Bachelor fan favourite announces her engagement to political activist after failing to find love on the show

By MARTA JARY FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Published: 11:22 BST, 24 April 2025 | Updated: 11:22 BST, 24 April 2025

Bella Johnston has found love after striking out on reality TV. 

The 29-year-old, who was a fan favourite on the 2022 season of The Bachelors, has announced her engagement to left wing political activist Harrison James. 

The pair shared the happy news in an Instagram post, cuddling up and showing off Bella’s diamond ring in a series of photo booth images. 

‘Fiancée’ Harrison captioned the post, which was made last week, alongside a heart and ring emoji. 

The couple had been holidaying in Europe when the proposal occurred, with photos showing them in Paris. 

Bella was paired with Jed McIntosh on the dating show back in 2022 but the two did not make a final connection. 

Bella Johnston has found love after striking out on reality TV . The 29-year-old, who was a fan favourite on the 2022 season of The Bachelors , has announced her engagement to left wing political activist Harrison James. Both pictured

When applying for the show, the NSW-based self-described feminist said she had a few failed relationships and was single by choice. 

‘I am passionate, I am hilarious, I am full of energy and love making plans!’ she said at he time.

‘It would be amazing if I had a partner to do it with, but also not the end of the world if I don’t’ she continued. 

‘Also, I am an absolutely incredible cook. But I’m not into gender roles so he’d have to do all the washing up.’

The bubbly reality star is a cancer survivor having suffered from a rare, malignant paraganglioma which was discovered at age 21 after years of misdiagnosis. 

She underwent 15 surgeries and radiotherapy due to a huge tumor entwined with her vagus nerve.

‘It was wrapped around my jugular vein and vagus nerve. They grafted part of my nerve to my ear. I have my gag reflex in my ear’ Bella told The Mirror. 

‘It’s the most weird thing ever. I had a nasal gastric tube for a while and my original diagnosis was I’d only eat soft foods for the rest of my life. 

The pair shared the happy news in an Instagram post, cuddling up and showing off Bella’s diamond ring in a series of photo booth images

The couple had been holidaying in Europe when the proposal occurred, with photos showing them in Paris

She added: ‘Doctors said I’d never eat a sandwich again. I love sandwiches so I thought ‘nope’. 

‘Through a lot of trial and error and with a speech physiologist I now touch my chin to my shoulder. 

‘It closes my wind pipe and uses the left muscles that are strong to push the food down. I can’t swallow face head on.’

Bella began getting symptoms at age 14, dropping to 43 kilos and being misdiagnosed with an eating disorder. 

She even tried the ‘cures’ offered by cancer faker Belle Gibson before doctors finally discovered the tumour.  

Bella was paired with Jed McIntosh on the dating show back in 2022 (pictured) but the two did not make a final connection 

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Bachelor fan favourite announces her engagement to political activist after failing to find love on the show

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