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Cpae Town - Many viewers considered her one of the front-runners of the show – so it came as a shock when businesswoman and blogger Kelly-Tiegan Webb (23) was given the boot off The Bachelor SA.
In fact, Kelly was so popular that she was even seen as a threat to other strong contestants, including consumer-marketing specialist Michelle Reddy (29).
"Jeez, that woman is so poised. At 23 I compare myself and I wasn’t as refined as she is. She speaks with the utmost poise and manner, she’s a well put-together individual," Michelle said in an interview with YOU last month.
But finding love for Kelly may not have been as easy as many may assume, even with her great poise. At the young age of 23, she’d become tired of constantly putting an effort into meeting men via apps like Tinder, or even just having to go out on dates.
"Dating apps to me are a little like Pandora's box. They open you up to so many possibilities, maybe too many. Making choices - and sticking to them - can be hard when you have so many options. With dating apps and the digital world, you just have one choice - you can have multiple," Kelly says.
"Apps make everyone replaceable. Everyone becomes disposable. Is it possible to make a connection, let alone a commitment with someone when you know the next best thing is just a few swipes away? The sad truth about dating apps is that some people aren’t even really using dating apps to meet people these days – it’s purely for hook-ups. I guess I’m more old school: I like meeting someone in a natural setting. Whatever’s meant to be, will be."
She thought she’d try the love experiment and enter The Bachelor SA and quickly found herself falling head-over-heels in love with Lee Thompson, who wooed her during a romantic date in Cape Town.
"I could classify Lee as my perfect type. The biggest attraction for me is someone who’s motivated and constantly trying to master self-development. Lee is extremely entrepreneurial and has plans to grow his personal brand in the future. I also value someone who takes care of himself by engaging in a healthy, balanced lifestyle," she says.
But things didn’t quite pan out as she’d hoped when she was booted off the show in last week’s episode. For now, she’s taking a bit of a break from actively looking for a partner and is focusing on herself and building her brand – hopeful that Mr Right will meet her along her path.
"They say you should meet someone in a natural setting that involves your everyday routine. If you enjoy reading books, chances are if you meet someone at a book club, you’ll spark the same interests within each other – and voilà!" she says.
So, while Lee didn’t turn out to be her perfect match, will she be seeking someone similar to him in the future?
"Yes and no. No, because I’m not looking for someone that enjoys attention from so many other girls," she says, adding that she’s unsure how a show like The Bachelor affects polygamy within relationships.
She’s looking for someone that she can be open and honest with without being judged. Lee may have many of the qualities she’s looking for in a man – he’s handsome, driven and lives a balanced lifestyle – but he clearly wasn’t the right one for her.
"Right now, I’m focusing on me. If the right person comes along, I’ll actively pursue it, but I’m happy focusing on my personal goals for now," Kelly adds. "I’m waiting for someone to come along that adds value to my already perfect life – well, I hope so. So, if there are any men out there, I’ll be at Virgin Active from Mondays to Fridays."
Tune in to The Bachelor SA Thursdays at 19:00 on M-Net (DStv 101).
