Most of us came to know Brooke Blurton from The Bachelorette, when she made headlines around the world as the first Indigenous and openly bisexual woman to take the lead in the franchise’s history. But as any one of Brooke’s 200,000 followers will know, reality TV is merely a footnote in her life story. Growing up in the country town of Carnarvon on Kuwinywardu land, Brooke’s childhood was one punctuated by tragedy. After losing her mum and nan at the age of 11, Brooke was forced to grow up quickly, adopting the role of carer for her younger siblings.

Brooke’s story is one that speaks to the power of resilience. After moving to Perth, she pursued opportunities and forged new friendships out on the footy field. And in the years since we’ve come to know Brooke through our TV screens, she’s become an advocate for mental health and continued to lead by example, proving that past experiences don’t have to define us. In this episode, she chats with Women’s Health writer Jess Campbell about her struggles with mental health, how she came to adopt such a strong attitude in the face of adversity, the power of sport to inspire change, and how her approach to health and fitness has matured over the years.

CREDITS:

This podcast was hosted by WH digital writer Jess Campbell and produced by WH editor-in-chief Lizza Gebilagin.

For more from Women’s Health Australia, find us on Instagram @womenshealthaus, womenshealth.com.au or find the print and digital editions of the magazine.

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