Alexis Waters Takes Us Inside The World Of The Bachelor - Exclusive Interview
New Jersey is known for a lot of things: the lore of the infamous Jersey devil; the on-going debate about Taylor Ham vs. Pork Roll; Teresa Giudice's series-defining table-flip, and Chris Christie's bridgegate, which seemingly proved that traffic jams could be a legitimate form of revenge. Among these fine exports — which include whatever you can buy at 3 a.m. at a Wawa — is Alexis Waters.
Alexis Waters, who Bachelor Nation affectionately dubbed "dolphin girl," was thrust into the spotlight during Season 21 as an aspiring dolphin trainer (a role that, once and for all, proved "Bachelor" job titles are totally bogus). From the moment she donned her ersatz "Bachelor" entrance dolphin costume, like the armor of a reality TV soldier that just didn't give a damn, she became one of the franchise's biggest rebels, eschewing tired "Bachelor" tropes and playing by her own rules. Was she there to find love? Not really, but she'd have accepted it. Rather, she showed up to "The Bachelor" mansion hoping a change in scenery would give her some direction — and it really, really did.
Waters managed to parlay her spontaneous "Bachelor" career into a stint on "Extra," an appearance on S'more TV, a brand new podcast, and a jewelry line. Oh yeah, the show also led her to love — just now how you'd think. In this exclusive interview, the entrepreneur opens about her "Bachelor" experience and her new job title of aspiring real housewife of Dallas (Andy Cohen, take note).
Alexis Waters tried out for The Bachelor at her father's request
"The Bachelor" is legitimately my favorite show. And every Monday on Bachelor Mondays, me and my best friend go to the bar, make them turn the TVs and watch "The Bachelor." Which does not make us popular during March Madness.
Well, March madness didn't happen the past two years, right? So you guys were cool.
Not the last ones, but yeah. We couldn't go to the bar because of the same reason March Madness didn't happen.
Yeah, no, I get it. I get it. "The Bachelor" is so much cooler than March Madness.
A million times cooler. But how did you get involved with the show and what was the casting process like for you?
I graduated from college and I moved down to Miami. I had no idea what I was doing with my life. I was 23. I just wanted to get out of Secaucus. I'm from Jersey.
Me too.
Jersey b***hes in the house. I lived in Montclair State. I played volleyball there and then I moved down to Miami. I had no idea what I was doing with my life, but I just knew I didn't want to be in Jersey anymore. So I moved down to my dad's condo, living rent free, the frugal b***h that I am. And then I just was getting jobs at the Miami Beach Convention Center.
My dad loves "The Bachelor," so when he would come down, he would make me watch it with him. And he was like, there's a casting in Fort Lauderdale, you should go. And I was like, "God, I'm not going on the f**king 'Bachelor.'" I'm not that type of girl ... But I'm such a daddy's girl. So I was like, "I'll do anything he says." Meanwhile, he's letting me live rent free in his condo in Florida. So I was like, "Yeah maybe I should just go."
It turns out pulling an all-nighter is the perfect way to get cast on The Bachelor
Alexis Waters: So I went to the casting, but the night before I was at a strip club 'til 6:30 a.m. So when I walked into the casting, I was not interested at all. I didn't have sex for eight months or nine months, 10 months. I keep going up, like a year. And I was just like, why not? I'm not getting any action anyway, so I might as well just go on the show. But when I went to the casting, I was so hungover. I told them flat out, "I was at a strip club 'til 6:30. My dad made me come here. I want to go back to bed," and they handed me an envelope. I think they gave six girls out of like — How many people go to the castings? A thousand? — to me. And I was like, my dad was freaking out. And I'm like, all I cared about was getting back to bed and getting a Diet Coke and Wendy's.
