February 25, 2025 • 33 mins
Former beauty pageant queen Allyshia Gupta gave Grant his first lip lock during his season of “The Bachelor,” and she was just as shocked to go home so early as the rest of America. She’s opening up to Ben & Ashley about her surprising early exit and who has slid into her DMs from the franchise since departing.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous podcast
with iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
This is Almost Famous podcast. We are here today with
a very special guest. We're so excited for her to
be joining us. Alicia from this season of The Bachelor.
Probably one of the most talked about eliminations of the
season still today even though it happens so early on,
and that's really what we want to talk about throughout
this episode. Alicia, I do want to start with saying this,
(00:26):
before the season started, we kind of always go through
our top four of who we think will make it
based on knowing nothing about any of you and really
having no clue of anything that's going to happen through
this season, and you were up there, so for you
to be eliminated was shocking to us here. But we'll
kick it off with kind of your backstory, if that's
(00:46):
okay with you. You have a fairly similar backstory to
a lot of the very well known contestants that have
come through the Bachelor franchise. You are a former pageant
and you're also just very accomplished outside of that, So
can you give us a little backstory of your pageant
(01:07):
years and have you known or competed against anybody that's
been on the show before.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Well, thank you firstly for that. And yeah, so interestingly,
the pageant world is so small, and yes, I do
come from the pageant world. I competed at Miss USA
and held the title is Miss California. But I couldn't
be further from what you would imagine when you think
of a typical pageant girl. I never really competed. I
(01:34):
had come from a family that was born and raised
in England, so even pageantry, the whole concept was so
new to all of us, and it really just got started.
I was a little kid, and I was always a
girly girl, and I love crowns and sparkles and everything
that princesses wore, and that was my dream job. And
(01:55):
I was watching our local town. We had nothing in
our local town, but we had this big Christmas parade
every year, and so I was watching it and the
local queens on had gone by on a parade and
they were waving, and I just saw the crowns and
pretty dresses, and I remember asking my mom, like, how
do I want to be on that float? I want
to wave, I want the crown, I want to be
(02:15):
a princess and I was like five, and my mom
is the complete opposite of a girly girl, so she
had no idea and she had no idea how to
help me. But I did some research and figured it
out and it was a local pageant, So that's kind
of how I got started. And then I didn't really
compete because I wasn't a US citizen, so up until
(02:36):
I was about twenty two, I hadn't yet naturalized, and
I never felt any repercussions besides not being able to
vote up until trying to attempt to qualify from this USA,
and of course you have to be a US citizen first.
So my dream of competing in pageants really was put
on a back burner, and I went to college. My
(02:59):
life continued. Was not in my plans whatsoever, wasn't on
my big go card. But just so happened that the
same director who owns Florida happened to own California at
the time, which was the chris family, Todd Chrisly and
Savannah Chrisly. So they reached out to me and they said, hey,
would you want to come out and do California. We
knew you were from Florida originally, and you wanted to,
(03:21):
and I said, no, that ship sailed like I have
a job. That was like a pipeline dream. No, I'm
not interested. And they said, well, what if we just
let you come to the state level, because typically to
win a preliminary pageant on a county or yeah, certain exactly.
(03:42):
So they said, well, what if we just say you're
Miss Hollywood and you can come out and compete. So
I said, okay, sure. At that point, I hated my job.
I was working in marketing.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
Were you a US citizen at this point?
Speaker 3 (03:54):
At this point I had I had naturalized as a US.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
Cident, okay, because I was confused.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
So I was like, when when separate from the pageant world,
I had done that for my own.
Speaker 4 (04:03):
So you didn't do it for it? Okay?
Speaker 3 (04:05):
No, But of course my mom posted something on Facebook
with you know, my naturalization papers, and that's when the
Chris Lies had seen it and reached out and said,
come on out to California and just do it. And
I had bought this pageant dress probably oh, I bought
it from when I was eighteen, and so now going forward,
what it was twenty something and I had this dress
(04:26):
that I was never going to wear anywhere else, and
I thought, sure, I hate my job. I'm just going
to use this as a distraction and go for it.
And it's just a bucket list item. And I remember
inviting my mom and my sister to the pageant and
they're so honest and like, we have a very close relationship,
and they didn't mean it in a horrible way, but
they said, you know, I hope we don't mind, but
we're not going to come from Florida to California to
(04:46):
watch this because you're not going to win. Like there's
just no You're not a pageant girl. You're not prepared,
you don't go to the gym, you don't have a coach,
you don't know how to walk, you don't know how
to answer a question on stage, and pageants California are
known for being really competitive, and so it was a
really big one. And I said, you know what, guys,
I'm not upset, like, don't waste the money, don't My
(05:09):
sister's in med school, so she has a crazy schedule,
and I was fine with them not coming. And then
long story short, I ended up winning. I don't know how.
I think it's really a matter of They liked the
fact that I wasn't the typical pageant girl, and that
I messed up a million times on my interview, and
I was, you know, walked when I wasn't meant to walk,
and did circles when I wasn't meant to do circles.
(05:32):
So I think they probably liked that it was I
was just novice in the pageant world. But yeah, I
do have I do have some connections with the past
Batchelor contestants. As far as competing in pageants, No, I've
never competed against any of them, and I've never met
any of them through pageants either or personally either.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
Well, so how did you become Miss California if you
were going to Florida?
Speaker 3 (05:59):
Yeah, so I was. I grew up in Florida, and
that's when my pageant journey I supposed started, let's say.
But then after college, I got my first job out
in LA and I moved and I was for a
couple of years, and that's when they had contacted me,
and I already naturalized as a US citizen.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
Okay, okay, all right, I got it, got it.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
Yeah, And you have to compete or you're living. So
at that point I was in California.
Speaker 4 (06:25):
Okay, all right, there you go. Okay, So then how
did we get from that to signing up for The Bachelor?
Speaker 3 (06:31):
Well, how did we get from that to signing up
for the Bachelor? So much went on in the between
those two things. I was in a really serious relationship
for three years and I really thought I was I
saw the future with this person. There was no doubt
in my mind. This was going to be my husband,
(06:52):
my the father of my children. And it was reciprocated.
We he had purchased an engagement We were engagement ring shopping,
you know. We asked my mom for permission to marry me,
and the book, the whole planned it all out, asked
my mom, my sister, and then on a Tuesday, woke
(07:12):
up and said, you know, I think there might be
other people more compatible for me. So I packed my
bags that same day moved out, and The Bachelor just
happened to DM me like the next week and asked
if I was single. And they'd reached out previously and
I wasn't single or interested in doing the show, But
at that point they just got me on the right day,
(07:33):
at the right time and the right phase of heartbreak
to think it might be worth a shot going on
the show, and.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
Then you went through with it. Now, before we get
into the curiously early elimination, I do want to ask you,
what did we not see on the show in those
first two weeks that are so true to you that
(08:02):
you'd want Grant to know in the world to know
that you never got the opportunity to share.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
Well, there's a lot that's shared that is an aired,
of course. I mean, there's just so many women in
conversations frankly that happened, you know, it would be impossible
to show it all. But I do feel like my
short time that I was there, I was one hundred
percent myself and very authentic with the women in the
house and with my one on one time with Grants.
