The finalist on The Golden Bachelor, Janette, has shared intimate details about the devastating moment Barry 'Bear' Myrden told her she was not his chosen one, revealing a story of shattered confidence and unexpected grace.
The Moment Confidence Shattered
The Melbourne Pilates instructor, aged 61, confessed she entered the final day of filming completely convinced that Bear would pick her. This made his rejection on a South African mountaintop all the more crushing and unforeseen. She described the surreal instant her self-assurance disappeared, telling 9Entertainment, 'I was sure it was me and then when it wasn't I thought, 'How did I ever think that?''
Janette revealed she sensed something was wrong the moment she walked towards him at the proposal spot. She insists she saw the truth in his eyes before he even uttered a word. 'I read your eyes the minute I walked up here,' she said, adding that she immediately began to shut down emotionally. She had not prepared for any outcome where she wasn't selected, and the shock left her desperately trying to maintain her composure.
The Overwhelming Urge to Flee
As soon as Bear confirmed his heart belonged to someone else, she was overwhelmed. Her immediate instinct was to escape the relentless gaze of the cameras. 'I just wanted to hide somewhere and have my little cry,' she admitted, explaining her abrupt decision to storm away while Bear attempted to speak to her.
Maintaining a stoic exterior for as long as she could, she told him, 'I'm fine. I read your eyes the minute I walked up here,' before cutting him off and leaving the scene in anger. Moments later, the full weight of the rejection hit her, and she broke down inside a waiting car, telling producers she felt foolish for ever believing she would be his final choice.
A Surprising Act of Kindness
In a surprising twist, Janette disclosed that her first message after the cameras stopped rolling wasn't to Bear at all. It was to Sunny, the woman he ultimately chose. 'I realised in the end she was in love with him, and I wished her well, and I wished them a happy life together and whatever comes from it,' she explained, stating she wanted Sunny to know she harboured no resentment.
Janette added that she and Bear are still loosely in contact, occasionally exchanging messages or seeing each other at events linked to the show. Reflecting on the entire experience, she admitted she had no real understanding of how powerful the connection was between Bear and Sunny until she watched the season back on television. She believes Sunny, like herself, kept her feelings discreet to avoid intimidating the other contestants.
Now, Janette says she feels ready to date again and has no regrets about taking part in the show, which featured one of the most intense showdowns in the franchise's history. The episode concluded with far more heart-warming scenes as Bear confessed his love to Sunny, giving her a commitment ring and telling her he couldn't imagine a future without her.