I didn't think anything of it, and then when I did the casting envelope, s**t was, got real. But it was, I didn't really, I didn't even know. I watched JoJo [Fletcher's] season, because my dad loved JoJo. So creepy, but he made me watch, and he loved Ben [Higgins]. I signed up my sister for the show, because she loves love. She'd probably win. She would be the bachelorette, if my sister went on. I just went on with an open mind. I didn't think about Instagram followers or anything. I was just like, "I don't know what I'm doing with my life, but this seems like fun." I was just doing it for the experience, and I was like, "If I like the guy, it'll even be better." And I remember pulling up in the limo the first night, and Nick was there and I was like, "Holy s**t! He's actually really hot. Why am I wearing a shark costume?"
The drug-induced reason behind Alexis Waters' dolphin girl thing
Why did you wear the shark costume?
Why not? No kidding.
How do you think of that though?
Well, I was stoned when I put aspiring dolphin trainer as my job title. And I thought it was funny, but I always wanted to be a dolphin trainer. You know when you have a childhood dream? That was mine, but obviously I never, it never came to fruition. So I just put aspiring when I was stoned, and I thought it was so funny. I was like, they're not, how can they not take an aspiring dolphin trainer? And then the producers come to your room 15 times to see what your outfits can be, and I was like, "Guys, can I just like wear a costume or something?" Just because I'd rather be weird and funny, and that's just my personality because the first night is so much pressure, and you don't know what you're getting yourself into at all.
So I just wanted to be the light of the night and just be funny and weird, and the producers actually got me the costume, and I was like, "Oh, the dolphin costume is out [of] stock?" And they're like, "Yeah." And I was like, "Well, I'll just go with it and say it's a dolphin." And it was just so funny to watch the girls' reactions because they're all like, "Guys I think it's a shark." They were questioning it. And I'm like, "No b***h. No, b***hes. I know it's a shark. But the fact that you guys are actually believing it, was pure joy to me." And my mom gave me two rules: don't get drunk the first night and don't go in the pool, and I did both. So sorry, Tracy Waters, because she'll probably listen to this, because she stalks my life.
Here's what really happens at the rose ceremony, according to Alexis Waters
How could you not though? I feel like you have to.
Yeah. I don't remember half the night. I don't remember anything from the first night. It was the best night. It was so much fun, and then so many girls get sent home because they get so nervous, and they're actually beautiful, cool girls, but they just get nervous in front of the camera. So I was like, I'm showing up like, "I don't give a f**k." You know? Nick thought I was funny, so I guess ...
But it was going to be so embarrassing if I got sent home, because I was standing [at] the rose ceremony. It was 6:00 a.m., because the first night is all night long. From my waist down, I was soaking wet, because I went into the pool.
So the rose ceremony. What's that like? I've read this crazy conspiracy theory about how they always look down at the rose because the name's written on the rose, and I don't think that's true, but I do think that maybe they're directed to like stare at it. What is it like?
He leaves the room, and then the producers tell them the names. So then he walks back in, but they don't show that on TV. I wouldn't remember. I think I have such bad ADHD. I don't remember a person's name five seconds after they saw me. So I don't know how they do it, but obviously he remembered the dolphin girl. So, that's all that matter[ed]. No, I'm kidding.
Alexis Waters thinks The Bachelor is a genuine 'social experiment'
Yeah, with 30 people, I'm like, "How?" That's another thing I was thinking about. There are 30 people and one man. All of these women are always super dramatic, like, "Oh, I'm in love with him," and they've spent [with him] what appears on television to be 45 minutes.
15 minutes.
What do you think that is? Is that made up? Is it that you're in this weird Stockholm syndrome of just being stuck in this house so you do fall in love?
I think it's a social experiment. I really do. I feel like they put— they take everything away from you. I forgot I had a family at one point. That's where my brain was. I forgot I had a sister. I saw my sister when I got back. I was like, "I forgot about you. I forgot your existence." I forgot I had a dog. I was like, "Who am I?"
