Brooke Blurton: ‘I’ve learnt that everyone’s story is powerful’
First Nations role model Brooke Blurton’s inspiring message of resilience is helping young Australians find their voice.
Writing a memoir in your 20s has its stigmas, but you only have to look at how much Brooke Blurton has already lived through to understand why sharing her story is so important.
“Not many can say they’ve written a memoir at my age and that’s the usual commentary I get from older people, but the thing is I have a lot to share,” Brooke says.
Driven by a desire to reclaim her life in her own words, Brooke explores the unimaginable hardship, grief and trauma she experienced growing up in her debut title, Big Love.
“A lot of people still don’t know my story. They might know I was on The Bachelorette, but they don’t know how I got there,” the 29-year-old says.
Brooke Blurton on her childhood with Mob and community
A proud Noongar-Yamatji woman raised in the regional Western Australian town of Carnarvon, Brooke spent her childhood with Mob and community, instilled with values like the importance of helping one another.
“That’s the beautiful power of First Nations people; we take so much pride in our responsibilities within family dynamics and I always feel sorry for people who don’t know what that feels like.
“We just feel so much pride and love regardless of circumstance,” Brooke says.
Being raised in a loving community helped Brooke become the grounded, resilient woman she is today, but her childhood wasn’t always a positive experience.
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Brooke’s writing has helped process traumatic events
At 11 years old, Brooke lost both her grandmother and mother — the two most important women in her life — within a matter of weeks.
If that wasn’t unfathomable enough, she was also sexually assaulted at her mother’s wake, which contributed to her being mute for two years.
“I lost my voice through trauma, but writing helped me gain it back.
“Putting pen to paper is a very cathartic and therapeutic process for me; I journal every single day, regardless of my mood, and that’s helped me process what I’ve gone through,” she says.
Why Brooke Blurton is driven to share her hardships to help others
Brooke has also touched on other difficult chapters of her childhood, including her memories of drug and alcohol abuse, moving in with her father, becoming homeless and living in foster care.
But broaching these subjects doesn’t get any less challenging.
“I remember experiencing a vulnerability hangover while promoting my memoir, but it’s a muscle I’ve learned to use in order to tell my story,” Brooke says.
“I don’t think it gets easier, but I think you get more driven to share what you’ve gone through because different experiences will resonate with people in different ways.”
Connecting with people through shared trauma is a huge motivator for Brooke, but the hardships she’s experienced do not define her.
A positive and uplifting outlook on life
According to Brooke, she has always envisioned a life beyond her circumstances — as a result, her positive, uplifting outlook is fuelled by identity, love and resilience.
Based in Naarm (Melbourne), Brooke says being off Country has its challenges and sacrifices, but living away from her community is only temporary.
“I want to take advantage of the opportunities that I’ve been blessed to be given, but in my heart and soul, I know that when I choose to have children I’ll probably move back to Country,” she says.
For this reason, Brooke makes an effort to visit her family in Western Australia whenever she gets the chance, especially now as she eagerly anticipates the arrival of her younger brother’s first child.
“It’s a very special time for my family.
“As the only woman, I’m the matriarch and that holds a lot of responsibility in my community.
“But at the same time I’m sad, because my mother and grandmother would have loved to have been here to see my brother welcome his first child,” she says.
Brooke Blurton’s career and life is on the rise
Since her appearance on the reality dating franchise five years ago, Brooke’s career has been on an upwards trajectory.
Using her profile for purpose, she advocates for First Nations and LGBTQIA+ visibility as well as her work as a Garnier ambassador, youth worker, writer, marriage celebrant and co-host of podcast series Not So PG.
Exciting new ventures are also keeping Brooke busy.
Her second book is a young adult novel
She has just written her second book, which is her first foray into the young adult genre.
“I wanted to write from the perspective of a young First Nations person, particularly since we’re so underrepresented in literary texts,” Brooke says.
The romance novel explores the perspectives of two characters as they experience love, sexuality, family and identity and all the complexities and confusion that come with it.
“The best thing about writing fiction is that you can take creative liberties while also drawing inspiration from your own lived experiences,” Brooke says.
“I think adults will relate to it as well, because memories of young love and working out your identity stick with you forever.”
Acting is the latest addition to Brooke Blurton’s packed CV
She is also venturing into an entirely new career path: acting.
While it’s long been an area of interest, she never seriously pursued it until now.
“My first acting role is in an upcoming horror film, which I’m really looking forward to. Filming has begun, but I can’t reveal more just yet,” she says.
“Acting is challenging because I’ve never considered being anything other than myself.
“You’re being tested and pushed out of your comfort zone in a really pronounced way, which is very humbling.”
Supporting culture and Country
Brooke is also making a conscious effort to align with brands that support her culture and journey.
Her longstanding relationship with Garnier has helped shift her perception of beauty’s relationship with the environment.
“Culture and Country are very important and my elders taught me that if you take care of Country, Country will take care of you,” she says.
“And that’s how I live my life. Being sustainable and taking care of Country is all about how I can minimise my impact, and working with Garnier has taught me that this is a major goal of theirs, too.”
When Brooke Blurton made Aussie TV history
In addition to her advocacy and sustainability efforts, Brooke made Australian television history in 2021 as the inaugural First Nations and bisexual Bachelorette.
“It was such a scary, exciting and overwhelming experience all at once,” Brooke says.
“When you open yourself up to being the first of many things, there’s always uncertainty of what’s going to come from it, but I’m so passionate about visibility and it was a profound moment to have that level of representation.
“I wanted to show Australia that I’m just a normal person who represents her community the best way she can while highlighting that anyone can fall in love.
“Love is love and it doesn’t matter if it’s with a man, woman or non-binary person.”
Brooke Blurton is passionate about the power of love
The subject of love is an overarching theme in Brooke’s life and is very emblematic of what motivates her.
“I just love love so much,” she says.
“There’s a line in my memoir that I live by, which is ‘love is the most infinite and effortless presence in this world’.
“People who’ve come into my life and shown me love ultimately led me to the position I’m in today.”
As for whether Brooke’s experience on reality dating shows has influenced her relationship habits in the real world, she’s not so sure.
“If I’m honest, I think The Bachelorette Australia is a bit of a curse,” she laughs.
“Dating culture is a lot tougher these days because we’re all so accessible and by the same token, disposable.
“Some people have this perception I’m desperate to find someone and settle down because I was on reality television, but that’s never been my goal.
“I’m still open to love, but I’m fulfilled in so many other ways that it’s probably not one of my main motivations anymore.”
With no plans to slow down, Brooke hopes her resilience and ambition in the face of adversity inspires Australian youth to find strength in their own stories.
“What I’ve learnt is that everyone’s story is powerful,” she says.
“Youth work is so important to me and enabling and encouraging young people to share their story and find power in it, just like I did, is why I love my job.”
More stories of inspiring people:
- Eyes on the prize: How to tackle setbacks like an OIympian
- The AFLW’s Hosking twins are living life to the fullest
- Why Maria Thattil refuses to set limits
- Sunday Aryang’s secrets to self-belief and taking on the world
Written by Charlotte Brundrett.
