"I don't know what happened to me," Nicole told 10 Daily, adding, "I was thrown by a few of the judges' comments and then wasn't in the right headspace."
Nicole also commented that a lack of focus can be "the difference between elimination and the semi-final."
Her fellow contestant Time Bone will progress to the semi-finals without her, however, Nicole's outlook on the result is a grateful one.
"Winning would have been amazing, but it wasn't my goal. I guess it was more about improving myself," she explained.
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Nicole added that her newly-formed friendships with Tessa and Christina were a highlight from her experience on MasterChef.
"I was so lucky to be with them every day and hang out. We had such a great time, it was such a unique experience I wouldn't trade for anything in the world," she said.
Besides feeling appreciative, the MasterChef contestant also has a lot to look forward to.
The reality tv star got engaged last Friday, a silver lining to her unfortunate elimination.
The MasterChef Australia Grand Finale airs Tuesday, July 23 at 7.30pm on Channel 10.