She won Bachelor Locky Gilbert’s heart in an emotional finale, but since moving to his hometown of Perth, Irena Srbinovska has admitted that adjusting to her new life on the west coast has been a struggle.
The 31-year-old nurse confessed in an Instagram Q&A that she’s “definitely homesick” and has been missing her loved ones in Melbourne, especially since her father had a recent health scare and was hospitalised whilst she was in hotel quarantine with Locky.
“I am definitely homesick and with everything that has happened with my dad I really miss home too but I am absolutely loving my new life in Perth,” Irena wrote on Instagram in response to a fan.
“Like everyone I have my good days and then days when I have my cry to Locky about how much I miss home. Moving for love was an easy decision and I am very happy in Perth with Locky.”

Irena also revealed that she is still waiting to start working in her new hometown and that she misses her nursing career “so much.”
“I haven’t started nursing in WA yet, just a slow process with paperwork and delay after delay but I can’t wait to get back into it. I miss it so much,” she penned.
In a previous chat with Who, Irena admitted she felt “so guilty about being away from work while the nation was going through a pandemic,” and went back to work to do her part as soon as she came back home after the show was temporarily put on hold.
“Being a nurse is a huge part of my life. It’s my way of giving back to the community and helps me feel fulfilled. I just didn’t know how bad the situation was going to be until I walked through the hospital doors,” she said.

The Bachelor winner also shared some more details into her relationship with boyfriend Locky – including how he’s been balancing her vegan diet, that she first started four years ago.
“So Locky has been eating vegan when we are home but when we go out he eats meat,” she divulged.
“I think it would be unfair of me to push my beliefs onto him so I don’t get upset if he eats meat. That would be like him putting pressure on me to eat meat.”
Irena also dropped a massive hint that a proposal could be on the cards soon when she replied to a fan: “No we are not engaged…yet.”

She may be new to Perth, but Irena has already connected with a Bachie fave who’s also based in the WA capital – Brooke Blurton from Nick ‘Honey Badger’ Cummins’ season and the second season of Bachelor in Paradise.
The happy couple caught up with Brooke and photographer Jarrad Seng at Perth’s official TAG Heuer boutique opening night and shared some candid snaps from the night’s festivities on Instagram.

“Just TAGing along,” Irena cheekily captioned a photo of herself and Locky sharing a passionate kiss whilst Jarrad and Brooke hug Locky.
Locky shared the same photo with the caption: “Just a solid crew checking out some watches.”
Brooke was equally happy to meet her fellow Bachie star sharing a photo of herself and Irena on her Instagram Stories and remarking: “So glad to finally meet this beauty.”