The Bachelor Vakoo Instagram: reality star shares past of sexual abuse - NEWS.com.au

Former Bachelor contestant Vakoo Kauapirura has revealed she was sexually abused multiple times as a child.

The reality TV star, who appeared on the current season of the dating show vying for Matt Agnew’s heart, retold her past with a nude photo on Instagram — her “most vulnerable state”.

“I thought I would share this with you guys because you just never know what someone is going through or has been through,” the model wrote.

“I am a victim of sexual abuse. It happened to me multiple times when I was young. I blamed myself, felt ashamed, disgusted, worthless and I could never understand why it happened to me.”

The 23-year-old also opened up about her past trauma on reality TV podcast Real Talk with Holly & Ali this week.

She told the hosts it was these horrific events that led to her and her mother leaving their home in Namibia.

“I lived there until I was 11,” she shared.

“I had a really, really good life, but then I had a lot of traumatic stuff happen as well. When I was younger, in Namibia, I was sexually abused. I think I was eight years old when it happened.”

Vakoo didn’t tell her mum about the incident initially because she was worried she wouldn’t believe her, but when it happened again, they left the country.

In her heartbreaking Instagram post today, Vakoo revealed she was deeply traumatised and “crying herself to sleep” over the repeated sexual abuse.

“I always pretended to be OK on the outside but on the inside, it was a different story … I was so scared to be alone with my thoughts because they got really dark. I felt like my soul had been taken away from me and my innocence and purity had been taken away from me at such a young age. I didn’t want to be alive anymore.”

She went on to say she struggled with feelings of self-blame until she sought help.

“It wasn’t until I finally got help and started to talk about it that I stopped blaming myself. I realised I was worth so much more and what happened to me doesn’t change who I am as a person,” I decided to take control over my life and while these people might have ruined a small portion of my life, I wasn’t going to let them ruin the rest of it,” she posted.

Writing that she eventually found “the light at the end of the tunnel,” the reality star said she shared her story so others could understand that it’s “OK to not be OK.”

“Your scars are what make you beautiful and unique and it’s given me the strength to get through anything else life wants to throw at me.”

She concluded: “Please don’t forget to be kind to people, check in on your close ones and even on strangers. Most importantly, don’t forget to check on yourself because it’s OK to not be OK … It’s OK to talk about this dark stuff and that it actually helps you to heal.

“You are worthy, you are incredible and there are always brighter days to come, trust me.”

If you or someone you know is affected by sexual assault, please call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732). Children and adult survivors of child sexual assault seeking support can contact Bravehearts on 1800 272 831. Always call triple-0 in an emergency or to report crime.

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