She’s been the clear favourite to win all season.
And Matty ‘J’ Johnson has finally declared his love for Laura Byrne, choosing her over Elise Stacy in The Bachelor’s dramatic finale on Thursday night.
Matty’s decision surprised nobody except Elise, who was left heartbroken when he revealed he was in love with Laura.
She’s the one! Matty J FINALLY professes his love for Laura Byrne in The Bachelor finale
The hunky marketing manager declared his feelings for Laura at The Santhiya Koh Yao Yai Resort & Spa, located in southern Thailand.
‘Laura, I love you,’ he said, as she burst into tears. ‘I really do think you are so perfect.’
Asking for her right hand, Matty presented Laura with a diamond sparkler – but didn’t propose.
‘I wanted to give you this ring as a sign of just how much I care about you,’ he explained.
Earlier, Matty let Elise down, telling the bubbly marketing executive he loved Laura, not her.
‘You are so worthy of being happy and finding true love but I’m so sorry that it’s not with me,’ Matty said.
Shattered, Elise thanked Matty giving her the chance to get to know him.
Devstated: First Matty let Elise down, telling the bubbly marketing executive he loved Laura, not her
‘Thanks for being honest, thank you for the journey am glad that I met you, and am happy that you’ve found what you’re looking for,’ Elise replied.
‘And I wish you all the best in that.’
Away from Matty, Elise broken down in tears, sobbing as she made the drive home.
‘Clearly it was a one way street’: Away from Matty, Elise broken down in tears, sobbing as she made the drive home
‘I feel sad because I lost something that makes me happy and I fell in love with a man who doesn’t love me back’: Elise was heartbroken Matty didn’t return her feelings
‘I feel sad because I lost something that makes me happy and I fell in love with a man who doesn’t love me back,’ she said.
‘Clearly it was a one way street.’
Earlier in the episode the jewellery designer had gotten to know Matty and his family before the Bachelor made his final decision.
On Wednesday night’s episode Laura revealed she was in love with Matty, after previously hesitating to share how she really felt.
Heartbroken: Matty’s decision to choose Laura over Elise left the former Hockeyroos player devastated
Sealed with a smooch! Matty and Laura’s chemistry was palpable at many moments during the series
‘I am utterly falling in love with you’: On Wednesday night’s episode Laura revealed she was in love with Matty, after previously hesitating to share how she really felt
‘I am utterly falling in love with you, I genuinely am,’ she revealed.
‘And it is truly the best feeling in the world.’
Laura has been the clear favourite to win The Bachelor for months, with multiple hints pointing to her coming out on top.
Earlier this month, the jewellery designer and Matty were both photographed disappearing for a mystery weekend trip away at the same time.
Match made in heaven! She and Matty have plenty in common – they are both of a similar age, live in Sydney, and are keen to have children soon
Plenty of one-on-one time: She also scored the first kiss of the series, and has enjoyed consistent single dates with Matty
She and Matty have plenty in common – they are both of a similar age, live in Sydney, and are keen to have children soon.
The Sydney-based jewellery designer was the first to be pulled aside for a chat during the season premiere’s cocktail party.
She also scored the first kiss of the series, and has enjoyed consistent single dates with Matty, unlike other contestants who struggled to get one-on-one time.
Laura bears a striking physical resemblance to Georgia Love, who left Matty heartbroken when she chose Lee Elliot over him on The Bachelorette last year.
He’s got a type: Laura bears a striking physical resemblance to Georgia Love, who left Matty heartbroken when she chose Lee Elliot over him on The Bachelorette last year
The odds were in her favour! For weeks, Sportsbet had considered her the frontrunner, followed by nanny Tara Pavlovic and former Hockeyroo Elise Stacy
For weeks, Sportsbet had considered her the frontrunner, followed by nanny Tara Pavlovic and former Hockeyroo Elise Stacy.
On Thursday afternoon the betting agency listed her odds to win at $1.25, while Elise’s chances trailed behind at $3.50.
Eagle-eyed fans also speculated that Laura previously ‘hinted’ she is the winner.
Boho babe: Laura is a jewellery designer based in Sydney and lives near Matty’s Bondi residence in the inner city suburb of Rushcutters Bay
In June, Laura changed her Instagram bio to say she was the ‘Queen of reverse parking’.
Fans believed this was a reference to an earlier comment made by Matty in a Popsugar interview last year.
The then-Bachelorette contestant had stated his ideal woman would be good at reverse parking.
Spoiler! In June, Laura changed her Instagram bio to say she was the ‘Queen of reverse parking’
After the theory began swirling on Bachelor forums, Laura removed all references to parking from her social media account.
In July, Laura and Matty both posted photos of themselves at the snow on the same day – sparking rumours of a secret rendezvous.
While Matty tagged himself at Thredbo Resort, south of Sydney, and Laura said she was in Queenstown, New Zealand, fans speculated they could be lying about their location.
Oops? After the theory began swirling on Bachelor forums, Laura removed all references to parking from her social media account