Irena and Bella’s Friendship Is Going to Steer Us Through This Overly Dramatic Bachelor Season

A shining light in tonight's episode of The Bachelor, featuring standard dinner party drama, was Irena and Bella's supportive friendship.

In earlier episodes, we learned that the pair are each other's confidante in the house, with Bella noting how difficult it is to be so close with someone who is also quickly emerging as one of the contenders for Locky's heart.

Tonight, those feelings came to a head, as Bella became upset to not have spent any time with Locky considering Charley ate up a significant chunk of the cocktail party with an impromptu mud bath. On top of that, even though Irena already had a rose from their fencing single date, Locky took the time to check in with her and consolidate their quickly blossoming connection.

Irena and Bella walked away from the night's drama together, as Bella started to tear up, talking about how difficult it is to open up to Locky on a single date. Irena gathered Bella into her arms as Bella said, "I'm so sad," struggling to hold back her sobs. "I'm so used to being not good enough," she added.

The other woman reassured her that she also felt that way sometimes, before giving her some of the best advice: "Please do not ever, ever, ever, ever think that, because you are. You are, OK? You are good enough. You're better than enough, OK?"

They talked about their unique situation, being best friends in the mansion who are also each forming a strong connection with Locky. "I don't know what I would do without you here," Bella said, dabbing tears from her face. "And I don't know what I'd do without you!" Irena replied, before going in for a big hug.

Reflecting to camera, Bella explained why she was so upset: "I'm seeing him look at so many girls the same way that he looked at me. I told myself that I wasn't gonna get upset." She continued that she'd vowed to be "realistic" in her expectations. "But I genuinely have really strong feelings for him and he literally hasn't looked at me once tonight."

She loved Irena, she offered, before articulating her insecurities around the other woman: "She's the older, better version of me. Irena's just the upgrade of Bella."

On Instagram earlier today, Bella wrote about forming "genuine friendships" on The Bachelor. "It's hard when you want the best for a friend, but realise that may mean it might not be the best for you . . . "

While we couldn't help but identify with Bella's tears and her feelings of insecurity, it was so powerful to see women on The Bachelor not calling each other names or picking at those anxieties, but instead caring for one another.

There's such strength in being there for other women, building them up and reassuring them that they truly are enough. We all need an Irena to tell us we're OK - vulnerabilities and all - sometimes.

The Bachelor airs on Network Ten, Wednesday to Thursday. Join us at our Facebook group Pass the Popcorn to gab about all things reality TV.