(08:26):
So I don't feel like I walked away with any
sort of regrets or feelings of that I missed the
shot to show someone who I am or I wish
I did this or said this, because I was all that,
and I did show up as Alicia and remained her
throughout the entire time. So I feel pretty good in
(08:49):
retrospect looking back at my experience.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
I think that when we watched episode one, we thought
that you could have even been the first impression and
rose recipient. You were definitely in contention for that at
least from what we saw, felt.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Like that, and had the first kiss from what we
saw first kiss.
Speaker 4 (09:09):
From what we saw, Yes, I know that could have
probably been, you know, fudged. Now we've just been dying
to know, like what changed in a matter of the week.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
You know, I don't know what changed. I think for me,
I can only speak from my perspective, right, so I
don't know what went on and Grant said or why
he made the decisions he made. But I was feeling
good about our connection. We had continued conversations that of
course weren't aired, just because you know, you don't have
the time to show everything, that were really progressive in
(09:44):
my opinion. And it's funny because the Internet reacted to
our night one conversation like, oh my gosh, they have
so much chemistry the connection, and in my eyes, of
all the conversations I had with Grant, that was my
least favorite, just because it's the first one and you're nervous,
it's night one, it's super late, you're tired, your heels.
(10:05):
Arning all the conversations after that feel even more comfortable,
if anything. So you know, I wish that they were
eric because I think it would give more color to
who I am and give more color to the relationship
that Grant and I had developed in that time. But
to be honest, I'm not sure what changed for him
(10:25):
in his head. I really really thought I wasn't expecting.
I wasn't expecting to go home as early as I did.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
You obviously get in a limo after that elimination, and
you do have time to kind of process, but I'm
sure it was confusing then now that you look back
on it, if you could make some very un educated
assumptions about what had happened, because it is surprising. I mean,
in the bachelor world, to go home week two usually
(11:03):
means there's no connection. I mean, at least when I
went through it, it usually meant like, hey, we haven't
even had a conversation yet, so I don't even know,
like remember your name, and so like you're gonna go
home because we obviously like aren't finding ways to even talk. Right,
you are saying that you did get to talk to him,
that you did have some sort of connection with him,
(11:23):
and so as you've processed it, you could make some
assumptions like what happened.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
So you know what they say about assumptions, It only
makes an ass.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
Out of you and me, and I can do them
all the time here, but here I go.
Speaker 4 (11:35):
That's what we that's that's our bread and butter. Yeah,
that's all we do.
Speaker 3 (11:40):
So my assumption would be I wasn't physically his type,
having lighter hair and skin and eyes. Maybe I just
wasn't physically his type. That was one of the first
things that crossed my mind, because to your point, Ben,
when you are eliminated that early, even though we did
have amplepportunities to continue our conversation and grow our connection,
(12:04):
you really aren't. You don't have enough time with the women,
in my opinion, to make a decision based on their personalities,
unless you haven't had time to speak with them, which
we did have. So I would have to imagine it
was purely down to a physical element that maybe I
didn't I physically didn't check the boxes of what his
(12:27):
future wife he imagined her to look like.
Speaker 4 (12:30):
He kissed you and I right away, though I know
I'm not sure you.
Speaker 3 (12:35):
Know that's it is very strange, and we had more
kisses after that and we had time that was one
on one. I was actually pretty sick the morning of
the basketball date. The bus ride over, I just wasn't
feeling too great. I had a little bit of a
stomach ache, and he really made it a point to
pu me to the side and check on me, and
(12:57):
even i'd been vomiting TMI, I know, and even really
ask if he could kiss me, and I was like,
you don't want to do that. I've been vomiting, and
he was super adamant on taking care of me and
being there. So it was definitely a surprise at that
Rosemary ceremony, and I will say, hmmm, well, I don't
(13:18):
know if I'm allowed to say this, but they'll stop
me if I can. I felt like he was giving
me a lot of validation that I was staying. So
it was surprising when my name wasn't called, because I
felt like he was intentionally sending me messages that were
kind of like, you know, the wink wink, don't worry
you're here, saying he has a connection with me that
(13:42):
you know. I shared something really personal with my family
and some photos with him on that final night, and
he asked to keep them and said, you know, I'm
going to hold onto these. I'll give them back to
you next time I see you. So of course I'm
reading that like a woman's going to analyze that in
her head, and we're thinking, like, okay, again, one hundred
(14:03):
percent we have the connection. And yeah, that was like
the last thing he said to me and before the
row ceremony and then sent me home. So it was
very confusing. But at the same time, I do feel
like closure is just somebody not picking you. You know,
if it wasn't meant to be, it wasn't meant to be,
(14:23):
And you know, I feel good about that, and I
think I had a connection with Grant. I would have
liked to explore it more. But if he had already
made that decision in his head that he wasn't attracted
to me, I'm glad he sent me home earlier than later.
Speaker 4 (14:39):
We had you on thinking we were going to get answers.
You were going to tell us about some conversation that
went awry, and now you've further puzzled us as to
why you left week two.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
Yeah, I wish I could, like I wish I could
tell you what further conversations like happened that would have
changed things. But truly, looking back on it, there wasn't
anything that would have derailed our progress. If anything, it
would have. I think had you were seeing more of
our conversations, they would have been even more continued.
Speaker 4 (15:12):
Probably why they didn't show and that is that anything,
because they didn't want us to feel even weirder about it. Okay,
So we see online that you and devn Jen's Devon
devon Strator are following each other. Now listen, there's this
girl that I know, and he slid into her DMS
(15:34):
when like he was with Jen or like right after
they broke up, something somewhere in the very close proximity
of their relationship. So and guess what little breaking news here?
He just did it again. He said to her, I'm
dying to bring take you out on a date, Like
(15:54):
when can we do this? Literally they haven't spoken in
like six months, Okay. And then and less than a
week later, he posts a picture of him with some
new girl, like out there on Instagram with some other girls.
So we know we're assuming strongly that Devin slid into
(16:15):
your DMS. What of you guys talking? What are you
talking about? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (16:20):
So thanks for bringing this up, because that is a rumor.
I was certainly not excited to hear circulating.
Speaker 5 (16:27):
I have no idea how this Bachelor Nation world works,
but in my reality of La La Land, it's like,
we're all BFFs after this, We're going to hang out
after the show.
