The Bachelor 2019 finale: Chelsie McLeod WINS Matt Agnew’s heart

He had two beautiful women confess their love for him, but it was Chelsie McLeod who finally captured Matt Agnew’s heart on The Bachelor.

During Thursday night’s emotional finale, the 32-year-old astrophysicist confessed his love for the blonde chemical engineer, 28, in South Africa.

Earlier in the episode, Matt bid an awkward farewell to runner-up Abbie Chatfield, with whom he’d shared intense sexual chemistry throughout the season.

As Chelsie walked up to meet Matt, it was clear he had fallen head over heels in love.

He began: ‘I’ve never believed in such thing as the perfect woman until I met you. You encapsulate everything that I’m looking for in a woman.

‘My biggest fear is opening up to that special someone, and having my heart broken into a thousand pieces.

Happily ever after! During Thursday night’s emotional finale, the 32-year-old astrophysicist confessed his love for the blonde chemical engineer, 28, in South Africa 

‘But coming into this experience, I promised I would throw caution to the wind and I’d overcome that fear.’ 

Clearing his throat, Matt added: ‘My heart is fluttering… and even though it could get broken into a thousand pieces, I feel the time is right to take the plunge, to take that leap and tell you how I feel. Chelsie, I love you.’ 

The pair then shared a passionate kiss against the backdrop of a breathtaking South African sunset. 

Meant to be! As Chelsie walked up to meet Matt, it was clear he’d fallen head over heels in love

Chelsie was overwhelmed and momentarily lost for words after Matt finally confessed his feelings for her.

Matt continued: ‘It would be easy to say that I love your passion for science, that I love all the things we keep finding we have in common.

‘All of these things are amazing but there’s… there’s more. 

Bling! Matt presented Chelsie with a ring as a token of the ‘incredible journey’ they had shared

Forever and always! After Matt said, ‘I love you, the pair shared a passionate kiss against the backdrop of a breathtaking South African sunset 

What a relief! Chelsie confessed that she thought Matt was going to ‘break [her] heart’

‘I love how you giggle when you’re nervous. I love that you go full nerd as soon as there’s some maths involved!

‘Above all else, though, I just love how you make me feel. And you make me want to believe in fairytales. Because when I’m with you, I feel like I’m living in one.’ 

Matt then presented Chelsie with a ring as a token of the ‘incredible journey’ they had shared.

How romantic! Matt told Chelsie, ‘I just love how you make me feel. And you make me want to believe in fairytales. Because when I’m with you, I feel like I’m living in one’

As the reality of Matt’s decision set in, Chelsie confessed that she ‘thought [he] was going to break [her] heart.’

She said: ‘I was crying all morning. Just sitting there bawling my eyes out, being like, “I’m gonna get my heart broken today.” And I wasn’t ready.’

‘And now you didn’t break it, you made it whole again.’

Matt’s promise ring for Chelsie 

Larsen Jewellery’s Kate Reid said: ‘The custom-made ring is set with a striking 3.73ct rectangular cushion cut grey Spinel gemstone, accentuated by two dazzling shield cut diamonds. The unique ring was entirely handmade by one of our most talented Jewellers using Fairtrade 18ct rose gold.’

Ms Reid met with Matt for a one-on-one jewellery consultation. Together, Matt and the team at Larsen Jewellery designed the beautiful bespoke ring for his chosen bachelorette, Chelsie. 

Matt was taken by the rarity of the colours and shapes of some truly unique gemstones, and his final selection was carefully considered and personal.

‘As a Senior Jeweller at Larsen Jewellery, I was fortunate enough to meet with Matt and discuss his ideas for a perfect gift for his chosen bachelorette. I showed him various gemstones and diamonds and we spoke about a number of different design options,’ Kate said of her consultation with Matt.

Pictured: The spectacular ring Matt Agnew presented to Chelsie in The Bachelor finale

Before declaring his love for Chelsie, Matt had to break the bad news to runner-up Abbie Chatfield.

The 23-year-old was visibly furious after Matt told her he had fallen in love with someone else, as she was convinced she’d win until the last minute.

‘I wish you’d sent me home so much earlier,’ she said, before telling producers, ‘Get me the f**k away from him!’, as she walked away. 

‘Get me the f**k away from him’: Before declaring his love for Chelsie, Matt had to break the bad news to runner-up Abbie Chatfield (pictured)

Matt began his break-up speech by saying: ‘Abbie, I still vividly can remember seeing you walking down the red carpet, having that “wow” moment. 

‘But I have to be honest with myself and with you. My heart belongs with someone else. It devastates me to lose someone so incredible. And I’ve treasured every moment we’ve had. And you deserve…’ 

Abbie then interrupted: ‘So… OK, that’s fine. Can you explain further why? 

‘I wish you’d sent me home so much earlier’: Abbie was visibly furious after Matt told her he had fallen in love with someone else, as she was convinced she’d win until the last minute

‘I don’t… I really don’t understand how? I don’t know what to say. This is completely heartbreaking. Completely, absolutely heartbreaking.’ 

Speaking to producers on the lonely drive back to the hotel, Abbie said: ‘It’s OK. I’m so completely fine. I feel fine. I’m mostly just mad about the flight home now. I’m honestly not upset. It’s fine. I couldn’t even cry if I tried, right now. 

‘Maybe I don’t love him. Like, honestly, maybe I don’t love him, I’m not even upset. It’s OK. He’s chosen someone that will make him happy. Chelsie will make him happy.’ 

Bye, Felicia! As she walked away from Matt, Abbie snapped, ‘Get me the f**k away from him!’

She added: ‘Whatever he thinks is right. I just want to forget about it. I’ll get over this before it even airs, it’s gonna be fine… I’m just… Yeah, I’m just embarrassed. 

