🌏 INSIDE 'RACE AROUND THE WORLD'

10 films. 10 countries. 10 brain cells.

Good evening mamis, papis, babies and bedfellows, both strange and familiar.

And welcome to this, the highly-anticipated Race Around The World wrap by contestant LUCINDA! Who is she? I think she’s the chick who went to Jamaica and made a movie about cunnilingus!

and I would do it again.

I’ve been mulling over what to write in this exclusive tell-all. I asked for your questions on Instagram. Unfortunately, the results were unsavoury at best. Most of the questions revolved around whether or not any of us rooted (we were all in different countries lad 😭) and how much money the ABC gave us.

Please understand, I am not at liberty to share such highly sensitive information. I was sworn to secrecy by way of a statutory declaration and I’m in no position to aggravate the powers that be, in this, the little newsletter that could. My unreserved apologies.

Another hot topic in my DMs was the judging. You asked: was I offended? Was it rigged? Did I feel misunderstood?

It wasn’t rigged, and as for the other two questions, what I do know is that taking to your newsletter to defend yourself over perceived slights on a television show is probably the least cool thing you could ever do. It was fucken awesome to be given live feedback, even if it didn’t suit my narrative (of being perfect). I’ve craved it my whole career – it’s rare.

It also made for electric television. When I say that you need to watch the actual show because the judging is the best bit, I mean it. Catch it all here.

In the meantime, here are the FROOMESWORLD docos with director’s cut commentary (from last to first).

FOREVER 35 – LOS ANGELES

“From fillers to face lifts, it’s never been easier to look younger, for longer. But for who?”

So, for our last film, we were allowed to choose where we went. When I applied for the show, I had to share my ‘dream film’ idea. It was to go to Istanbul to get a pubic hair transplant, through which I would explore the dichotomy of men spending thousands on hair transplants and women spending just as much on hair removal.

Anyway, when it came to locking in the dream film, I went wait… I actually don’t want to get hair transplanted onto my pubic region, on television 😂 it would have been from my head so it would be straggly hair and you could plait it? Girl.

I’ll do almost anything for content, but even I have a line.

I’m so glad because what I made instead, is my second favourite film. I got to explore something that has genuinely been taking up brain space (to get botox or not?) daily.

After making this, I’ve decided I want to make a longer form series on it. I will be looking into funding. That is a formal plea.

TOUCH GRASS – LITHUANIA

“Distracted by negative online commentary, one contestant participates in an ancient pagan ceremony.”

When Lithuania popped up on screen as my next destination, I went oh dear. What business do I have in Lithuania?!

Shortly after landing, I found out that Lithuania was the last officially pagan nation in all of Europe, with Christianity taking over in the 14th century. A friend of a friend introduced me to Karolina, who introduced me to her Dad, Vidi – a “rural country dweller” – which is the original translation of the word ‘pagan’.

I had to think of a way to tie this into pop culture, as was my personal mission each week. I thought – I’m out in the forest, I’m touching grass, this is what you’re told to do when you’re ‘too online’. Can this alleviate the pain of being perceived on anonymous message boards? And voila, movie magic was made. I had a lovely time in Lithuania.

ENTERING NIRVANA – BALI

“Bali has become synonymous with perfect influencers, digital nomads and e-commerce bros. Their lives look perfect. But are they fun?”

This one is JUICY. Oh my god, I could do an hour on this topic. And I intend to.

I’ve been to Bali a fair few times – I went for the first time in Year 9 with my naughty rich best friend, and her Dad let us go free range, so best believe we were sucking back hookah with 35-year-old German men #real.

So when I arrived in 2026, I was shocked at the development of the island, even in the time since I last visited in 2023. Digital nomads are literally everywhere. State-of-the-art mega gyms are everywhere. Ripped gentlemen brrrapping past you on motorbikes, sans helmets? Everywhere.

I stayed in what would have once been a hostel, but had been converted into a ‘digital nomad workspace’. That’s so funny and end-of-times to me. I focused on whether or not this lifestyle is fun because that’s one of my fave topics (whether being hot actually makes life more enjoyable).

Then… The week the film aired, news erupted that a run club had been excluding locals. No surprises there to be real with you. It’s legit a South Park episode. I’d like to go back and delve further into this with a bigger team – it’s an hour-long program type of thing.

Add it to the list!

LUCINDA IN PARIS – FRANCE

“Ever landed somewhere and felt an overwhelming desire to completely reinvent your personality? Paris does that to a girl.”

Paris was MELTDOWN AREAS. Fucked 😂

I was filming this during the crazy heat wave. Heat waves are different in Paris than they are in Australia. There was no respite. No aircon. People were jumping into the Seine – this is desperation manifest.

