by Gina Scarpa

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Several contestants have made an impression, good and bad, on both Jason and the viewers on ABC's The Bachelor this season.  It seems, though, that no one has had as big of an impact as Stephanie Hogan, the single mom from Alabama.  A few years ago, Stephanie tragically lost her husband in a plane crash and was left to raise a daughter who was just 10 weeks old.  This year, she felt it was time to find love again and headed off to meet Jason Mesnick, with whom she formed an immediate bond and connection.  That connection ended up being much more emotional than physical and the chemistry just wasn't there to form a long-lasting relationship.  After Stephanie's elimination on Monday night's episode, she participated in a conference call with the press to talk about her experiences on The Bachelor and with Jason.
 
Q. ETOnline.com: When you left, Jason had such wonderfully nice things to say about you.  Do you think you guys will stay in touch?
A. Stephanie: I think we will, no doubt.  I had such a bond with Jason and I just think that he's an incredible man.  Even though we didn't have that physical connection/chemistry, I still think our friendship will remain strong.  Who knows?  There's many avenues that we could possibly connect on, especially with being single parents and having children the same age.
 
Q. ETOnline.com: You're the bachelorette that most touched everyone's hearts.  How do you feel about that?
A. Stephanie: Thank you for that.  I went into it completely being myself.  People had told me that it was probably going to be tough because... being in the home with so many other girls... that it might be difficult for me.  I didn't seem to think that it was difficult at all.  I love getting to know people and what makes them tick.  I can appreciate the positive as well as the negative in people because nobody is perfect.
 
Q. ETOnline.com: Would you want to be the Bachelorette?
A. Stephanie: First of all, I think it would be months before they ask me and nobody said anything about that.  I would probably evaluate that and see where I am in my life.  I'd hope I'd have some good fellows come out of this.  I could be dating someone and I'd want to honor his wishes.  If I were single, then I'd probably say yeah, I'd do it.
 
Q. ETOnline.com: Who are you rooting for?
A. Stephanie: I think I'm gonna have to just watch, honestly just watch, for the hometown dates and see how he connects with the families.  [Jason] asked for one piece of advice, off camera, when he was putting me in the limousine.  I said one thing to Jason and I said: You do marry the family.
 
Q. RealityTVWorld.com: Did you think you would be eliminated?
A. Stephanie: I had no reservations just because I felt like Jason and I connected on an emotional level but as far as a passion, no.
 
Q. RealityTVWorld.com: Can you talk a little about your 1-on-1 date with Jason?
A. Stephanie: It was just breathtaking.  I was so overwhelmed that he would've brought my daughter there on her birthday.  I had no idea where I was going and the date card said, "Will you come play with me?"  I had no idea it would be bringing Sophia there and I tried to call Sophia and she wasn't home, nobody answered.  One thing about me is, I try to be optimistic so I thought, "Well, I'll probably get to talk to you later."  She came running down that beach and I just about fainted!  We just went all day and we had a relaxing, fun, fun time.
 
Q. Gina, RealityWanted: If you could have taken Jason back for your hometown date, what would the two of you have done?
A. Stephanie: I think we probably would've hung out around my home.  I think we would've barbecued out back, I have a pool out back, a hot tub.  I would've just cranked the music up, had some margaritas, let the kids run around, and just show him what I like to be at home.
 
Q. Gina, RealityWanted: I could never quite put my finger on how you felt when you were put in a situation where it was easy to become jealous, such as the 2-on1 date with Nikki.  How did you handle the competition aspect of being on The Bachelor?
A. Stephanie: I think, for one thing, I didn't look at it as competing with other girls.  I looked at it as: Am I a match for him?  You're never gonna have everything you want or everything you desire.  There are things on my body that I'm like, "Gosh, I wish my butt wasn't so flat!"  Nobody's gonna be perfect.  I just looked at it as not competing with others but: Does he like what I have to offer him and do I like what he has to offer me?  Not in a selfish way but I feel like I'm a catch too, just as much as he is.
 
Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Have you paid attention to the feedback from being on the show, positive or negative, on the shows like The Soup or blogs?
A. Stephanie: I really don't.  I wish I could say I did but I work for 9 surgeons and I've got a torch lit underneath me.  I keep going like an Energizer bunny since I've really had to pick up and because I have been out of the field for a while I just need to focus on my job.  I think if they say negative stuff they could get me more down.  I don't have to have a reality check I don't have an inflated feeling of myself and I don't think
 
The Bachelor airs on ABC on Monday nights at 8pm ET on ABC.
 
(Image courtesy of ABC)

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