It’s been a tumultuous few weeks for Bachelor winner Irena Srbinovska, to say the least. Not only has she been navigating a new relationship in the public eye, she just quit her job, left her family and moved her entire life to the other side of the country.
It doesn’t help that her and beau, Locky Gilbert, are constantly plagued by split rumours online – or that she’s been privately battling a serious family crisis.
In an interview with The Kyle & Jackie O Show on Monday, the 31-year-old nurse revealed that her dad, who lives in Victoria, had recently been hospitalised.
When asked by the radio hosts asked why his girlfriend had been so “stressed” lately, Locky replied:
“It is hard because everyone’s going to think it’s about us, but we’re doing great. Irena has been worried. Her dad had a health scare and went into hospital, and that put stress on us just as we come over here [Perth.]”
Irena added: “There was a while where we didn’t know if he was going to make it or not. I’m so far away from them, and I was feeling helpless in hotel quarantine.”
Although he is now “out of the woods,” Irena explained that the time difference between Western Australia and Victoria made the situation extra “tough.”
“Just trying to communicate with anyone with my family was really hard,” she said.
“Being the nurse in the family, anytime there’s anything medical happening everyone calls me and I just couldn’t help anyone and all I wanted to do was see my dad.”
Despite the trying situation taking its toll, Irena insists that the couple are “better than ever.”
“Locky is the main reason why I got through my dad being unwell. Those few days when we weren’t sure if he was going to make it, it was Locky that kept me calm,” she continued.
The candid confession comes just days after Irena took to Instagram to share that she’d been feeling worse for wear, fuelling speculation that the pair were on the rocks.
“Had my first facial since February,” she captioned a bare-faced selfie. “This is me makeup-free and no filter. I have been under a lot of stress. Despite what you all see on socials, I’ve had a lot happen in my life over the last few weeks which has taken its toll on my health and skin.”
To make matters worse in the eyes of fans, former Survivor star Locky attended the Melbourne Cup festivities without her.
“I didn’t see Irena with you,” one of his followers commented on a snap he shared from the event.
“Missing Irena here,” another wrote.
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