Then I started to like [Nick Viall] in my head, and then I was like, "No, you don't, Alexis." I was so young, but I was very logical and realistic in a weird way. I was fun and crazy and wild, but in my mind, I was logical and realistic about the situation. I remember getting really uncomfortable when the girls were saying that they liked him after like the second day. I remember being like, "B***h, we've literally — well, I don't remember the first night, so I don't really remember him — but you talked to him for two seconds."
It kind of creeped me out — like something's loose in the head with this girl because we've literally talked to [him for two seconds], and she's like, "I don't know about you guys, but I cannot stop thinking about him." And I'm like, "Who?" I'm like, "Who? Who the f**k are you talking about?" "Oh," I was like, "Oh Nick. Oh Nick? Oh, that's why we're here. I forgot. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah." I was like, "Can somebody make me breakfast?" No, I'm kidding.
Yes, people 'actually do fall in love' on The Bachelor – and they fall in love fast
You've completely confirmed my theory of how "The Bachelor" works.
No, but it really does. People do actually fall in love. They kicked me off right when feelings were hitting; emotions were getting involved because there was no emotions coming from me. I liked Nick as a friend, and I would make out with him, obviously because he was the only guy there, and I was horny. So that was it. But I remember this one time when I think the producers were like, "Okay, we have to send Alexis home." We were all in Wisconsin. We all had to pretend that we were so (no offense to anybody in Wisconsin. It was actually one of the funnest places we went) but when they told us we were going, we had to be like, "Yeah, we're going to Wisconsin!" You know? And we had to redo it 10 times because nobody was excited.
We got to Wisconsin, and I remember we went and we milked cows or went to a barn or something, and he took Vanessa [Grimaldi]. Him and Vanessa had a connection right off the bat. I had a connection with Vanessa, she was so hot. Her a** was so big, and she was so beautiful. I was like, "I would pick her," and I just saw their connection.
He had a conversation with her behind the barn and all the producers were like, "What are they doing behind the barn?" And I was like, "I don't know. I don't care." And then all the girls started crying, and I was like, "Okay, something's going on, and I'm not a part of it. People are getting feelings, and this is probably not for me." I knew that my time was coming, but I was fine with it.
I loved all the girls, but I knew that ... Like, I remember Rachel [Lindsay] getting so p***sed off about Vanessa, and I was like, "Oh my God, Rachel. You like him?" Everything was just so fast and just short. It was so short-lived, but it's possible to [fall in love]. For me, my experience, it wasn't, but I saw with my own eyes people actually falling and getting feelings. I was like, "What is going on?" But Nick was a lot hotter in person. I was like, "What the hell are you doing wearing a shark costume, Alexis?
I've found that when you see people in person who are pretty on TV, it's just like whoa!
Yeah, no. I look like s**t right now, so please don't judge me. Probably cried for an hour.
And you still look beautiful. Maybe that's why they picked you for "The Bachelor." You can cry and still look pretty.
For my great boobs and my personality.
Bachelor producers 'couldn't manipulate' Alexis Waters
I was reading this New Yorker article where [former "Bachelor" field producer] Sarah Gertrude Shapiro was saying that they used to instill these sinister tactics to make people cry on the show — speaking of crying, and all.
I'm crying any second right now, please don't do this me, okay. I'm totally kidding. Sinister just is such a scary word, right? I feel like when I think of sinister, I think of...
Well, they framed it that way, but I'm joking because it's reality TV.
No, I know, but I don't. I think I just watched "The Conjuring," and I was like, I think I heard that word because I haven't heard that word in a really long time. And that's really crazy that you just brought that up, but I'm sorry. Continue ... I'm so sorry. I'm so ADHD. I don't know.
In that article, she admitted that she did a bunch of crazy stuff to manipulate people into crying. Not that crazy. It's reality TV. Did you see anything like that?
So the producers are paired off with people based on their personalities. So I had the funny producers that weren't that deep or serious, whereas like Taylor Nolan or Corrine [Olympios] had highly manipulative producers because — not Taylor, more so Corrine — because they knew that they can manipulate her. They knew they couldn't manipulate me, because I'm from Jersey, b***h. No, I'm kidding. I just want to represent us.