I was disappointed with my Botswana film (more to come) and I took that into this country. I think it was because I was the only contestant who didn’t get points in that round. Embarrassing to admit, but when the show is your whole world, points (or lack thereof) affect your perception of yourself, Flopcinda.

Paris week was a great example of the challenges of the show. It isn’t meant to be easy. It isn’t about creating ten perfect documentaries. It’s designed to create challenges outside of the filming. If uncontrollable circumstances impacted your film, it made for a good show. Bad for your ego. But good for the show.

MAN OR ELEPHANT? – BOTSWANA

“Would you rather be alone in Botswana with a man you met on WhatsApp for two minutes, or 130,000 wild elephants?”

Despite its panning at the ABC box office, with hindsight this has become one of my personal MMMs (Most Memorable Movies). A true on-foot safari adventure, tracking down wild elephants, with a new friend? Nigel Thornberry, you’re on notice 🗣️

Oaitse and I shot for 5 days, spending about 75 hours together in various cars. Truly Harold and Kumar areas. It reminded me of my childhood, spending hours driving around with my Dad. It wasn’t the first time I’d been subjected to a long-haul drive in a car held together by sticky tape, fearing for my life and stopping only for full-strength cokes and sour straps.

WOMAN V BIDET – JAPAN

“Japan has the cleanest and most technologically advanced toilets in the world. For most, they’re a godsend. And for others, a nightmare.”

Japan was a special episode, because it was the half-way mark and to celebrate, we were all sent to the same country. Yay! We landed and went straight to bed because the next morning was a 5:30am start for the reunion shoot. By 7am we were drinking sake with Mista Safran. I didn’t get to sleep til 7am the next day #legend. I could count on my fingers how many times I’ve done that. I think I just blew out because I’d been alone for 50 days not drinking.

zoom into this and you’ll see the light in our eyes has vanished

For the next 24, I was genuinely hallucinating from alcohol poisoning. Like I was trying to get to sleep but every time I closed my eyes I’d see all the other contestants’ faces (and Zan Rowe’s) crowding my vision fish-eye style. Or like they’re looking into a toilet bowl and I’m a lowly turd. Cue, my movie.

WE WANT BOYFRIENDS! – TAIWAN

“There’s a worldwide dating crisis – but in Taiwan, one little man under the moon has a plan.”

I liked this story because it felt the most ‘true’ to the original series – I just walked outside and stumbled into it. Sharing my ‘man-ifest’ list was equal parts demonic and liberating. I sorta can’t believe I didn’t get cancelled for saying ‘big dick’ in a temple? No retroactive cancelling, please. In my defence, my tour guide insisted on specificity. ☝️

ALLEMANSRÄTTEN – SWEDEN

“Sweden is one of the most expensive places in the world. Unless, of course, you abide by an ancient, sacred and terrifying rite of passage.”

By country three I went, ohhhh, so they want me to be in the documentaries! Sorta in a life or death way. It became clear that I was chosen not for my technical prowess but rather for a Bridget Jones-style vibe. When I realised this, I breathed out. A weight was lifted as I was back in my wheelhouse.

Sweden is stunning. Like, glorious. So streamlined and clean, apart from the one public toilet I went to that was so horrific it garnered 4 million views on TikTok.

I really meant it when I said that the forest smelt like pure green. It spoke to me. I think it’s the 3% viking in my blood as per AncestryDNA. I’ll be back.

THE PUM PUM – JAMAICA

“Horrified by the state of modern dating, Lucinda travels to Jamaica to investigate how Australian men can get their rizz back.”

Little did I know, two countries in, that I would be making my favourite film of the series. The polarising glory that is, THE PUM PUM. No further comment.

THE PRINCES OF POP – LAS VEGAS

“Las Vegas is a city built on the principle that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. But is it the most lucrative?”

And finally, my first ever film of the series. Before I got chosen for this show, I wrote a mammoth document on all the different subcultures I’d like to explore. Michael Jackson impersonators was one of them. So picture my surprise and delight then, when I bumped into one on my first night in Las Vegas!

What I produced was somewhat of a dog’s breakfast, but I felt electrified by the whole experience. We were off to a start! Hee hee.

---

And that’s that! Thanks for reading.

What’s next, you ask?

I intend on continuing the storied legacy of FROOMESWORLD on Instagram, and my YouTube.

I will also be pitching a docuseries on beauty and wellness culture. Like a visual version of my book. Peptides, botox, looksmaxxing and the like.

this but on a screen

I want to end this evening’s broadcast by saying thank you to anyone who sent me a nice message during the experience. Cos I was alone all the time, it meant more than you might think to get a lovely message from strangers and employees alike. I appreciate that 💌

Regards,
LUCINDA Froomy xx