Farmer Wants A Wife contestant Mieke reveals surprise phone call from Zac after elimination

Mieke’s journey on Farmer Wants A Wife ended in heartbreak after Zac chose to leave the show with Maya on Monday night.

But once the cameras stopped rolling, the pair had one final conversation — a surprise phone call from Zac.

Monday night’s episode also featured a surprise proposal, with former contestants farmer Tom and Georgie from last year’s season announcing they were engaged.

Speaking to 7NEWS.com.au, Mieke revealed how she turned the heartbreak into a huge sea change, and opened up about the unexpected call from the apple farmer days after filming ended.

Former flight attendant Mieke said after her romantic moment on the harbour with Zac, where they shared a kiss at the black-tie dinner, she was feeling quietly confident she would be the chosen one.

But after spending a week apart, the distance made the 22-year-old question their connection.

During the home visit, Mieke described her time with Zac as “awkward”.

“A lot of time had passed, and I was just like really in my head,” Mieke said.

“I just was not feeling confident.

“I was feeling not the best about mine and Zac’s connection, like it suddenly just felt really awkward.”

Mieke said having to open up to her family about the relationship was uncomfortable, as she doesn’t usually speak to them about her dating life.

She said while their final date was “really lovely”, she felt like they needed more time, so she went into the final decision not knowing which way farmer Zac was going to go.

“I wasn’t 100 per cent confident he was going to choose me and when Zac started getting really emotional, I was like, ‘OK, it’s not me’.

“I respected his decision – he had to do what was right for him.”

While farmer Zac from South Australia was in tears as he told Mieke he didn’t see a future for them, she remained strong.

Mieke admits she “put on a brave face” for the cameras.

“I really liked Zac at that point and like I had expressed to him, I was falling for him,” Mieke said.

“It was heartbreaking, I was destroyed on the inside, but I grew up in the dance industry, so I have learned to keep myself together.

“I also knew if I broke down it would have just made it so much harder on Zac, so it was a lot just out of respect to him.

“I truly respect his decision and he did what’s right for him, so I can’t then turn around and feel upset about it.

“I was definitely putting on a brave face, but inside I was dying.”

Mieke said she held it together for Zac’s benefit, who she said was genuine about his feelings from the beginning of the experience.

“He’s such a lovely person and you really see that the whole way through,” Mieke said.

“Every time he had to make a decision it was so hard because he didn’t want to hurt anyone.

“I think his emotions were very genuine and I don’t know if you can see it on camera but he was shaking like a leaf like when we were holding hands before he said it wasn’t me.”

After her elimination, Mieke left without another chance to speak to Zac and assumed that would be the end of their story.

Instead, he later surprised her with a phone call to check in and make sure she was OK.

“We talked things through, which was really nice,” Mieke said.

“We had the opportunity to debrief, there was no regrets on both sides.

“We spoke about my experience with production, because I had a very different experience to the other girls.”

Mieke admits not being as open as the other women or upfront about her feelings meant she was overlooked.

But she said the experience has taught her to communicate more openly in future relationships.

“I learned a lot about myself,” Mieke said.

“I think the biggest takeaway for me was communication is so important in a relationship.

“My standards for men are even higher than before, which is a problem because they were already really high.”

While she’s not actively dating, the 22-year-old said she is open to meeting new people.

Since filming wrapped, Mieke has moved from the Adelaide Hills to Melbourne and is working in the fashion industry, a welcome sea change after her time on the show.

She has also reconnected with Maya and said the pair remain in close contact.

While Zac left the show with Maya, farmer Jason from Queensland chose Poppy as his final lady.

Logan, 28, didn’t have much to say following the decision, with her final words to dairy farmer Jason short and sweet.

“I’m glad I met him and got to know him,” Logan said. “I hope he’s happy and gets what he wants.”

Farmer Wants A Wife continues Sunday 7pm on Seven and 7plus.