But no, with Corrine, she would get wasted. I loved Corrine, but the b***h can't handle her liquor, and I've told her that. She just, we all saw what happened in "[Bachelor in] Paradise." So they would take ... they wouldn't take advantage. You can say no. Like you have a voice. You have the opportunity to say, "No, I don't want to do that."
But Bachelor producers did try to manipulate contestants
Alexis Waters: But [for] some girls, they'll be like, "This would be really good." That's how they would talk, try to manipulate, but no one ever, to me personally, was vindictive. But it was all based on your personalities, what producer you're with, so I had just the fun ones. Nobody was trying to really make me do anything I didn't want to do, and if they did, I would want to do it, because it was fun. So it was just, but then again, there was other people that would be in situations where I doubt they wanted to be. Like Corrine when she was licking the whipped cream off of Nick or Nick was licking whipped cream off of Corrine. I don't think she wanted to do that.
But then [producers] would also put you in situations where they'd be like, "Oh, go check outside," and then it would be Corrine on a bouncy house with Nick. And we all had to go see, but we didn't. They were like, "Oh, there's something outside," but they wanted us to get p**sed off that Nick was with [her]. And I was like, "I just want to go on the bouncy house. This is bulls**t, I don't care that Nick's ... Like, can I go on?" So, I tried to run on, and the producers were like, "No." And I was giving the finger to the producers, but it looked like I was giving the finger to Corrine. So everybody was like [laughs].
Then she was wasted the second date, and they kept telling her to interrupt like, "Can I steal him for a second? Can I steal him for a second?" And I talked to him for like an hour, and I was over it. I was like, my time is done, but in the episode, they made it seem like I talked to him for five minutes. And then Corrine was like, "Nick, can you take a shot with me?" And everybody was like, "Don't you interrupt dolphin girl. But I was like, "No." They were like, "Alexis, why don't you flip out?" I was like, "I talked to him for like two hours, I'm done." But they edit it, so it made it seem like...
I have noticed that — that they always edit those "can I steal him for a second?" moments to look so rude.
Yeah, but it really wasn't. It wasn't rude at all. I was done. I was over it.
Alexis Waters dishes on filming during one of Bachelor Nation's biggest scandals
So if you had to pick to go back on one "Bachelor" show, would you choose "The Bachelor" or "Bachelor in Paradise?"
"Bachelor." Hands down. I thought I was going to love "Paradise" too, and I didn't, but we had a weird season. So...
What didn't you like about it?
Well the two drink rule, number one. I could take two shots in two seconds, so I was p**sed about that. But it was just very... "The Bachelor" isn't very produced. It is, but it's not. You don't have to do anything that the producers say. I loved all my producers. I loved "The Bachelor." I loved everybody on the show. Not every — not all the girls — but you know what I mean. But the producers and everything, like nobody ever was vindictive or anything like that.
But on "Paradise," they only had that property rented for a certain amount of time, and we had to stop filming for two weeks. So we were there for two weeks not filming, and then got flown back to America, and then flown back [to Mexico], and we had to act like we didn't know each other. I was like, "Dude, I know about Iggy's cousin from Indiana that lives with him. How am I going to act like I don't know these people?"
It was just hard to... And then like all the Scallop Fingers. That was so annoying because I know it's funny, and they made me tell that story 50 f**king times. It was so stupid, but they had no content or footage because we lost so much time. And they only had that place rented for a short amount of time, so it was just very, highly produced, which is understandable, because they have to make a TV show, but I just can't be fake. And I don't want to make out with anybody that I think looks like a ch*de.
I don't blame you.
Jack Stone literally looks like a serial killer. You think I want to make out him? No. I think he looks like a meatball.
The Bachelor Season 25 had Alexis Waters screaming, 'Come on, bro!'
