Alita Brydon

Hello there, you lovely creature! Alita Brydon here, writing from my home office. If we haven’t met yet, I’m the creator of Bad Dates of Melbourne (BDOM). I’ve also been called Australia’s top dating expert, and yes – I’ve been on some very bad dates (and a few very good ones). We should be friends. Let me tell you a little about what I do…

BDOM shares real-life, anonymous dating stories from Melbourne (and occasionally the wider world) on Instagram and Facebook. There’s no shaming and absolutely no names – everything is de-identified and posted from the BDOM account. I add advice alongside the stories, and together our community has conversations about body image, safe sex, respect, self-esteem, and, of course, chicken nuggets.

BDOM has been called “addictive,” a “national phenomenon,” and having “cult status” by the media. If you’d like to submit an anonymous story, send me a DM on Instagram or Facebook.

BDOM began back in November 2017 with me sharing my own anecdotes and memes. As of January 2026, BDOM has 235k followers.

My book, How to Date Like a Dangerous Woman, will be published by HarperCollins in March 2026. It’s a two-stage plan that teaches you how to love yourself, find dates, and have healthy relationships. It’s funny, it’s warm, and it’s holistic. Essentially if you want a good relationship, you need to be independent, set firm boundaries and have your life in order, so we go into how to set that up before we get into the dating stuff. I’d say it’s good for singles as well as people in relationships. Being a “Dangerous Woman” is all about creating generational change and standing up for yourself. We’re “dangerous” because we’re challenging the status quo and saying enough. (We’re not out there looking to start a biffo.)

Sometimes I publish stories as a freelance journalist – the funniest is ‘How I Got Banned From Tinder for Being an Egg’. I’ve also popped up on TV as a dating expert for A Current Affair, ABC Breakfast, and Today Extra.

I’ve partnered with brands like Tinder (as Tinder Australia’s Dating Commentator in 2021 – 22) and Extra Sugarfree Gum (2022). And yes, I do host real-life events for BDOM – my favourite so far was a 160-person speed-dating event. If you’d like to work with me, get in touch here.

For the record, I’ve got a Bachelor of Arts (Media Studies) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Relations from RMIT University. I also run Bad Dates of Australia on Facebook and Instagram – I don’t update it often but it’s great to read once you’ve powered through the BDOM archives.

I’m Melbourne-based and single – meaning I’m currently in a committed relationship with chicken nuggets.

All that is cool, but the best part of BDOM are the letters I get from people who’ve stood up for themselves, found their voice, or simply felt supported by the community. I want people to walk away feeling like their confidence just shot through the roof. Woohoo!