A neuroscientist with cerebral palsy has set her sights on becoming Australia’s first disabled Bachelorette.
Melbourne-based Jerusha Mather, 27, has approached Warner Brothers who produce the show, after becoming disappointed at the lack of disabled people on screen.
‘I love Bachie and it is so much fun, but I’ve felt predominantly underrepresented,’ the disability advocate and PhD student told Pedestrian on Thursday.
‘I’ve felt predominantly underrepresented’: Neuroscientist and disability advocate Jerusha Mather (pictured), 27, with cerebral palsy has vowed to become Australia’s first disabled Bachelorette
‘I rarely see someone like myself on screen and this affects my self-esteem and self-worth to a degree. It’s quite disheartening and disappointing,’ Jerusha continued.
She added that the ‘beauty of watching reality TV’ is that ‘it should be relatable’.
Jerusha’s goal may come to life with Warner Brothers saying ‘they’ll get back in touch’ with her ‘once they receive a green light’.
It comes after Bachelorette star Brooke Blurton addressed the show’s disappointing ratings, and the changes Channel 10 could make to ensure the franchise survives in future.
Wanting change: Melbourne-based Jerusha told Pedestrian on Thursday: ‘I rarely see someone like myself on screen and this affects my self-esteem and self-worth to a degree. It’s quite disheartening and disappointing’
The 27-year-old, who starred in the 2021 season of the show, told Daily Mail Australia last week that she understands people still ‘love’ the series, but claims audiences want to see more wholesome stories rather than non-stop drama.
‘I love the franchise, and what it’s enabled me to shine a light on,’ Brooke said.
‘I came in to amp it up a little bit, but I think it still has a lot of room to grow.
‘Obviously there was a time where it was a little bit outdated, but I think they need to start incorporating more wholesome, intellectual conversations and people will resonate with that.
‘The US one is still very successful – I think people really do love the franchise.’
Opinion: It comes after Bachelorette star Brooke Blurton (pictured) addressed the show’s disappointing ratings in an interview with Daily Mail Australia last week, and the changes Channel 10 could make to ensure the franchise survives in future
Brooke, who was the show’s first ever Indigenous and bisexual lead, added that the recent announcement that The Bachelor would take place on the Gold Coast this year would be ‘really good for [the show].’
‘The format originally, how it started… hopefully it still stays to the core of finding love, and less drama,’ she added.
‘They should be more diverse, show more normal people. We’ve had a woman of colour, bisexual… maybe changing it up and having someone who maybe identifies different, maybe they/them, maybe someone who has a disability.
‘Let’s just be a bit more inclusive and involve more people that have a beautiful story to tell and want to find love.’
Diversity: ‘They should be more diverse, show more normal people. We’ve had a woman of colour, bisexual… maybe changing it up and having someone who maybe identifies different, maybe they/them, maybe someone who has a disability,’ she said
Brooke chose Darvid Garayeli as her winner last year – however, the pair ended their romance just one month after the finale aired.
When asked if she had any regrets on the show, Brooke said: ‘I have no regrets. There’s not one thing in my life that I have any regrets about.
‘Every opportunity that I’ve said yes to, everything I’ve done has always been, “How will this serve myself, how will this serve the communities I represent and how is this going to educate or show people something?”.’
‘No regrets. I loved the experience, I thought it was great – but I equally love my life now.’
Not the best: The Bachelor had its lowest-ever premiere ratings last year, with just 482,000 metro viewers tuning in for pilot Jimmy Nicholson’s first episode. Meanwhile, 629,000 metro viewers tuned in for the winner announcement. Pictured with his winner Holly Kingston
The Bachelor had its lowest-ever premiere ratings last year, with just 482,000 metro viewers tuning in for pilot Jimmy Nicholson’s first episode. Later in the year, 629,000 metro viewers tuned in for the winner announcement.
In comparison, in 2013 a whopping 1.186million metro viewers tuned in to see Tim Robards choose Anna Heinrich during their series finale. The pair married in 2018, and share baby Elle, one, together.
Meanwhile, Brooke’s Bachelorette’s finale peaked at 439,000 viewers when it aired in November.
Despite the less than impressive ratings, it was announced that both The Bachelor and Bachelorette would air in 2022 during Channel Ten Upfronts, while Osher Günsberg was also confirmed to return as host.
Finale: Brooke’s Bachelorette finale peaked at 439,000 viewers when it aired in November. Pictured with her winner Darvid Garayeli, who she split from a month after the finale aired
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