At least you weren't on this season of "The Bachelor," which was definitely disastrous by all accounts.
Oh my God, I know.
In this season, Chris Harrison — who I call Bachelor Daddy because he is like the father in charge — stepped back. I don't know what it's going to be like without him.
I know.
What do you think of the whole drama?
I haven't been really involved in this season, but I know I Chris' role is to ... He knew that Rachael [Kirkconnell] was going to win. So his delivery and what he said was obviously not the right thing to say — obviously — but his role is to make the lead look amazing. So that's what he was trying to do, but he didn't do that, obviously.
I know him. He's the sweetest guy in the entire world. I didn't really get involved in it because I didn't watch his season, so I didn't even know who the f**k Rachel was. I just know Chris Harrison, and he is the sweetest guy, but when I did watch the interview, I was like, "Chris, come on, bro!" I wanted to be like, "No, you're going the wrong way." But his role is to make the— And he knew that Rachel won. So he was trying to protect her, but you can't protect somebody going to a f***king whatever. Like a Southern plantation [party], that is just not right in any sense.
So I was just like, "No." But I just don't believe in cancel culture. I really don't. I don't like cancel culture. So I just think we should have open conversations about things and just people learn from them instead of just being like, "Cut her off." Everybody has balls all of a sudden when social media came on.
Alexis Waters on her 'buzzed' S'More TV appearance
I want to talk to you about all the speaking stuff that you've been doing — like your podcast, working with S'More TV. I've used the dating app before. What was your experience?
Well, we had a podcast before we did the S'More interview, and I was a little buzzed, but we had so much fun, and I love the app. It's like literally "Love Is Blind," but on an app, and I just think it's great because I love the fact that you don't have to see the person. Like if anybody saw me right now, they would hard no. But once you talk to me, I have a great personality, so it could change things. I just love the idea of the app, and I think it's so fun, and I love how they are doing the TV now that I'm featured on. So go check it out, people.
No, but it was such a fun interview, and I love everything about it. I think it's so smart. I'm from Jersey and [my boyfriend] Tyler [Fernandez] is from Texas. If I saw him, honestly, if I had met him on the S'More app, I probably would have said yes. And then if I saw him, I would have said no, but we're here four years later, and it's working out.
How one bachelorette's ex became Alexis Waters' next
How did you guys first meet?
I found love through "The Bachelor," because I met him through one of Rachel Lindsay's friends. Now, here we are in Cabo, and I want to throw his Yeezy's out the window.
I guess you're one of the few that actually found love.
Yeah, I really have to thank [former bachelorette] Kaitlyn Bristowe ... or [former bachelorette] Andi [Dorfman]. Was Nick on ... Andy's [season] first? But I have really have to thank Kaitlyn Bristowe for dumping Nick Viall. Because of that, if Nick Viall wasn't the bachelor, then I would've never met him or Rachel Lindsay, and then I would never [have] met Tyler, who will be my future husband. And we will be on "Dallas Housewives."
You know, honestly, I think we all aspire to be Housewives.
No, no, no. I'm going to be on. I just need to maybe get married, and then get rich. So, and then I have to think, I have to be, I think you have to be 30 at least. So I have a couple of years, but I'm going on. I'll show 'em how Jersey does it because the Dallas one is not that good.
I only [want] Tyler to propose to me so I can get on "Real Housewives." I don't care about the love. I want to be... I'm just kidding.
I pitched my boyfriend on "90 Day Fiancé" and he said, "Absolutely not."
No, I told Tyler I don't even want to be married. I just want for you to propose to me so I could be a Real Housewife. He's like so down. I'm like, "Okay, first of all, you're supposed to love me." No, but [laughs].
A failed stint on Bumble BFF was 'embarrassing' for Alexis Waters' 'life and soul'
So, talking about dating apps. Have you ever used dating apps in the past?
Creepily, I have used Bumble, but not for dating, for friends. Which I think is ...
What was your experience like?
