By GARRY HOWE
UPPER Beaconsfield 24-year-old Chelsea Conn is not normally one to kiss and tell, but she is more than happy to talk about her reality television experience that led to love.
If things continue to go well with new boyfriend Stefan Hryniewski, the story of how they met will be a ripper to tell the grandkids in years to come.
Chelsea and Stefan connected through Channel Seven’s Kiss, Bang, Love program – where she had to pucker up blindfolded and ‘pash’ 10 blokes before narrowing the field down to two for a weekend away.
From there, the choice came down to one guy to accompany on a holiday and, at least in Chelsea’s case, a permanent relationship.
The manager of Lakeside Cold Rock admits the show has polarised audiences, but says for her it was nothing but a positive reaction.
“There are a few haters out there,” she said. “Some people love the show, others say it’s awkward, but they can’t stop watching and some say it is the worst thing ever.
“I’m not complaining though. I got a relationship out of it.”
The journey began at Moonee Valley racecourse on Cox Plate Day last year when Chelsea was out with a few girlfriends when they were approached by Channel Seven talent spotters.
“I’d had a few drinks, so I said ‘no worries, sign me up’.”
Then the pre-show nerves kicked in and Chelsea said she almost pulled out of the show at the last minute.
“I did get cold feet – I just wondered whether it was me,” she said.
Having her sisters Hayley and Shelby involved helped calm the nerves. While Chelsea was in the studio kissing the 10 men, Hayley and Shelby had to critique them all in another room.
They had another important job as well – inserting a ‘wildcard’ entry of their choice into the field.
Stefan is the brother of one of Hayley’s closest friends and they had always joked that they would be perfectly suited – so Stefan was slotted in without Chelsea’s knowledge.
Thankfully, he was one of the five she chose initially to follow up and they met for the first time.
“The show made out that we had known each other, but that’s not correct,” Chelsea explained. “We were known to each other and I had seen photos of him, but we hadn’t actually met until then.”
Five months on, they are still seeing each other and Chelsea certainly has no regrets.
“It’s one of the best things I have ever done,” she said.
“It was a fun day of filming, I had two awesome dates and a holiday – and now have a relationship. I am so glad I went through with it.”