Speaker 3 (16:39):
I'm going to come over and play with Ben's kid,
like me and Ashley are going to get drunk together.
That's how. That's how I imagine, like the tail end of.
Speaker 4 (16:46):
This is, it's not really far off right.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
And so, you know, anybody Bachelor Nation who followed me,
I made it a point to follow them back. Devin
was one of the many that were included, and I
think people forgot to mention the many others who I
mutually follow. Yes, he did slide into my DMS as
a few other people.
Speaker 4 (17:08):
Stay busy, He's busy.
Speaker 3 (17:12):
What's so funny is so he slid into my DMS.
I didn't respond to him. He slides into my DMS again.
After these rumors starts circling that Devin and I start
following it or whatever. He sends me another message and
it was I couldn't believe it. I'm gonna spark notes
it for you because I can't be bothered to go
(17:34):
dig it up right now, but essentially said like sorry
that I caused you all this attention from these rumors,
like as if he were interested in me or the
bouchler right now, Like oh see.
Speaker 4 (17:50):
Look this is what he just posted. Oh's Valentine's Day.
He posted this girl, Yeah, these days my V day?
Soothing like beach waves, Yeah, play in for Playing for Keeps, babe,
Playing for Keeps three four days before this slid into
(18:10):
this girl's DM saying what am I taking you on
a date?
Speaker 2 (18:13):
I have a feeling that he's not going to be
dating this girl very much longer after this show.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
I hope this girl can see oh I'm on blurred
But for her own personal record, the date of these
messages was February sixth from mister Devin Straighter, so I'm
pretty positive he was with her at that point as well.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
Eight days is a long enough time to play for Keeps.
Eight days in early not know, That's what I don't.
Speaker 3 (18:43):
She must have heard something before, because if he's doing
it to everyone rumors like she would have heard that
he does this by now, she must not care.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
It's uh, Alicia, This is a very interesting conversation to
be having because you're not wrong. The Bachelor Nation is
a very supportive group of people. There's always events happening,
and back in the day there was a lot more
events happening. And I hope that you know, the almost
famous group can bring you into some of these fun things.
(19:14):
We're gonna love to have you there and we all
will become best friends. And hopefully my wife does bring
a little daughter and her and I can have a
date night and you guys can babysit. But there is
this interesting thing that happens after the show. You were eliminated,
in our opinion, too early, and if we get to
talk to Grant again here soon, we're gonna tell him
(19:36):
that and see what he says about it, hopefully clear
any confusion. But now you have the opportunity to go
on Paradise. And the reason these rumors were started, and
the reason I even saw them, was because people were
kind of making couples up for Paradise, and Devin's name
was getting their round along with yours because you both
follow each other. We've gotten to the bottom of that
(19:58):
whole scenario. He slid into your there isn't and am
I fear saying there isn't like a relationship built right
now between the two of you. So if you show
up to the beach in Paradise, the first question is
would you say yes to doing it? Secondly, if Devin
shows up to the beach in Paradise, would you be
(20:18):
interested in pursuing a relationship with him? And if not him,
then who?
Speaker 3 (20:22):
No, I would not be interested. That's the easiest answer
is certainly no to Devin for a multitude of reasons.
But if what we've just covered isn't enough, then I'm
not sure what is. I really want to have a
partner for life and a husband, and I want to
start my family, and I'm looking for someone who's serious
(20:46):
about that. And I think it's pretty obvious that, based
on the way he moves, that's not what he's looking for.
So you know, that's a non starter for me. If
you're not serious, then I'm not even going to give
you the day of time, So time of day excuse me.
So that would be the answer to that. Would I
go on Paradise It depends depends. I think I would
(21:09):
have It would be something I would certainly consider, and
I think there would be a lot of different variables
that I would have to think about before I made
a decision when if I went or if I didn't go,
Like what.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
Wait time out? What variables work?
Speaker 3 (21:25):
My work schedule, my family and life schedule. Like I said,
my little sister is graduating from med school and as
residency starting and match day and those are just big
life events I wouldn't miss for anything. And then, of
course who else is going to be on Bachelor in Paradise?
I think if there was men going who I could
(21:46):
see a future with, then it would be more enticing.
If it was men like Devin going, then no, I
don't as interested because a while it would be fun,
I don't see how anything serious could come of it.
Speaker 4 (22:01):
Well, it sounds like you're a Bachelor fan because of
what you said. So in Bachelor's past, which single guys
would you like to see a show up on that beach?
Speaker 2 (22:12):
I gotta start looking. I'm gonna google this so I
can fill in any gaps she's not willing to answer.
Speaker 3 (22:18):
Ben was honestly, Ben, you used to be on like
my Hot Bachelor Guide list before you were married, like
you were my hype. Dark hair, dark eyes is typically
what I go for.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
Oh okay, So if that's what you're saying here, there's
a guy named Spencer. I think we were he was
just a few seasons ago, right, and he's like living
next to Kelly Flann again. That's how he's in my head.
Good looking fella, dark hair, tall, ripped.
Speaker 3 (22:47):
It's hard because so much changes too in the relationship
and then the inter dating in Bachelor Nation, it's kind
of hard to know who's single and who's available, and
then of that group, you know, you don't know anything
about people's personalities, and as cliche as that sounds, if
you looked at any of my ex boyfriends, you would
(23:08):
be able to attest to the fact that I go
off personality. Even though I do have a type, I'm
always finding myself dating guys that go against that type,
just based on us being able to get along and
have a good time and laugh, which is weird because
you know, circling back to this past season, Grant was
definitely my physical type, dark hair, dark eyes, tall, and
(23:32):
we had a lot in common as far as being
raised by a single mom and being super close to
our sister, loving dogs. We both grew up on a
farm and my sister was born in the same town
he was born in New Jersey. It's a lot of
weird small coincidences.
Speaker 4 (23:48):
Well what about New Jersey? Oh my gosh, who's what's
his name? The one from Katie season that I everybody
thought was gonna win, Greg Greg He's now not with
Victoria anymore. I could see him being a hot shot
in Paradise.
Speaker 3 (24:08):
Yeah. Wait, Greg Greg is like as far as personality wise,
that's somebody who I was like, oh yes, gets along
with because I've seen his tiktoks and they're just so funny,
Like that's my type of humor. I mean, these aren't
Bachelor people. But have you been watching Traders? Because Boston
robb he needs to come to Paradise. He's I love
(24:30):
Boston Robb.
Speaker 2 (24:34):
Well's loved him. Wait, so like but Boston robb is
fifty years old.
Speaker 3 (24:41):
No, Boston Rob's married with a beautiful family as well.
Speaker 2 (24:46):
But people like him.
Speaker 4 (24:47):
Okay, so we're kind of is really catchy.
