‘Bachelor’ Alum Zilda Williams Celebrates Same‑Sex Relationship and Encourages Others to “Trust Your Heart”

Former "Bachelor Australia" contestant Zilda Williams has confirmed she is in a same‑sex relationship, sharing a montage of intimate moments with her girlfriend, personal trainer Jordy Brooking, in a recent Instagram Reel. In the video, posted on 2025-12-08, Williams documents the couple travelling together, kissing and enjoying time at the gym, where she says they first met. The Reel was shared on her account and quickly drew supportive comments from friends and followers.

Text overlaid on the Instagram Reel describes Zilda Williams’ experience of developing feelings for a woman later in life, reading: “In your 40s you will have your first crush on a woman at your gym… it’s very important you take a chance and fall madly in love with her!!” The clip is soundtracked by a viral mash‑up of Billy Joel’s “Piano Man” and Fleetwood Mac’s “Silver Springs”, a popular audio trend on the platform. In her caption, Williams reflected on the unexpected nature of the relationship, writing that she “never saw this love story coming” but is “so glad it did” and encouraging others to “trust your heart”.

Williams first came to public attention on the third season of "The Bachelor Australia" in 2015, where she was one of the contestants vying for the affections of leading man Sam Wood. She was eliminated in the first episode of that season but remained a recognisable figure in Australian entertainment media, working across modelling and business ventures.

By sharing her new relationship publicly a decade after appearing on a mainstream heterosexual dating show, Williams joins a growing number of former reality television participants who later come out or speak openly about same‑sex relationships. While Williams has not used specific labels for her sexuality in the Reel, her description of falling in love with a woman in her 40s reflects broader conversations about sexual fluidity and people coming out or re‑evaluating their identities at different stages of life.

Under the post, friends and followers responded with affirming messages, praising the couple’s apparent happiness and describing the clip as “radiating so much love”. One commenter wrote that the Reel gave them “goosebumps”, while others celebrated that Williams “deserves all the happiness” and called it a “fabulous way to start the new year”. Coverage of the post in Australian entertainment outlets also highlighted the warm reaction, framing the announcement as a positive milestone rather than a point of controversy.

The response aligns with a wider trend of increasing public acceptance of same‑sex relationships in Australia following the legalisation of marriage equality in 2017. Advocacy organisations such as Equality Australia have noted that visible LGBTQ+ relationships in mainstream media can help challenge stereotypes and make it easier for people to come out on their own terms.

Williams’ story has particular resonance for LGBTQ+ women and people who come out or enter same‑sex relationships later in adulthood, sometimes after years of assuming they were heterosexual. Research cited by the American Psychological Association indicates that sexual orientation and attraction can be experienced as fluid over a lifespan, and that it is common for adults to recognise or disclose same‑sex attraction at different life stages.

LGBTQ+ organisations in Australia, including groups that support women and gender-diverse people, have emphasised the importance of affirming spaces where individuals can explore or share their identities without pressure to conform to fixed labels. Williams’ emphasis on “trust your heart” in her caption mirrors this message of self‑determination and acceptance, encouraging others who may be questioning or re‑evaluating their sexuality to prioritise their own wellbeing and feelings.

As visibility of LGBTQ+ people in reality television and other popular formats continues to grow, advocates say that public figures sharing genuine details of their relationships—whether or not they adopt specific identity labels—can help normalise diverse paths to understanding attraction, love and partnership. Williams’ announcement represents one such moment of visibility, framed not as a dramatic “reveal” but as a celebration of everyday intimacy between two women.