Sam Reitano’s ex-girlfriend Kirsten Loverie has spoken out after it was revealed the Farmer Wants A Wife star is now engaged to his ex, Katelen Cunningham.
After failing to find love on Farmer Wants A Wife, the 28-year-old tropical fruit farmer appeared on the Monday’s finale alongside Kirsten, revealing they’d met and fallen in love online.
But just a day later, it was revealed Sam had split from Kirsten since filming the finale, and was now engaged to his ex-girlfriend, Katelen, 28.
Jilted lover: Sam Reitano’s (left) ex-girlfriend Kirsten Loverie (right) has spoken out after it was revealed the Farmer Wants A Wife star is engaged to his ex, Katelen Cunningham
Speaking to Daily Mail Australia on Thursday, Kirsten admitted she was shocked to discover Sam had moved on so quickly.
‘Yes, it was a bit of a shock to be honest,’ she confessed, adding that she’d since reached out to Sam to congratulate him on his sudden engagement.
Even though Sam labelled Kirsten ‘the best thing that’s come into my life’, she claimed their relationship was never that serious.
Moving on: Just a day after the finale aired, it was revealed Sam had split from Kirsten since filming the finale, and was now engaged to his ex-girlfriend, Katelen Cunningham (left)
‘I think people need to know and understand that Sam and I, prior to the reunion, we talked a lot online (every day), but we only caught up a handful of times because of the distance between us,’ Kirsten explained.
‘The times we had together were great and I will always be thankful to him and his family. I think he is a great guy with a big heart and an awesome smile.
‘Unfortunately, it was just not meant to be. I wish him nothing but a lifetime full of happiness and true love.’
Over it: Speaking to Daily Mail Australia on Thursday, Kirsten admitted she was shocked to discover Sam had moved on so quickly
Kirsten said she was still optimistic that her ‘happy ending will come’, and revealed she’d had an outpouring of support from fans of the show.
But she admitted some critics had claimed she only appeared on the series looking for fame.
‘No, I did not go on the show for my five minutes of fame (I was actually hesitant about it),’ she clarified.
‘Yes, it was a bit of a shock to be honest,’ she confessed, adding that she’d since reached out to Sam to congratulate him on his sudden engagement
‘And no, I do not need a man, neither do I want a man for money or a visa. I have been raised by independent women, so I know how to take care of myself.’
An inside source told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday that Sam dated Katelen before joining the series, and reunited with her shortly after filming the reunion in March.
On August 1, three weeks before the show’s finale aired, Sam and Katelen announced their engagement on Facebook, but the posts have since been deleted and hidden.
Ex factor: Even though Sam labelled Kirsten ‘the best thing that’s come into my life’, she claimed their relationship was never that serious
While most of the loved-up announcements have disappeared, one of Katelen’s friends on Facebook thanked Sam for making the blonde beauty so happy.
He responded: ‘She is very special and amazing. So proud to have her!’
On Monday’s Farmer Wants A Wife finale, Sam left his co-stars and the show’s host, Natalie Gruzlewski, stunned after revealing he’d met and fallen for Kirsten.
‘The times we had together were great and I will always be thankful to him and his family. I think he is a great guy with a big heart and an awesome smile,’ she said of the farmer
‘We started talking, and eventually we met up. We’ve been on a couple of dates. She’s even met my parents,’ he said.
He added: ‘She’s probably been the best thing that’s actually entered my life… She’s amazing! She’s absolutely amazing.’
Sam said his family already ‘love her to bits’, and Kirsten admitted she would happily move to the farm to be with him, but that clearly wasn’t meant to be.
Short-lived love: On Monday’s Farmer Wants A Wife finale, Sam left his co-stars and the show’s host, Natalie Gruzlewski, stunned after revealing he’d met and fallen for Kirsten