DeAnna Papas had her heart broken last November when she was dumped by the then Bachelor Brad Womack — but it’s her turn now to hand out the roses as this season’s new Bachelorette.
It was the first time in Bachelor history that neither of the final two women were given a rose or a ring. Since then, Papas admits she’s been out on one date, which went nowhere fast.
“I was on one date since Brad. One date, and it obviously did not go very well,” Papas said from New York during a press call. “It was a friend of mine, and we just went to dinner and I realized that he’s just a friend.”
Even though Womack decided he didn’t want to continue a relationship with either Papas or Jenni Croft, a 27-year-old Phoenix Suns cheerleader from Wichita, Kansas, Papas says she’s happy he made the decision he did.
“I was really confused when it happened but after it was all over … I was actually very happy that Brad … didn’t propose to someone just because he was under pressure,” she says. “I’m thankful that he didn’t propose to me, everything happens for a reason and I’m where I am today because of all of it, and I’m very happy for that.”
After her heartbreak on The Bachelor, ABC selected Papas as their newest Bachelorette. This fourth instalment of the romantic reality series, premiering on ABC Monday at 9 p.m. ET and on Citytv Thursday at 9 p.m ET, will follow the 25-year-old realtor from Newnan, Ga., as she tries her shot at love, hoping to find someone she can settle down with.
With 25 men for her to choose from, all of which have the characteristics she’s looking for in a life partner, Papas says it was a great journey and one she doesn’t regret. So what is this single lady looking for in a mate? “I cannot date someone who smokes, that is a definite no-no. If he’s wishy-washy and doesn’t know what he wants that’s another no-no. Anything else I’m pretty open to,” says Papas.
