Former Bachelor contestant Ali Oetjen has described how appearing on a program like The Bachelor “really does mess you around in the head”.
Oetjen, who appeared on the very first season of The Bachelor Australia with Tim Robards at the helm, told Adelaide’s Mix 102.3’s Jodie & Soda on Wednesday morning contestants are frequently provided with an oversupply of alcohol and rarely make contact with anyone outside the mansion while on the show.
“Being in the house for about two to three months, not being able to speak to anyone else, your mind is completely focused just on this man,” the former contestant told the radio show.
“My advice would be to someone considering going on The Bachelor, make sure you’re in for a mental roller coaster … it’s not all fun and games.”
Oetjen also revealed it didn’t take long for the producers to learn how alcohol could make their power more pronounced, with contestants “drinking so much, all the time”, and subsequently more likely to listen to a producer’s demands.