Speaker 3 (24:50):
I like, I don't know, I like that that type
of confidence.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
Here's what we're going to tell you. So we're gonna
speak some old school, almost famous bachelor wisdom over you.
You should go to Paradise. You're going to be sought after.
It's going to be really fun for you, ask Ashley.
Ashley's married with two kids from Paradise.
Speaker 4 (25:14):
To it it is.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
It is something that I know when you sign up
for The Bachelor, it does feel overwhelming, very odd, and
then you get sent home week two and you have
a lot of questions about it. What happens in Paradise
is it's a whole new world. It's not that long,
it's a very intentional time. It's a lot of fun,
and you're going to do great there. So if the
(25:38):
opportunity comes your way and we don't only lead you
straight here, we have no skin in this game. I
think Ashley and myself would both say go do it.
Speaker 1 (25:46):
Well.
Speaker 3 (25:46):
I appreciate that input, and yeah, Ashley, you do have
a success story that is envious of. So I think
it's like I said, if there was somebody going or
a few different people who I think there was a
real connection with, I would be excited to take that
opportunity because you do see real relationships that come out
(26:07):
of it. And I haven't watched Bachelor in Paradise, so
I know I need to go and watch a full
season of it to know how different it is. From
The Bachelor, because I have heard that it's a totally
different dynamic and a totally different environment completely.
Speaker 4 (26:24):
Yeah, and this season they might have air conditioning, so
this would be the season to get.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
Ashley. I do have two final questions just to kind
of summarize here. Ashle and I just broke down that
The bacheloret is not returning for the next season. However,
when we did our investigation, your name did get brought
up in the mix of who they were thinking about
asking to lead the franchise. If they would have came
to you with The Bachelorette or maybe even in the
future when the show comes back, would you consider it.
Speaker 3 (27:02):
Yes, I don't think I would ever shut the door.
I had an incredible experience on The Bachelor, and I've
said it before, I'll say it again. Even knowing how
my journey ended, and knowing I would go home night
two or week two, I would go back and do
it all again. I had a really, really great time.
I have nothing but the best things to say about
(27:25):
Grant and the production and the entire show. So because
I had such a great experience, I would definitely be
open to doing anything as far as Bachelor Nation goes. Yeah,
I absolutely feel like part of the family already, and
I felt their outreach from the fans, and I love it.
I'm obsessed with it. I've had a great time and
(27:48):
I have no complaints from what's for trade or what's
not portrayed the women on the seasons. I mean, we've
just had a really all around I had a really
great experience.
Speaker 2 (27:58):
And then the final thing I have to up because
it was mentioned and it feels like more and more
we talk about it here on the Almost Famous podcast.
It's a complete pivot point. But you have been open
about your lime disease. If you don't listen to the
Almost Famous podcast. One of my best friends in the
world suffered from lime disease and it actually increased to
a whole different disease and that he still deals with
(28:20):
this day. Obviously, we have Kelly Flanagan, we have Daisy.
Lime disease is a very important topic that doesn't get
talked about enough, that isn't studied enough, that isn't even
considered a real disease by most, which is outrageous to me.
So in closing here, we have a minute do you
(28:41):
mind sharing about your lime disease and kind of where
you're at, how you're healing, and any advocacy efforts that
you're doing or that you know of on behalf of
this disease that so many people are unfamiliar with.
Speaker 3 (28:52):
Yeah, thanks for thank you for loving that up to me,
because it's such an important cause and one that I've
personally suffered. I was about two and I contracted limes disease,
and unfortunately I was in New Jersey and the tick
had bit me on my hairline. And because I was
so young, a lot of the symptoms are really similar
(29:13):
to the flu, and the one really sign that you
can tell it's limes disease is a bullseye rash that
you get around the tick bite, and because that was
under my hairline, it was undetectable. And so I was
so young. My mom kept taking me to doctors and
everybody kept saying, it's a flu, it's this, this, this,
And then one day I woke up and I was
(29:34):
completely paralyzed, my entire right half of my body. I
was in a wheelchair. They rushed me to the hospital
and put me in a placed me in an induced
coma so my brain swelling wouldn't keep on increasing and
got me on antibiotics and a direct line pickline to
my heart, which I stayed on and from there. It's
(29:56):
something that I've lived with that is I've never really
had a normal baseline because it happens so young in
my life. I've lived with it what feels like my
entirety of my life, and it's just something I've learned
to manage and it's ongoing. There is no cure for it, sadly,
so a lot of limes disease patients have different experimental,
(30:20):
holistic remedies that they'll try. I love cryotherapy and in
Fred'sana's of course, there's the antibiotic route that I've also
partaken in and it has helped me tremendously, but it's
not a forever solution. It's something that I continuously have
to go back on and do rounds of antibiotic treatments
(30:40):
every couple of years. So it's a lot and it's
something that I think a lot of people are starting
to talk about more, thank goodness, and I love that
there is so much of it shown on Bachelor, because
we need to talk about it more. And I think
we're finally getting to the point where people are addressing
the severity of it and how serious it is, which
is wild that it's taken this long. But I do
(31:03):
advocate for the limes disease community. Bay Area Line Society
is out of California. I've partnered with them previously and
continue to partner with them on really educating an awareness
for limes disease. If you follow their social media pages,
they also share about events and fundraisers that they have
throughout the year, But the biggest part of their cause
(31:26):
is trying to educate people and just bringing the statistics
of this disease to the forefront. So if you're interested
or you have lime disease know as someone who has
limes disease or suffering with it, I would highly encourage
you to check out Bay Area Limes Disease as a
resource for learning more and for learning about events in
(31:49):
your area or ways you can help.
Speaker 2 (31:52):
Yeah, it is something that needs to be talked about more.
Thank you for bringing it up. It is interesting that
The Bachelor has so many contestings that have suffered with
this disease, but I also think it's not only because
the Bachelor looks for people with lime disease, Because I
don't think they do. I think it's because a lot
of people have it.
Speaker 3 (32:08):
It's the spetific of limes disease of how many people
have it that is. I mean, if you think about
the statistics of who has had it or experienced it
from the Bachelor Nation, I think that would be pretty
fitting with what statistically online with how many people are
implicated with limes disease.
Speaker 2 (32:27):
Thanks for talking about it. It means a lot to
all of us here. We've talked about it many times. Alicia.
You are great. We hope to watch you on Paradise.
We hope to have you some almost famous events. Thank
you for taking the time to chat with us today.
We leave this conversation with some nuggets. Devin works hard
about some things that he just shouldn't be working with.
(32:50):
The second thing takeaway is we have no answers to
why Alisha was sent at home. We're still as confused
as ever, but it doesn't mean that her love story
is over and hopefully we get this see it on
the beaches wherever those beaches exist in the world. Here
coming up soon. Until next time, I've been Ben.
