Catherine is eliminated during last night's rose ceremony on The Bachelor NZ.
Catherine is eliminated during last night's rose ceremony on The Bachelor NZ.
One of the first girls eliminated from The Bachelor NZ claims the show's star Jordan Mauger sends mixed messages and she has no idea why she was sent home.
Catherine Lum was axed from the TV3 dating show after failing to receive a flower from Mauger during last night's rose ceremony. Nineteen girls are left vying for his heart.
Lum today told the Herald her elimination came as a complete shock and there were no warning signs she was about to be sent packing.
Jordan Mauger talks to some of the girls on The Bachelor NZ.
"I don't know what prompted Jordan to send me home - I'd like to know," said Lum, who works in Ambulance Customer Services in South Auckland.
"I got just the right amount of talking time that you possibly can squeeze in. Our cosy chats really went well, which kind of sent mixed messages.
"He said he wanted to talk to me more. I'm so confused about what went on."
The show, which began this week, has given the girls little time to get to know this year's Bachelor.
Only a handful have had private time or dates with the 32-year-old director, and several have made it their mission to awkwardly interrupt his conversations with other girls to strike up a rapport.
Despite leaving the show, the 26-year-old admitted Mauger was her type of guy.
Jordan Mauger talks to some of the girls on The Bachelor NZ.
"When I first took a glimpse of him, I thought he looked like a good-looking, smart guy. He's well presented, well spoken, he put on a big smile, which is quite warming.
"I could see myself with someone like him. It's a shame it didn't work out that way."
She admitted the show's strongest character, Naz, was a handful, but she knew what she wanted and was going for it.
"Naz has got her game on for sure. She's a nice girl, but she's just got a mindset and is going very strong for what she wants," she said.
"For me it's just all about being yourself and ignoring that there's a camera there. Enjoy the moment, make the most of it."
When the cameras were turned off, Lum said the Bachelorettes enjoyed reading, swimming, working out and occasionally breaking out the adult colouring in books.
"We just sit in groups and talk about Jordan and wish (we were the ones) on the date."
But the atmosphere changed when Mauger was around, she said.
"When he's gone everyone's more laid back and just talking about him. When he's around everyone just wants to have time with him ... There are a lot of us who want to be with him."
