I am coloured, and proudly disabled. I am also damn beautiful, intelligent, kind, compassionate and I am genuinely searching for love. I wouldn’t mind sharing my unique experiences with finding love on national TV.
I have a lot of wisdom to share when it comes to this and believe others can learn from me. And I genuinely would love some support in finding my man.
I have never seen a person like me on the popular Australian reality TV show, The Bachelorette. I rarely see someone like me in the media and this is really quite disheartening and disappointing, especially when I believe I’d be a pretty cool bachelorette, with my genuine and authentic self.
With some seeing my disability before my personality, my hope is to challenge this. I want to show that just because I’m quite different in the physical sense, doesn’t mean I’m not attractive and beautiful. And I’m deserving of an equal chance of finding a meaningful, romantic relationship.
I also think if someone with cerebral palsy becomes The Bachelorette, it’d help eliminate bias, break current barriers, raise expectations, and encourage inclusion in society. Which is why I’ve been seriously thinking of applying one day. I feel I am deserving of equal opportunities just like the next girl on the list. And I’d like to confidently lead the way.
There’s a long way to go when it comes to disability inclusion
I do think society is gradually progressing towards a more inclusive society, but there’s still a lot of work to be done on all ends. People with disabilities are sometimes misrepresented in the media and are mistakenly seen as incompetent and incapable. Further, some people with disabilities are infantilised and disrespected.
Including more women with disabilities on The Bachelorette would show us the incredible possibilities and capabilities that women with disabilities exhibit. It could let us into their world and make people understand what’s it’s like to have a disability and change perspectives for the better. Hopefully it will also help us realise that most women with disabilities are just as capable and strong as any other women in the line.
Just like everyone else, most of us have big aspirations and dreams and want to travel and do all the normal stuff. We want to try new activities and get outside of our comfort zone and experiment. And also express our sexuality with freedom and choice. We should have more choice and control over our lives and this should be represented in the media.
Like others, we have emotions and feelings. We feel alone at times. We long for love sometimes. We long for true belonging and acceptance. Which is quite challenging to find as we live in a world that are somwhat programmed to ostracise people who are deemed outside of the norm. But we need to redefine the norms and include others with diverse experiences because diversity is so beautiful and it’s what makes the world more exciting and attractive.
We need to build a more inclusive society. And having a Bachelorette with a disability would be a great starting point and I wouldn’t mind doing it. So Channel 10, come and get me. I can be your girl. Let’s talk more about how we can make this happen.
Let me end with this heart warming quote by Jodi Picoult:
“Love is not an equation, it is not a contract, and it is not a happy ending. Love is the slate under the chalk, the ground that buildings rise, and the oxygen in the air. It is the place you come back to, no matter where your headed.”
And everyone should be given the equal opportunity to find it. (Wink, wink)