You don’t want to be competing with your sister over a guy. If a guy likes Elly, then I’m not going to try to pursue something—just doesn’t work like that [laughs]!
What was the experience of filming the show together like? Can you recall any standout moments you’re allowed to tell us about that we should watch out for?
ELLY: I think the whole journey. As a whole, it’s been incredible. It feels like a bit of a dream looking back now. We look at each other, and we’re just sort of these ordinary girls and it’s still sort of sinking in that we are Bachelorettes. Never had we ever thought that would be something that would ever happen to us.
Even for me, personally, I didn’t ever expect to go on The Bachelor last year, so that was out of my comfort zone. But the whole thing… to have Becky there, I wouldn’t do it any other way. I don’t know how other Bachelors and Bachelorettes have done it in the past without having that support there.
Not only is it a journey for us individually to find love, but we got to share a world first experience together. I remember saying to Becky, I didn’t think we could any closer than what we were–because truly, we are best mates–but we did, and I think that’s beautiful.
BECKY: I think for me, coming into the show and being asked if I wanted to do it alongside Elly, for me, I’d never thought I’d do anything like this… there was a lot of thought behind it and whether it would be for me, with the media and all of that kind of thing. But what really reassured me was Elly’s journey on Matt’s season of The Bachelor. She had really strong feelings for Matt, so I knew it was possible.
Coming into it, I was like, “I’m ready to find my human”. I guess there’s proof in the pudding, like, there are so many couples out there that are still together and have kids. For me, I want to have a family and all that kind of thing, and Elly said to me: “You know what Beck, I had such a fun experience, and the end goal may be for us to find a man, but if that doesn’t happen, it’s going to be an incredible experience to just do it together.”
The Bachelorette Australia premieres Wednesday, October 7 at 7:30pm AEST on Network 10.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