Speaker 4 (33:06):
I've been Ashley. See you guys
Speaker 1 (33:09):
Follow the Ben and Ashley, I almost famous podcasts on
iHeartRadio or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.
This is the Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous podcast
with iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
This is Almost Famous podcast. We are here today with
a very special guest. We're so excited for her to
be joining us. Alicia from this season of The Bachelor.
Probably one of the most talked about eliminations of the
season still today even though it happens so early on,
and that's really what we want to talk about throughout
this episode. Alicia, I do want to start with saying this,
(00:26):
before the season started, we kind of always go through
our top four of who we think will make it
based on knowing nothing about any of you and really
having no clue of anything that's going to happen through
this season, and you were up there, so for you
to be eliminated was shocking to us here. But we'll
kick it off with kind of your backstory, if that's
(00:46):
okay with you. You have a fairly similar backstory to
a lot of the very well known contestants that have
come through the Bachelor franchise. You are a former pageant
and you're also just very accomplished outside of that, So
can you give us a little backstory of your pageant
(01:07):
years and have you known or competed against anybody that's
been on the show before.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Well, thank you firstly for that. And yeah, so interestingly,
the pageant world is so small, and yes, I do
come from the pageant world. I competed at Miss USA
and held the title is Miss California. But I couldn't
be further from what you would imagine when you think
of a typical pageant girl. I never really competed. I
(01:34):
had come from a family that was born and raised
in England, so even pageantry, the whole concept was so
new to all of us, and it really just got started.
I was a little kid, and I was always a
girly girl, and I love crowns and sparkles and everything
that princesses wore, and that was my dream job. And
(01:55):
I was watching our local town. We had nothing in
our local town, but we had this big Christmas parade
every year, and so I was watching it and the
local queens on had gone by on a parade and
they were waving, and I just saw the crowns and
pretty dresses, and I remember asking my mom, like, how
do I want to be on that float? I want
to wave, I want the crown, I want to be
(02:15):
a princess and I was like five, and my mom
is the complete opposite of a girly girl, so she
had no idea and she had no idea how to
help me. But I did some research and figured it
out and it was a local pageant, So that's kind
of how I got started. And then I didn't really
compete because I wasn't a US citizen, so up until
(02:36):
I was about twenty two, I hadn't yet naturalized, and
I never felt any repercussions besides not being able to
vote up until trying to attempt to qualify from this USA,
and of course you have to be a US citizen first.
So my dream of competing in pageants really was put
on a back burner, and I went to college. My
(02:59):
life continued. Was not in my plans whatsoever, wasn't on
my big go card. But just so happened that the
same director who owns Florida happened to own California at
the time, which was the chris family, Todd Chrisly and
Savannah Chrisly. So they reached out to me and they said, hey,
would you want to come out and do California. We
knew you were from Florida originally, and you wanted to,
(03:21):
and I said, no, that ship sailed like I have
a job. That was like a pipeline dream. No, I'm
not interested. And they said, well, what if we just
let you come to the state level, because typically to
win a preliminary pageant on a county or yeah, certain exactly.
(03:42):
So they said, well, what if we just say you're
Miss Hollywood and you can come out and compete. So
I said, okay, sure. At that point, I hated my job.
I was working in marketing.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
Were you a US citizen at this point?
Speaker 3 (03:54):
At this point I had I had naturalized as a US.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
Cident, okay, because I was confused.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
So I was like, when when separate from the pageant world,
I had done that for my own.
Speaker 4 (04:03):
So you didn't do it for it? Okay?
Speaker 3 (04:05):
No, But of course my mom posted something on Facebook
with you know, my naturalization papers, and that's when the
Chris Lies had seen it and reached out and said,
come on out to California and just do it. And
I had bought this pageant dress probably oh, I bought
it from when I was eighteen, and so now going forward,
what it was twenty something and I had this dress
(04:26):
that I was never going to wear anywhere else, and
I thought, sure, I hate my job. I'm just going
to use this as a distraction and go for it.
And it's just a bucket list item. And I remember
inviting my mom and my sister to the pageant and
they're so honest and like, we have a very close relationship,
and they didn't mean it in a horrible way, but
they said, you know, I hope we don't mind, but
we're not going to come from Florida to California to
(04:46):
watch this because you're not going to win. Like there's
just no You're not a pageant girl. You're not prepared,
you don't go to the gym, you don't have a coach,
you don't know how to walk, you don't know how
to answer a question on stage, and pageants California are
known for being really competitive, and so it was a
really big one. And I said, you know what, guys,
I'm not upset, like, don't waste the money, don't My
(05:09):
sister's in med school, so she has a crazy schedule,
and I was fine with them not coming. And then
long story short, I ended up winning. I don't know how.
I think it's really a matter of They liked the
fact that I wasn't the typical pageant girl, and that
I messed up a million times on my interview, and
I was, you know, walked when I wasn't meant to walk,
and did circles when I wasn't meant to do circles.
(05:32):
So I think they probably liked that it was I
was just novice in the pageant world. But yeah, I
do have I do have some connections with the past
Batchelor contestants. As far as competing in pageants, No, I've
never competed against any of them, and I've never met
any of them through pageants either or personally either.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
Well, so how did you become Miss California if you
were going to Florida?
Speaker 3 (05:59):
Yeah, so I was. I grew up in Florida, and
that's when my pageant journey I supposed started, let's say.
But then after college, I got my first job out
in LA and I moved and I was for a
couple of years, and that's when they had contacted me,
and I already naturalized as a US citizen.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
Okay, okay, all right, I got it, got it.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
Yeah, And you have to compete or you're living. So
at that point I was in California.
Speaker 4 (06:25):
Okay, all right, there you go. Okay, So then how
did we get from that to signing up for The Bachelor?
Speaker 3 (06:31):
Well, how did we get from that to signing up
for the Bachelor? So much went on in the between
those two things. I was in a really serious relationship
for three years and I really thought I was I
saw the future with this person. There was no doubt
in my mind. This was going to be my husband,
(06:52):
my the father of my children. And it was reciprocated.
We he had purchased an engagement We were engagement ring shopping,
you know. We asked my mom for permission to marry me,
and the book, the whole planned it all out, asked
my mom, my sister, and then on a Tuesday, woke
(07:12):
up and said, you know, I think there might be
other people more compatible for me. So I packed my
bags that same day moved out, and The Bachelor just
happened to DM me like the next week and asked
if I was single. And they'd reached out previously and
I wasn't single or interested in doing the show, But
at that point they just got me on the right day,
(07:33):
at the right time and the right phase of heartbreak
to think it might be worth a shot going on
the show, and.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
Then you went through with it. Now, before we get
into the curiously early elimination, I do want to ask you,
what did we not see on the show in those
first two weeks that are so true to you that
(08:02):
you'd want Grant to know in the world to know
that you never got the opportunity to share.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
Well, there's a lot that's shared that is an aired,
of course. I mean, there's just so many women in
conversations frankly that happened, you know, it would be impossible
to show it all. But I do feel like my
short time that I was there, I was one hundred
percent myself and very authentic with the women in the
house and with my one on one time with Grants.
