EXCLUSIVE: Lauren spills on her eyebrow-raising attempt to impress the Bachelor.

The Golden Bachelor’s Lauren shocked viewers when she wore a bikini on the group date. Photos: Channel 9

They may be some of the oldest participants to appear on Australian reality TV this year, but that doesn’t mean the women on The Golden Bachelor are eager to fade into the background. Some viewers were surprised this week when one contestant participated in a horse-riding group date wearing a bikini top.

On previous iterations of The Bachelor franchise, viewers wouldn’t bat an eyelid at scantily-clad participants. This was when the average age of contestants vying for the one suitor’s attention was 30 or under.

Lauren, 60, told Yahoo Lifestyle she was happy to challenge preconceptions about how ladies of a certain age should act, dress or pursue love in a moment that sparked conversation amongst her peers on last night’s show.

Her co-stars applauded the 60-year-old’s confident bid to land more one-on-one time with leading man Barry ‘Bear’ Myrden, and he admitted he appreciated her “enthusiasm”.

And despite some viewers questioning if her clothing was appropriate, there was a simple answer behind her decision — that’s how she was most comfortable, as it was something she had done when she was younger.

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“As a young girl, I used to go horse-riding in my bikini all day down by the river, so it just brought back those fond girl memories,” she said.

Lauren, who describes herself as “confident, poised, and entirely unique”, said that it was “lovely in the sun”, joking that she was sure to keep her bikini on for the entire date.

“I know there were rumours that it came off, but it was still on,” she laughed.

Bear admitted he appreciated Lauren’s ‘enthusiasm’. Photos: Channel 9

‘We are seriously a family’

Samantha Armytage, who has replaced Osher Günsberg to become the first female host of the long-standing reality show, has previously pointed out that there’s a clear change in dynamic between the contestants.

The former Sunrise host described the participants as “accomplished and powerful” women with “wonderful stories to tell”.

“It’s got all the normal reality dating stuff. I mean, it’s silly and it’s funny, but I think the difference here is that it’s got some really meaningful moments, and some really powerful stuff happens,” she told Yahoo Lifestyle.

Lauren echoed this sentiment at Channel 9’s launch event last week, telling Yahoo Lifestyle that there was an incredibly strong sisterhood throughout filming, which has continued well beyond the show.

“I loved living with the girls, so much so that they come and visit and stay with me all the time now, so I’m at their place or they’re at my place and we speak daily,” she said.

“Elizete was in my bed the other day as we were watching The Block, the girls are flying down for Christmas, I fly up to them — we are close.

“We are seriously a family, so it’s a beautiful love story between the girls.”