I first met Nick Viall during the taping of Kaitlyn Bristowe’s rap battle group date in April 2015. I thought he just happened to be in New York at the right time, like me, and the producers asked if he wanted to be part of the audience — I didn’t know he was going to ask Kaitlyn to join the season. And, even as a member of the Bachelor family, I felt a little star struck.

That said, I never understood Nick’s appeal on Andi’s season. Watching just as a fan, I ogled over Josh Murray. He was such the obvious choice to me at the time. It wasn’t until Nick, smelling oh so good, sat next to me in the crowd during that group date that I “got it.” We didn’t exchange any noteworthy conversation, but he exuded mystery, sexuality, and had such an alluring sense of confidence. He’s that guy you want to talk to, but find yourself a little speechless.

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Now, I didn’t leave that meeting daydreaming about being with Nick as those of you who know me through TV may assume. However, I did leave with an admiration for him. From that day forward, whenever someone would say that they didn’t understand why Kaitlyn and Andi were so taken by him, I’d tell them that they’d have to be in his physical presence.



About 5 months later, after he'd almost proposed and been rejected again (sad face), I was on my way to dinner with two of Kaitlyn's other suites, JJ Lane and Jared Haibon, in Los Angeles. They said Nick was going to join us. (Yes, all the girls in that restaurant were jealous of me.) Again, I was a little nervous — as well as being intimidating, Nick had a reputation for creating drama.

I found that night, though, that Nick is the kind of guy who is very interested in learning about others, one of the many reasons he’ll make a great Bachelor. He definitely picked my brain! He’s much more apt to ask questions about someone else’s life and mindset than reveal much about his own. He’s a hard shell to crack and can be a bit standoff-ish at first, but he’s a softie inside — you don’t see that until you develop a real friendship with him. If there’s one piece of advice I’d give Nick going into this season, it's that he needs to open up a bit faster and be vulnerable. (OK, you know you’ve been part of The Bachelor franchise too long when you spew advice like that.)

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There’s something interesting about Nick’s character, both as a reality TV personality and a real life friend of mine: Bachelor Nation has grown to love him very much in the same way that his Bachelor friends have. On his first couple of seasons, you may have thought he was a bit difficult and egotistical. We, his friends, have all thought the same thing at some point. But you started to see his warm, supportive side of him on Bachelor in Paradise this summer and that’s the person I’ve been friends with for over a year.



After that night out, Nick and I started to hang out regularly. Over lots of iced coffees and Joan’s on Third chocolate chip cookies, he’d help me navigate the bizarre world of dating apps — and helped my friends out with their guy problems too. He’s always trying to encourage me to go out and date, even just for the experience of meeting new people. It’s really just a matter of me taking his good advice.

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Even though I’ll say a million times this season that he’s gorgeous, inside and out, and he’ll tell me when I look “killer,” it’s always been very platonic between us. Let me tell you, there’s few things in this world that will make you feel better about yourself than when Nick Viall compliments you. He appreciates beauty, class, style, and elegance. He doesn’t throw out meaningless flattery.



I think I’ll always remember how Nick prepped me before I left on my date with Wells in Paradise this summer. (I loved how our friendship was portrayed on Bachelor in Paradise. I mean, it was actually accurate!) He told me how hot I looked, told me to be chill, calm, and not make it seem like this date would determine my entire future. He knows I tend to make everything a life-changing big deal. This brotherly pep talk went beyond the words he spoke. It was his encouraging tone that stayed with me and gave me confidence and collectiveness.

He’s completely transparent (which will be really fun to watch this season) and he speaks his truth. Sometimes I wish it was with a little more sensitivity, but his love defines tough love. He encourages me to be strong and has faith in me being the best version of myself, but is quick to be there for me when I’m not. I know Nick Viall has my back and I know he’s always rooting for me to be the best woman I can be.

When Nick was announced as The Bachelor, I was off on the wings of the After Paradise stage holding in happy tears. It’s time he finds that intelligent, sophisticated, classically beautiful girl (with curves) who challenges him and keeps him on his toes. Think Catherine Zeta Jones in The Mask of Zorro. (That’s the type of girl I’ve always imagined him with.) Sure he may spend more time on his hair than I do, but he has a good heart, a kind soul and defines what a good friend should be. He’d pick me up if my car died in the Valley and he’s kept my secrets. I really hope you get to see the Nick I know within the next 11 weeks.

The Bachelor rollercoaster starts up again on ABC, January 2nd. My recaps, which I promise will also be a rollercoaster, start the next day.

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Ashley Iaconetti Ashley Iaconetti is our resident Bachelor recapper.

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