(08:26):
So I don't feel like I walked away with any
sort of regrets or feelings of that I missed the
shot to show someone who I am or I wish
I did this or said this, because I was all that,
and I did show up as Alicia and remained her
throughout the entire time. So I feel pretty good in
(08:49):
retrospect looking back at my experience.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
I think that when we watched episode one, we thought
that you could have even been the first impression and
rose recipient. You were definitely in contention for that at
least from what we saw, felt.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Like that, and had the first kiss from what we
saw first kiss.
Speaker 4 (09:09):
From what we saw, Yes, I know that could have
probably been, you know, fudged. Now we've just been dying
to know, like what changed in a matter of the week.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
You know, I don't know what changed. I think for me,
I can only speak from my perspective, right, so I
don't know what went on and Grant said or why
he made the decisions he made. But I was feeling
good about our connection. We had continued conversations that of
course weren't aired, just because you know, you don't have
the time to show everything, that were really progressive in
(09:44):
my opinion. And it's funny because the Internet reacted to
our night one conversation like, oh my gosh, they have
so much chemistry the connection, and in my eyes, of
all the conversations I had with Grant, that was my
least favorite, just because it's the first one and you're nervous,
it's night one, it's super late, you're tired, your heels.
(10:05):
Arning all the conversations after that feel even more comfortable,
if anything. So you know, I wish that they were
eric because I think it would give more color to
who I am and give more color to the relationship
that Grant and I had developed in that time. But
to be honest, I'm not sure what changed for him
(10:25):
in his head. I really really thought I wasn't expecting.
I wasn't expecting to go home as early as I did.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
You obviously get in a limo after that elimination, and
you do have time to kind of process, but I'm
sure it was confusing then now that you look back
on it, if you could make some very un educated
assumptions about what had happened, because it is surprising. I mean,
in the bachelor world, to go home week two usually
(11:03):
means there's no connection. I mean, at least when I
went through it, it usually meant like, hey, we haven't
even had a conversation yet, so I don't even know,
like remember your name, and so like you're gonna go
home because we obviously like aren't finding ways to even talk. Right,
you are saying that you did get to talk to him,
that you did have some sort of connection with him,
(11:23):
and so as you've processed it, you could make some
assumptions like what happened.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
So you know what they say about assumptions, It only
makes an ass.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
Out of you and me, and I can do them
all the time here, but here I go.
Speaker 4 (11:35):
That's what we that's that's our bread and butter. Yeah,
that's all we do.
Speaker 3 (11:40):
So my assumption would be I wasn't physically his type,
having lighter hair and skin and eyes. Maybe I just
wasn't physically his type. That was one of the first
things that crossed my mind, because to your point, Ben,
when you are eliminated that early, even though we did
have amplepportunities to continue our conversation and grow our connection,
(12:04):
you really aren't. You don't have enough time with the women,
in my opinion, to make a decision based on their personalities,
unless you haven't had time to speak with them, which
we did have. So I would have to imagine it
was purely down to a physical element that maybe I
didn't I physically didn't check the boxes of what his
(12:27):
future wife he imagined her to look like.
Speaker 4 (12:30):
He kissed you and I right away, though I know
I'm not sure you.
Speaker 3 (12:35):
Know that's it is very strange, and we had more
kisses after that and we had time that was one
on one. I was actually pretty sick the morning of
the basketball date. The bus ride over, I just wasn't
feeling too great. I had a little bit of a
stomach ache, and he really made it a point to
pu me to the side and check on me, and
(12:57):
even i'd been vomiting TMI, I know, and even really
ask if he could kiss me, and I was like,
you don't want to do that. I've been vomiting, and
he was super adamant on taking care of me and
being there. So it was definitely a surprise at that
Rosemary ceremony, and I will say, hmmm, well, I don't
(13:18):
know if I'm allowed to say this, but they'll stop
me if I can. I felt like he was giving
me a lot of validation that I was staying. So
it was surprising when my name wasn't called, because I
felt like he was intentionally sending me messages that were
kind of like, you know, the wink wink, don't worry
you're here, saying he has a connection with me that
(13:42):
you know. I shared something really personal with my family
and some photos with him on that final night, and
he asked to keep them and said, you know, I'm
going to hold onto these. I'll give them back to
you next time I see you. So of course I'm
reading that like a woman's going to analyze that in
her head, and we're thinking, like, okay, again, one hundred
(14:03):
percent we have the connection. And yeah, that was like
the last thing he said to me and before the
row ceremony and then sent me home. So it was
very confusing. But at the same time, I do feel
like closure is just somebody not picking you. You know,
if it wasn't meant to be, it wasn't meant to be,
(14:23):
And you know, I feel good about that, and I
think I had a connection with Grant. I would have
liked to explore it more. But if he had already
made that decision in his head that he wasn't attracted
to me, I'm glad he sent me home earlier than later.
Speaker 4 (14:39):
We had you on thinking we were going to get answers.
You were going to tell us about some conversation that
went awry, and now you've further puzzled us as to
why you left week two.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
Yeah, I wish I could, like I wish I could
tell you what further conversations like happened that would have
changed things. But truly, looking back on it, there wasn't
anything that would have derailed our progress. If anything, it
would have. I think had you were seeing more of
our conversations, they would have been even more continued.
Speaker 4 (15:12):
Probably why they didn't show and that is that anything,
because they didn't want us to feel even weirder about it. Okay,
So we see online that you and devn Jen's Devon
devon Strator are following each other. Now listen, there's this
girl that I know, and he slid into her DMS
(15:34):
when like he was with Jen or like right after
they broke up, something somewhere in the very close proximity
of their relationship. So and guess what little breaking news here?
He just did it again. He said to her, I'm
dying to bring take you out on a date, Like
(15:54):
when can we do this? Literally they haven't spoken in
like six months, Okay. And then and less than a
week later, he posts a picture of him with some
new girl, like out there on Instagram with some other girls.
So we know we're assuming strongly that Devin slid into
(16:15):
your DMS. What of you guys talking? What are you
talking about? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (16:20):
So thanks for bringing this up, because that is a rumor.
I was certainly not excited to hear circulating.
Speaker 5 (16:27):
I have no idea how this Bachelor Nation world works,
but in my reality of La La Land, it's like,
we're all BFFs after this, We're going to hang out
after the show.
Speaker 3 (16:39):
I'm going to come over and play with Ben's kid,
like me and Ashley are going to get drunk together.
That's how. That's how I imagine, like the tail end of.