‘It’s really hard and I just think I feel silly for thinking that, you know, that it would work out with Matt. I feel horrible.

‘And, like, I will… I will get over this and I’m so resilient, so resilient. I just never thought I would… feel this way from this… experience.’

She’s changed her mind! After her painfully awkward encounter with Matt, Abbie told producers, ‘Maybe I don’t love him. Like, honestly, maybe I don’t love him, I’m not even upset’

Taking to Instagram after the episode aired, Abbie reflected on her heartbreak four months after filming the show.

‘The only way I can describe this moment is complete and utter shock. I was numb. I couldn’t and didn’t want to feel anything,’ she wrote.

‘I had felt for weeks that what Matt and I had was real and I trusted him wholeheartedly when he told me how he felt about me.

‘Hearing Matt say, “My heart is with someone else”, reminded me that we were filming and that Matt had to make a difficult decision, and he did not see in me what I saw in him. I felt silly for ever imagining Matt would love me.

‘The second the cameras turned off, I sobbed. I screamed. I couldn’t breathe. I didn’t think think this would be how we would end.

‘I spent weeks crying about this relationship that had almost no closure. I still haven’t fully healed from my relationship with Matt, but I know he and the gorgeous woman he is with are happy, and that’s all that matters.’

 ‘The only way I can describe this moment is complete and utter shock’: Taking to Instagram after the episode aired, Abbie reflected on her heartbreak four months after filming the show

The Bachelor finale began with Matt boarding a premium economy flight to South Africa to make his decision. 

Reflecting on his connection with Abbie, he said: ‘It’s as if we were drawn to each other like two magnets. It’s electric, it’s exciting, it’s addictive.

‘I know we have potential for something cosmic, but I need to figure out if it has what it takes to go the distance.’ 

And we’re off! The Bachelor finale began with Matt boarding a premium economy flight to South Africa to make his decision

He then said that Chelsie was the ‘polar opposite’ to Abbie, describing her as ‘witty and intelligent’.

Upon arriving at the luxury finale destination, Matt explained that his family couldn’t make the trip and so he’d invited along two friends, Jason and Kate. 

Matt had previously enlisted Kate’s help during a group date early on in the season. 

Kate told Jason that she would be surprised to see Abbie again, as she had questioned her intentions for being on the show during their first meeting. 

Meet the friends! Upon arriving at the luxury finale destination, Matt explained that his family couldn’t make the trip and so he’d invited along two friends, Jason and Kate

She said: ‘I’ve got to be honest, I’m surprised that Abbie’s here. Because Matt asked me last time who I [thought] would fit into our group of friends and she wasn’t one of the names that I mentioned.’ 

Abbie said she was ‘freaking out’ at the prospect of seeing Kate again given their history, but was hoping to make a good first impression on Jason.

‘I told Matt on our last date that I love him,’ Abbie told Matt’s friends, before Kate asked to have a private chat with her.

‘I’ve got to be honest, I was surprised to hear that you had come down to the final two,’ Kate said, bluntly.

Awkward! Abbie said she was ‘freaking out’ at the prospect of seeing Kate (right) again given their history, but was hoping to make a good first impression on Jason

‘There were the concerns about your age and if you’re here for the same reasons [as Matt].’

Abbie was shocked by this, later telling producers: ‘What the actual f**k?’  

She added: ‘I’m almost certain Kate just doesn’t want me to end up with Matt… she doesn’t think I’m old enough for Matt or serious enough for Matt, we have nothing in common!’  

Abbie went on to describe Kate ‘horrible’ and ‘possessive’ of Matt, and even questioned why he was friends with her in the first place.

Here we go! Abbie’s final date with Matt involved a thrilling helicopter ride

The next part of the episode focused on Chelsie, who arrived like a ray of sunshine in a yellow romper.

Matt told her: ‘I keep ogling you. My apologies. But I’m totally not stopping!’

Chelsie was extremely nervous before being introduced to Jason and Kate, but Matt reassured her that she had nothing to worry about. 

Kate immediately approved of Chelsie, but Jason wasn’t so sure and asked to speak to her privately.

After grilling her about her career, marriage and children, Jason was eventually won over and later joked to Matt: ‘Let me know how the wedding goes!’  

Next, Abbie reunited with Matt for their final date. 

Check that out! For Chelsie’s final date, the pair went on a safari and spent time gazing at South Africa’s incredible wildlife

Sealed with a kiss! They later shared a passionate kiss poolside

‘No matter what today, I’m just gonna have a really fun time with Matt, because I’m sure this is the start of me being his only girlfriend, which would just be incredible,’ she said confidently.

‘I think Matt and I will have a lot of pashing and maybe a bit of dry humping today and hopefully tomorrow could be the end to the longest dry spell in history!’ 

The pair took a scenic helicopter ride, with Matt later saying: ‘You really, truly are an incredible woman. And I’m just really grateful for this opportunity because it’s hard to see how our paths would have crossed otherwise.’

Abbie’s voice wavered as she told Matt: ‘I’ve never met anyone like you!’  

Whoops! Abbie never once doubted that Matt would pick her, telling him: ‘I see marriage and kids with you’

‘I see marriage and kids with you,’ she added, breaking down in tears. ‘I think maybe it’s just between your head and your heart. And I think I have your heart.’ 

The couple then shared what would be their last kiss. 

For Chelsie’s final date, the pair went on a safari and spent time gazing at South Africa’s incredible wildlife. 

‘You’re more than I could ever have dreamed of in a human being,’ Chelsie said. ‘I don’t particularly want to imagine [life] without you. I am in love with you.’

Gutted! Abbie was devastated when Matt told her he’d fallen in love with somebody else