Interview With DeAnna Pappas

If you had told me a month ago that tonight I’d be sitting in my pjs, after a full day of work, chatting on the phone with DeAnna Pappas, I don’t think I would have believed you. It’s amazing how one big bankruptcy followed by months of nothing to do at work, and then being laid off can transform my love of writing and mindless television into a blog that has seen nearly 50,000 hits in a just a couple of weeks. In case you are interested, the blanket that The Boyfriend nailed to our wall for use as a backdrop during Monday night’s videochat, is still hanging there – in the middle of our living room (which is also our dining room, library and study). I can’t wait for somebody to walk in, see it and be like, “Is there any particular reason you nailed a red blanket to your beige walls?" There’s even some Scotch tape sticking out of the top corners – a prelude to the nails utilized.

OK, on to DeAnna. First off, a HUGE thanks to www.getmarried.com, for making this all possible!! If ABC doesn’t want me to blog for them, I’m ready to work for you guys! Another thanks to DeAnna for her time – the poor lady endured horrible weather for her flight back to Atlanta tonight, and as she was speaking to me, she was in a car leaving the airport with some awful storms going on, including a few reported tornados in the area. Less than ideal conditions for giving a phone interview, but DeAnna was completely gracious.

I asked DeAnna a mix of questions, including some of the ones that you submitted. She was not allowed to discuss anything relating to the outcome of The Bachelor. Overall, she seems very happy with her life at the moment, but I definitely got the sense that she’s still single and looking.

Here’s a summary of some of the questions and responses from my interview with her:

Where do you film the show Get Married? How many days are you filming and what do you do when you’re not filming?

Get Married is taped in Atlanta, which I love because it’s close to home. The show has this great new, big studio. Shoots for the show last 10 hours, and I shoot a couple days a month. The rest of the month I have been keeping busy making appearances at various events.

Do people recognize you when you go to public places – such as a restaurant, the mall, the movies, etc? What do they do?

People recognize me. For some reason it most often occurs when I’m not wearing any make-up. People have been pretty friendly, some freak out, some just want to take a picture with me. All of the comments I get have been very nice and I’m just so amazed that all of these people are interested in my life.

With all of the gossip magazines, shows, blogs, etc. out there talking about The Bachelor and you personally – do you follow any of them?

It’s way too tiring to read. All of the TV shows constantly talk about my appearance on The Bachelor. I do not pay attention to it.

Is it difficult to host a wedding show having recently just called off your own wedding?

For me, it wasn’t. I have never been the type of person to sit around and mope. People change their minds and break up every single day. I don’t want to hold grudges. The things that I wanted when I went on The Bachelor/ette e are still the things I want now – to be in love, to get married, to have kids. I am a happy person and I know the show, Get Married, gives lots of great advice. I am grateful to learn something new. Get Married is a small family of people and I have really enjoyed working with them all so much.

How did you enjoy the videochat Monday night?

It was quite a learning experience! I was amazed at how many people logged in (over 8500 people). I couldn’t get to the questions fast enough because more and more of them kept coming in. (DeAnna said that Richard from the Bachelorette was watching her on the videochat Monday night and saw the purple sheet behind her in the background and said, “Where were you, in Indonesia?” Then I got to tell DeAnna about our blanket nailed to the wall. She laughed.)

Did the fact that Jason have a son affect your final decision at all?

Not at all. Girls don’t grow up dreaming that they want to be with a single dad. But to me, it never mattered. I was in it for the person that he was. We all have family drama.

Now that you are happy, well known, have this great life of traveling for appearances and are co-host of Get Married, do you still want to get married right now and settle down with kids?

Yes, I do want those things. Today was a perfect example. I was sitting in the airport by myself. I have a cool new job, with great people and get to do cool appearances. But I do it by myself. I have my family to join me when possible - my sister and brother and brother’s wife will travel with me, but they can’t all of the time. I want someone that I can do all of these things with. While I was at the airport a husband and wife came up to me and wanted to take my picture after telling me how much they like me. I was thinking – that I wanted what they had.

Did ABC or the producers of the Bachelorette ever tell you who to choose?

Not so much ABC. I became close with the producers and people on the show who would offer me advice. They knew me really well, so I would listen to their opinions. But ultimately the decision was mine.

How much of The Bachelor/ette is edited and how much is truly what you see?

I’d say for the most part, you are shown saying the things you really say and doing the things that you really do. If you yelled at another girl – they will show that. It’s not a show with 24 hours a day footage to show you what was going on at all times. I felt during The Bachelorette that it was very important to be myself – and that was what was reflected on the show.

What do you make of all the speculation on the outcome of Jason’s season? I know you can’t talk about it – but do you think it will live up to the hype?

I avoid it 100%.

Would you recommend to your sister that she go on The Bachelorette, The Bachelor or neither?

Absolutely, it’s a great concept. It’s a good way that two people can find each other. I really did fall in love with Jesse and Jason. And I really did fall in love with Brad too.

What really goes on during the fantasy overnight dates? Were you able to explore New Zealand?

I was only there a few days.

Is it really possible to fall in love with more than one person at a time? Don’t you know when you’re down to the final 5 who it’s going to be?

I have never been in that situation before. I have always just dated one guy. I really had 4 or 5 people that I was really falling for. I didn’t want to hurt anyone. For me, it was a learning process.

Which former Bachelor do you think is the cutest? What about Travis Stork or Andy Baldwin? They are gorgeous! Would you ever contact them? Have any of the previous bachelors contacted you?

I know it’s hard to believe, but before I was the Bachelorette, the only season I saw was the season with Brad (Womack). I am friends with some of the previous bachelors including Andy Baldwin, and Trista and Ryan too. Andy Baldwin is gorgeous. (she laughs) I thought Brad was pretty good looking too.

For individual/group dates, does ABC have a group of people that dress you, do your make-up and hair? Is there a personal stylist there to take the women shopping? Can you give her my phone number?

I did have a stylist who went clothes shopping for me. She would bring me a bunch of different clothing and I would pick out what I wanted to wear. I did all of my hair and make up except for five of the rose ceremonies. I did all my own hair and make up for the Bahamas dates. I’ve had a lot of practice and always ask for tips from the people doing my make-up.

Did you work out or use a trainer before becoming The Bachelorette? What was your routine?

I absolutely did. My favorite pilates instructor was in Newnan, GA. I didn’t do it to lose weight – I just wanted to tone up. I wanted to look good – I was going on a show to hopefully meet my future husband!

Is there anything you want your fans to know about you?

I appreciate my fans so much. There have been lots of people that are following me on Get Married and Get Married.com and I feel so lucky. I get emails every day on my MySpace account from different people and I am just so thankful for all of the support.

DeAnna, thanks again for your time. I thought you were great and my offer still stands for you to come visit New York. We’ll take you out and show you a good time. Maybe we’ll go to Southern Hospitality across the street (Justin Timberlake’s bar). Seriously, don’t be shy. Lots of fish in the NYC sea up here.

And now that it’s after midnight, I must sign off. The new job is keeping me very busy, but I’m very grateful to have a job these days. My new boss has been coming into my office several times a day asking me if I’m working on my blog. Today I told him I was preparing for an interview with the former Bachelorette. I don’t think he believed me. But then again, why would he? I’m supposed to be a corporate lawyer.

I will be posting a contest in the next day or so for all of my readers to win a Get Married.com bag signed by DeAnna. Please stay tuned.