Speaker 4 (16:46):
This is, it's not really far off right.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
And so, you know, anybody Bachelor Nation who followed me,
I made it a point to follow them back. Devin
was one of the many that were included, and I
think people forgot to mention the many others who I
mutually follow. Yes, he did slide into my DMS as
a few other people.
Speaker 4 (17:08):
Stay busy, He's busy.
Speaker 3 (17:12):
What's so funny is so he slid into my DMS.
I didn't respond to him. He slides into my DMS again.
After these rumors starts circling that Devin and I start
following it or whatever. He sends me another message and
it was I couldn't believe it. I'm gonna spark notes
it for you because I can't be bothered to go
(17:34):
dig it up right now, but essentially said like sorry
that I caused you all this attention from these rumors,
like as if he were interested in me or the
bouchler right now, Like oh see.
Speaker 4 (17:50):
Look this is what he just posted. Oh's Valentine's Day.
He posted this girl, Yeah, these days my V day?
Soothing like beach waves, Yeah, play in for Playing for Keeps, babe,
Playing for Keeps three four days before this slid into
(18:10):
this girl's DM saying what am I taking you on
a date?
Speaker 2 (18:13):
I have a feeling that he's not going to be
dating this girl very much longer after this show.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
I hope this girl can see oh I'm on blurred
But for her own personal record, the date of these
messages was February sixth from mister Devin Straighter, so I'm
pretty positive he was with her at that point as well.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
Eight days is a long enough time to play for Keeps.
Eight days in early not know, That's what I don't.
Speaker 3 (18:43):
She must have heard something before, because if he's doing
it to everyone rumors like she would have heard that
he does this by now, she must not care.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
It's uh, Alicia, This is a very interesting conversation to
be having because you're not wrong. The Bachelor Nation is
a very supportive group of people. There's always events happening,
and back in the day there was a lot more
events happening. And I hope that you know, the almost
famous group can bring you into some of these fun things.
(19:14):
We're gonna love to have you there and we all
will become best friends. And hopefully my wife does bring
a little daughter and her and I can have a
date night and you guys can babysit. But there is
this interesting thing that happens after the show. You were eliminated,
in our opinion, too early, and if we get to
talk to Grant again here soon, we're gonna tell him
(19:36):
that and see what he says about it, hopefully clear
any confusion. But now you have the opportunity to go
on Paradise. And the reason these rumors were started, and
the reason I even saw them, was because people were
kind of making couples up for Paradise, and Devin's name
was getting their round along with yours because you both
follow each other. We've gotten to the bottom of that
(19:58):
whole scenario. He slid into your there isn't and am
I fear saying there isn't like a relationship built right
now between the two of you. So if you show
up to the beach in Paradise, the first question is
would you say yes to doing it? Secondly, if Devin
shows up to the beach in Paradise, would you be
(20:18):
interested in pursuing a relationship with him? And if not him,
then who?
Speaker 3 (20:22):
No, I would not be interested. That's the easiest answer
is certainly no to Devin for a multitude of reasons.
But if what we've just covered isn't enough, then I'm
not sure what is. I really want to have a
partner for life and a husband, and I want to
start my family, and I'm looking for someone who's serious
(20:46):
about that. And I think it's pretty obvious that, based
on the way he moves, that's not what he's looking for.
So you know, that's a non starter for me. If
you're not serious, then I'm not even going to give
you the day of time, So time of day excuse me.
So that would be the answer to that. Would I
go on Paradise It depends depends. I think I would
(21:09):
have It would be something I would certainly consider, and
I think there would be a lot of different variables
that I would have to think about before I made
a decision when if I went or if I didn't go,
Like what.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
Wait time out? What variables work?
Speaker 3 (21:25):
My work schedule, my family and life schedule. Like I said,
my little sister is graduating from med school and as
residency starting and match day and those are just big
life events I wouldn't miss for anything. And then, of
course who else is going to be on Bachelor in Paradise?
I think if there was men going who I could
(21:46):
see a future with, then it would be more enticing.
If it was men like Devin going, then no, I
don't as interested because a while it would be fun,
I don't see how anything serious could come of it.
Speaker 4 (22:01):
Well, it sounds like you're a Bachelor fan because of
what you said. So in Bachelor's past, which single guys
would you like to see a show up on that beach?
Speaker 2 (22:12):
I gotta start looking. I'm gonna google this so I
can fill in any gaps she's not willing to answer.
Speaker 3 (22:18):
Ben was honestly, Ben, you used to be on like
my Hot Bachelor Guide list before you were married, like
you were my hype. Dark hair, dark eyes is typically
what I go for.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
Oh okay, So if that's what you're saying here, there's
a guy named Spencer. I think we were he was
just a few seasons ago, right, and he's like living
next to Kelly Flann again. That's how he's in my head.
Good looking fella, dark hair, tall, ripped.
Speaker 3 (22:47):
It's hard because so much changes too in the relationship
and then the inter dating in Bachelor Nation, it's kind
of hard to know who's single and who's available, and
then of that group, you know, you don't know anything
about people's personalities, and as cliche as that sounds, if
you looked at any of my ex boyfriends, you would
(23:08):
be able to attest to the fact that I go
off personality. Even though I do have a type, I'm
always finding myself dating guys that go against that type,
just based on us being able to get along and
have a good time and laugh, which is weird because
you know, circling back to this past season, Grant was
definitely my physical type, dark hair, dark eyes, tall, and
(23:32):
we had a lot in common as far as being
raised by a single mom and being super close to
our sister, loving dogs. We both grew up on a
farm and my sister was born in the same town
he was born in New Jersey. It's a lot of
weird small coincidences.
Speaker 4 (23:48):
Well what about New Jersey? Oh my gosh, who's what's
his name? The one from Katie season that I everybody
thought was gonna win, Greg Greg He's now not with
Victoria anymore. I could see him being a hot shot
in Paradise.
Speaker 3 (24:08):
Yeah. Wait, Greg Greg is like as far as personality wise,
that's somebody who I was like, oh yes, gets along
with because I've seen his tiktoks and they're just so funny,
Like that's my type of humor. I mean, these aren't
Bachelor people. But have you been watching Traders? Because Boston
robb he needs to come to Paradise. He's I love
(24:30):
Boston Robb.
Speaker 2 (24:34):
Well's loved him. Wait, so like but Boston robb is
fifty years old.
Speaker 3 (24:41):
No, Boston Rob's married with a beautiful family as well.
Speaker 2 (24:46):
But people like him.
Speaker 4 (24:47):
Okay, so we're kind of is really catchy.
Speaker 3 (24:50):
I like, I don't know, I like that that type
of confidence.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
Here's what we're going to tell you. So we're gonna
speak some old school, almost famous bachelor wisdom over you.
You should go to Paradise. You're going to be sought after.
It's going to be really fun for you, ask Ashley.
