Singer, TV and radio personality Sophie Monk has been announced as this year’s Bachelorette in the reality television show’s first deviation from its traditional formula of starring an “unknown” Australian searching for love.

Network Ten’s The Bachelor spin-off The Bachelorette involves a single woman who claims to be seeking a serious relationship and dates several suitors simultaneously in the hope of narrowing down her choices to a potential soulmate.

But this will be the first time a celebrity has featured as the star of the show.

Monk, a former singer with girl group Bardot, has been engaged twice – firstly to Good Charlotte’s Benji Madden in 2007, which was called off the following year, and American millionaire Jimmy Esebag in 2011 before announcing the split a few months later.

More recently, she dated Australian actor Sam Worthington in 2013.

In a statement released by Network Ten on Sunday, Monk said her mum had been the one to suggest she audition for the show.

She said she was looking for an “honest, kind and real Australian man” with whom she can spend the rest of her life.

“Mum, along with the rest of my family, know how much it means for me to find the right person to settle down with,” she said.

“I moved back to Australia a couple of years ago, and I’ve embraced life back in the suburbs on the Gold Coast.

“I love having my family nearby, and spending time with my nieces and nephews – but I’m missing that one person to share it with.”

Last year’s Bachelorette Georgia Love found love with Lee Elliott.

The 37-year-old recently spoke out about her desire to have a child.

“Ideally I’d like to have kids this year but I need a guy. I reckon I would do it by myself to be honest – if it got to that time,” she told News Corp.

“If I wasn’t in this industry I reckon I’d be married with four kids already but it’s tough, I find, with what people’s intentions are as well.

“Also, I’m not going to meet anyone because a guy might come up for a photo and it is awkward.”

She also said she wanted to meet someone who was not in the entertainment industry because “high-profile men tend to have big egos”.

Many fans have expressed disappointment with the network’s decision to use a famous personality as the star of the show, which usually gives “ordinary” people their chance at fame and love.

“Seriously? It should be someone unknown,” Canberra resident Christine Lawler wrote in response to the public announcement on the show’s Facebook page.

“Enough with the semi-celebrities!”

Another wrote: “Thought this was meant for everyday Australians. Obviously not.”

Australia’s first Bachelorette Sam Frost, who had her heart broken after being rejected shortly after being proposed to by previous Bachelor Blake Harvey on the last show of the second season, went on to secure a role as a radio presenter alongside Rove.

Last year’s selected Bachelorette was Georgia Love, a broadcast journalist from Tasmania.