Claudia, left, is sent home by Jordan Mauger on The Bachelor NZ.
Claudia, left, is sent home by Jordan Mauger on The Bachelor NZ.
She was side-kick to The Bachelor NZ's most loathed contestant, but Claudia Conaglen says viewers didn't get to see her "real" personality.
The blogger, model, designer and entrepreneur was eliminated in last night's episode by Jordan Mauger after finding herself in the bottom two alongside diamond necklace recipient Shari.
While her exit came as a surprise, Claudia told the Herald she also felt a sense of freedom.
"It was a shock. Good luck to Jordan finding the right girl, but it is a relief. It's good to be back at home in the real world, to have my phone back," she said.
Naz tears up after Claudia finds herself in the bottom two on The Bachelor NZ.
Her relationship with the show's villain Naz, real name Nazanin Khanjan, was built on common ground but Claudia said her friendship extended to all girls in the mansion.
"I just wish I had more 'best friends'. I was friends with everyone it's just the shame you didn't get to see my personality like the funny, bubbly Claudia," she said.
The confident 29-year-old will be remembered for some of her controversial comments, once claiming she and Mauger were a perfect match because of their similar complexions.
"I'm tan, he's tan," she said, a statement she insists was a bit of lighthearted fun.
"(My personality) did come out with those tan comments. Of course it's just me pulling everyone's leg."
Claudia was also known for her salty side, which appeared this week when she and Naz were left alone on a boat while Gab had some alone time with Mauger after a jet ski group date.
What audiences didn't see is how "grateful" she was for the experience.
"I just wanted to pull him aside and say, 'Thanks so much for yesterday's date'. We went jet skiing and to Waiheke Island. It was like my ultimate date - I love water sports.
"Being in bikinis and involved with the water, it was my type of date. I was very grateful."
Quick to defend her friend, Claudia confirmed Naz was in the competition to find love, dismissing rumours that she was planted to stir up drama.
"Naz really, really likes Jordan, she said that to me from day one, every time he walks past she was all, 'Oh, doesn't he look good tonight Claudia?'.
"She would always make comments, she really was into him so yeah, I'm happy for her and I would love to see her win."
Jordan Mauger locks lips with Storm during last night's episode of The Bachelor NZ.
Claudia's other picks for Mauger's dream girl were Fleur and Storm, who received the first kiss at a cocktail party this week.
"He and Storm have a real connection as you saw last night, and I guess Fleur, she seems pretty confident in the whole thing. They would be my picks".