Ashley's married with two kids from Paradise.
Speaker 4 (25:14):
To it it is.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
It is something that I know when you sign up
for The Bachelor, it does feel overwhelming, very odd, and
then you get sent home week two and you have
a lot of questions about it. What happens in Paradise
is it's a whole new world. It's not that long,
it's a very intentional time. It's a lot of fun,
and you're going to do great there. So if the
(25:38):
opportunity comes your way and we don't only lead you
straight here, we have no skin in this game. I
think Ashley and myself would both say go do it.
Speaker 1 (25:46):
Well.
Speaker 3 (25:46):
I appreciate that input, and yeah, Ashley, you do have
a success story that is envious of. So I think
it's like I said, if there was somebody going or
a few different people who I think there was a
real connection with, I would be excited to take that
opportunity because you do see real relationships that come out
(26:07):
of it. And I haven't watched Bachelor in Paradise, so
I know I need to go and watch a full
season of it to know how different it is. From
The Bachelor, because I have heard that it's a totally
different dynamic and a totally different environment completely.
Speaker 4 (26:24):
Yeah, and this season they might have air conditioning, so
this would be the season to get.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
Ashley. I do have two final questions just to kind
of summarize here. Ashle and I just broke down that
The bacheloret is not returning for the next season. However,
when we did our investigation, your name did get brought
up in the mix of who they were thinking about
asking to lead the franchise. If they would have came
to you with The Bachelorette or maybe even in the
future when the show comes back, would you consider it.
Speaker 3 (27:02):
Yes, I don't think I would ever shut the door.
I had an incredible experience on The Bachelor, and I've
said it before, I'll say it again. Even knowing how
my journey ended, and knowing I would go home night
two or week two, I would go back and do
it all again. I had a really, really great time.
I have nothing but the best things to say about
(27:25):
Grant and the production and the entire show. So because
I had such a great experience, I would definitely be
open to doing anything as far as Bachelor Nation goes. Yeah,
I absolutely feel like part of the family already, and
I felt their outreach from the fans, and I love it.
I'm obsessed with it. I've had a great time and
(27:48):
I have no complaints from what's for trade or what's
not portrayed the women on the seasons. I mean, we've
just had a really all around I had a really
great experience.
Speaker 2 (27:58):
And then the final thing I have to up because
it was mentioned and it feels like more and more
we talk about it here on the Almost Famous podcast.
It's a complete pivot point. But you have been open
about your lime disease. If you don't listen to the
Almost Famous podcast. One of my best friends in the
world suffered from lime disease and it actually increased to
a whole different disease and that he still deals with
(28:20):
this day. Obviously, we have Kelly Flanagan, we have Daisy.
Lime disease is a very important topic that doesn't get
talked about enough, that isn't studied enough, that isn't even
considered a real disease by most, which is outrageous to me.
So in closing here, we have a minute do you
(28:41):
mind sharing about your lime disease and kind of where
you're at, how you're healing, and any advocacy efforts that
you're doing or that you know of on behalf of
this disease that so many people are unfamiliar with.
Speaker 3 (28:52):
Yeah, thanks for thank you for loving that up to me,
because it's such an important cause and one that I've
personally suffered. I was about two and I contracted limes disease,
and unfortunately I was in New Jersey and the tick
had bit me on my hairline. And because I was
so young, a lot of the symptoms are really similar
(29:13):
to the flu, and the one really sign that you
can tell it's limes disease is a bullseye rash that
you get around the tick bite, and because that was
under my hairline, it was undetectable. And so I was
so young. My mom kept taking me to doctors and
everybody kept saying, it's a flu, it's this, this, this,
And then one day I woke up and I was
(29:34):
completely paralyzed, my entire right half of my body. I
was in a wheelchair. They rushed me to the hospital
and put me in a placed me in an induced
coma so my brain swelling wouldn't keep on increasing and
got me on antibiotics and a direct line pickline to
my heart, which I stayed on and from there. It's
(29:56):
something that I've lived with that is I've never really
had a normal baseline because it happens so young in
my life. I've lived with it what feels like my
entirety of my life, and it's just something I've learned
to manage and it's ongoing. There is no cure for it, sadly,
so a lot of limes disease patients have different experimental,
(30:20):
holistic remedies that they'll try. I love cryotherapy and in
Fred'sana's of course, there's the antibiotic route that I've also
partaken in and it has helped me tremendously, but it's
not a forever solution. It's something that I continuously have
to go back on and do rounds of antibiotic treatments
(30:40):
every couple of years. So it's a lot and it's
something that I think a lot of people are starting
to talk about more, thank goodness, and I love that
there is so much of it shown on Bachelor, because
we need to talk about it more. And I think
we're finally getting to the point where people are addressing
the severity of it and how serious it is, which
is wild that it's taken this long. But I do
(31:03):
advocate for the limes disease community. Bay Area Line Society
is out of California. I've partnered with them previously and
continue to partner with them on really educating an awareness
for limes disease. If you follow their social media pages,
they also share about events and fundraisers that they have
throughout the year, But the biggest part of their cause
(31:26):
is trying to educate people and just bringing the statistics
of this disease to the forefront. So if you're interested
or you have lime disease know as someone who has
limes disease or suffering with it, I would highly encourage
you to check out Bay Area Limes Disease as a
resource for learning more and for learning about events in
(31:49):
your area or ways you can help.
Speaker 2 (31:52):
Yeah, it is something that needs to be talked about more.
Thank you for bringing it up. It is interesting that
The Bachelor has so many contestings that have suffered with
this disease, but I also think it's not only because
the Bachelor looks for people with lime disease, Because I
don't think they do. I think it's because a lot
of people have it.
Speaker 3 (32:08):
It's the spetific of limes disease of how many people
have it that is. I mean, if you think about
the statistics of who has had it or experienced it
from the Bachelor Nation, I think that would be pretty
fitting with what statistically online with how many people are
implicated with limes disease.
Speaker 2 (32:27):
Thanks for talking about it. It means a lot to
all of us here. We've talked about it many times. Alicia.
You are great. We hope to watch you on Paradise.
We hope to have you some almost famous events. Thank
you for taking the time to chat with us today.
We leave this conversation with some nuggets. Devin works hard
about some things that he just shouldn't be working with.
(32:50):
The second thing takeaway is we have no answers to
why Alisha was sent at home. We're still as confused
as ever, but it doesn't mean that her love story
is over and hopefully we get this see it on
the beaches wherever those beaches exist in the world. Here
coming up soon. Until next time, I've been Ben.
Speaker 4 (33:06):
I've been Ashley. See you guys
Speaker 1 (33:09):
Follow the Ben and Ashley, I almost famous podcasts on
iHeartRadio or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.
Hosts And Creators
Ben Higgins
Ashley Iaconetti
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