The dark side of The Bachelor: How Irena Srbinovska felt ‘isolated’ in the mansion as the cast ‘picked sides’ in her bitter feud with Bella Varelis
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The Bachelor mansion will be divided into two camps as former friends Bella Varelis and Irena Srbinovska clash in the post-lockdown episodes.
The pair’s feud reached fever pitch during filming in July, after the cast reunited in Oxford Falls, Sydney, following several months of self-isolation.
A handful of women plotted to ‘ice out’ nurse Irena, 31, leaving her feeling ‘isolated’ with only the producers to turn to for emotional support.
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EXCLUSIVE: The Bachelor mansion will be divided into two camps as former friends Bella Varelis (right) and Irena Srbinovska (left) clash in the post-lockdown episodes
‘Basically everyone turned their backs on her after her fight with Bella. She didn’t really have anyone to talk to,’ a source close to Irena told Daily Mail Australia.
Irena turned to fellow contestant Kaitlyn Hoppe for support, but mostly ‘kept to herself in her room’ after Bella, 25, convinced the other girls to ‘pick sides’.
The insider claimed that most of the women took Bella’s side because they believed she was ‘destined’ to be the winner.
‘A lot of them thought Bella had Locky wrapped around her finger, so they tried to get in with her,’ the source said.
‘They reasoned that being friends with the winner would mean more opportunities after the show airs.’
Shunned: The pair’s feud reached fever pitch during filming in July, after the cast reunited in Oxford Falls, Sydney, following several months of self-isolation
Mean girls: A handful of women plotted to ‘ice out’ nurse Irena, 31, leaving her feeling ‘isolated’ with only the producers to turn to for emotional support
Daily Mail Australia understands that Bella formed a ‘strategic alliance’ with post-lockdown intruder Bec Cvilikas in the final weeks of production.
The two women are still friends months after the finale, and were recently spotted together on a Father’s Day picnic with their families in Sydney.
It comes after Bella told New Idea that the increasing competition in the house made it difficult to maintain her friendship with Irena.
‘I knew she had a good connection with Locky, too. I loved seeing [Irena] come back from her date happy, but seeing her happy made me realise that my connection with Locky may be worse off,’ she said.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Bella, Irena and Channel 10 for comment.
Two tribes: Irena turned to fellow contestant Kaitlyn Hoppe for support, but mostly ‘kept to herself in her room’ after Bella (pictured) convinced the other girls to ‘pick sides’
Dynamic duo: Daily Mail Australia understands that Bella formed a ‘strategic alliance’ with post-lockdown intruder Bec Cvilikas (pictured) in the final weeks of production
Irena is one of the rumoured finalists on The Bachelor, with Sportsbet and TAB both tipping her to win Locky’s heart.
Bella Varelis is widely believed to be the heartbroken runner-up.
The Bachelor continues Wednesday from 7:30pm on Channel 10
Tune in: The Bachelor continues Wednesday at 7:30pm on Channel 10