I moved to Miami. I had no friends. So I was like, maybe I should. I mean, I would go out to clubs dead alone and I was not meeting anybody. And then I just went on Bumble BFF, but I never met up with anybody, because I was scared that they were going to, like, murder me or something, and I had no backup. Like, I was there by myself. Yeah, I never really was on a dating app, but I just was on a best friend app. So embarrassing for my life and soul. S'More is the only app that should be used.
It really is such a good concept though because I don't believe that people do read your profile.
I know. I think it's amazing. I think more, everybody will find love through it. Love is blind through an app.
Alexis Waters' Girls Night podcast is a place to 'just be weird and have fun'
So you're working with Raven [Gates] on your podcast. Is that, am I correct on that?
Raven is just got married, so she is trying to make babies, so she passed the baton. Is it the word: baton? Baton to me. So, now I am a solo podcaster. It's "Girls Night with Alexis," but Raven just came on this week to recap her wedding. She was just super busy with her wedding, and she's trying to have babies, and I'm talking about like carrot-sized penises and everything. So she's just moving on with her life.
So how has running your podcast gone?
It's only been three weeks, so it's crazy. I just had Nikki Glaser on. I'm having Jennifer [Adin] from ["The Real Housewives of New Jersey"] on next week. And then I did a solo one, which was so nerve-wracking because you never know. People can cancel last minute, but I love it. If I get paid to talk, I'm down, and I just wanted to create a place where you can leave for an hour and just be weird and have fun and just forget about what's going on in the world — just for at least 40 minutes — and just have a fun girls' night whether it's at 9:00 a.m. in the morning while you're driving to work or at night. We play games. I have a bunch of guests on. It's so fun. I just want a fun place where there's no judgment and we have — I mean I have now, solo podcaster — I have just, there's no topic that's off limits. I had an anxiety attack on the podcast. I talk business on the podcast. Then I talk sex.
If there's one thing Alexis Waters knows, it's a good pair of hoops
You have a lot of things going on. I was going to ask you about Hoop Nation just now. How did you go about starting your own jewelry company?
Well, I moved to Dallas, and I was like, "What the hell am I going to do with my life?" Because I moved for love, but I was like, "I'm not depending on no man." So I was like, "What? ... The only thing that I know in life is a good pair of hoops. So why don't I start that?" But I literally had an LA address. Well, I worked for "Extra" for a year after ["Bachelor in Paradise"] and I had to recap Arie's season, which was the worst. And then I moved to Dallas, and I had an LA address, a New Jersey license, and trying to get a Texas business permit, and I did it. And then I just, I love Hoop Nation so much. It's just such a passion of mine. It's so fun.
I don't know a lot of things in life, but I do know a good pair of hoops, so that's all that matters. And then I'm expanding. I'm doing necklaces now. I'm doing headscarves, headbands, bracelets. I just got anklets, but I did a photo shoot with my feet and I had bunions on it, so the anklets are going to have to wait, but I love it. It's so fun. It's such a creative— It gets me creative. And then like, "I've just grown so much as a business woman," as well. I'm just so f**king mature. It's insane.
Running your own business will do that, to be honest. All right. So I have one more question for you.
I'm sorry. I think I'm delusional.
Watch out for the next real housewife of Dallas
So would you do reality TV again?
It's not even I would. It's I am. I'm going to be on "Dallas Housewives," but if anybody is interested to be my husband, hit me up, my number is ... No, I'm kidding. Slide into my DM, Alexis Waters on Twitter, because I need a fake husband because I don't think Tyler can handle it. He's not that entertaining. I'll have sex with Tyler on the side, but my actual husband will be the one on the show, but nobody needs to know.
I guess you don't need dating apps with that pitch. All right, is there anything else that you wanted to talk about that I didn't ask you about?
No, thank you so much. And thank you for dealing with me today.
You can catch Alexis Waters on S'More TV via the S'More dating app or follow her on Instagram and Twitter.