WB Q&A - Rachel Lindsay
Exclusive Interview with The Bachelorette
With this Monday's season premiere of The Bachelorette, Bachelor Nation is buzzing about this season's Bachelorette, 31-year-old Rachel Lindsay. The Dallas attorney was a fan favorite on last season's The Bachelor, but ultimately didn't receive the final rose from Nick Viall. But now as The Bachelorette, Lindsay is the one making the decisions about her future love. Recently the first African-American Bachelorette (and the first living on the other side of 30) answered a few irreverent questions from us so our WB.com fans can get a better chance to know this amazing lady.
What would you say are the pros and cons of going through this personal process in such a public way?
RL: The cons would be that this is public and I’m typically a more private person, so this is definitely me stepping out of my comfort zone. The con is also that although you sign up to date several men, you are also dating several men and that is a difficult task in itself. The third con would just be the emotional strain that all of it takes on you because it’s just a lot. The pros would be the opportunity to find love and to find someone who wants the same thing you want. Being the first black Bachelorette is one and the third one is that I get to date 31 men.
Describe your ideal date
RL: I don’t have an ideal date, like a specific thing to do, but my ideal date in general would be one where we have a lot of conversation and get to know each other. Whatever maximizes that.
Define what a “soul mate” means to you
RL: A soul mate to me is that person that I connect with in a way that I can’t really explain. Something you feel so strongly and deeply from within and you just connect in an energy kind of way. You connect to souls [laughs].
You’ve mentioned that a great smile and a sense of humor are some of the things that are important qualities in a man for you. But let’s flip the tables and have you describe what you think are your best qualities and perhaps other qualities that you wish you had or are trying to develop.
RL: That is a loaded question. I would say that my biggest struggle is letting my guard down and being open and vulnerable in a public way. I wish I had more of that quality; to just be more open with my emotions.
Does the other love of your life, your dog Copper, get a say in who you end up selecting this season on The Bachelorette?
RL: Absolutely. If you’re going to accept me, you’re going to have to be able to accept Copper. But he also has to be able to accept you. So a huge red flag would be if Copper did not like you.
Favorite scary movie.
RL: I love scary movies. It is my joy when a new scary movie comes out. I have to see it. I even watch the terrible ones that are on Netflix. My favorite scary movie? There’s only one time where I screamed out loud in a movie theater and that was watching The Ring. When she came through that TV…I’d never seen anything like that before, so that would probably be one of my favorites.
Do you keep in touch with any of the ladies from your time on The Bachelor?
RL: Yes. I have my group that I like to call The Squad. We are very, very close. My squad is Astrid, Alexis, Raven, Kristina and Whitney. I’m also very close with Jasmine and Corinne.
What kind of law do you practice currently and do you have other avenues of law you would like to pursue?
RL: My background is sports law, that’s what I went to law school to specialize in but I am currently a trial attorney that specializes in civil defense litigation. I work in a variety of expertise, from business and commercial litigation to personal injury and premises liability. My firm represents businesses and organizations in whatever aspects they get sued. I wanted to be a trial attorney because I wanted to learn a number of expertise as far as the law is concerned, so I could spread my wings and learn everything I could. And because sports law is my background I will eventually probably move back into sports law.
Final question: Which is more difficult, law school or dating?
RL: Definitely dating [laughs].
Rachel's quest for love begins when The Bachelorette premieres this Monday on ABC at 9/8c.
Meet the bachelors vying for Rachel's rose and heart.