by Gina Scarpa

 

Other than Courtney, for all the wrong reasons, perhaps no contestant has been more memorable this season on The Bachelor than the very sweet Kacie B. She and Ben started out with a strong connection, thanks an emotional one on one date early on, that only grew from there. But on her hometown date, he started to realize that they were a lot more different than he had originally thought and eliminated her, to her shock. She returned the following week, in Switzerland, to confront him about it but it seemed nothing had changed about his feelings. Today, Kacie talked to RealityWanted and reporters in a press conference call about the ups and downs of falling in love with Ben on The Bachelor.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Do you think that your hometown date contributed to you being eliminated?
A. Kacie: I think that coming to my hometown and to the south, which is unfamiliar to him, really showed him a different world. As much as I'd like to think that California and Tennessee aren't that different, they are.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: It seemed like Ben shut down and became a little cold toward the end of your conversation with him this week, especially when you brought up Courtney. Did you feel that way?
A. Kacie: No, I don't think that he's shutting down and he's cold. I just think that he's really processing what you're saying and he's taking it in. If he has questions for you, he's going to get them out before he doesn't have the chance to.

 

Q. Can you say who you think he should pick?
A. Kacie: Honestly watching the way that he interacts with both of them, I'm Team Lindzi, but it seems like he and Courtney get along great.

 

Q. What surprises you most watching the show back?
A. Kacie: Ooh, that's a tough one. The biggest surprise, I guess, was watching him with other women and seeing how they bring out different sides of him. I think watching the show has been very therapeutic and let me see that maybe there are differences there that would've have lasted.

 

Q. Was the hope that, when you came back to talk to him, he would see the error in his ways and take you back?
A. Kacie: Initially, I wasn't going for a second chance. I just wanted closure. I care about him and I want him to be happy. There was a little part of me that maybe hoped that if he saw me again, he would say that he made a mistake. But I was not expecting that at all.

 

Q. Looking back, do you feel kind of glad that you didn't make it all the way to the end?
A. Kacie: I did genuinely fall in love with Ben while I was there. I think that I'm glad that I left when I did though because my feelings just would've progressed more. I think, in retrospect, that we wouldn't have been the best couple later on. As much as it hurt, I'm glad I didn't get any further in my feelings?

 

Q. Can you elaborate on what those differences are between the two of you?
A. Kacie: I really think Ben described it well when he said we were from two different worlds. I didn't want to see it at the time, but I get it. We'll be great friends but I just think that there are differences in everyday life that we would have to compromise on.

 

Q. You were pretty shocked when you left but you said now you have some clarity. Going to talk to him about Courtney, it seemed like he really did listen but went the other way. Do you regret talking to him about that? Do you think you'll be able to be friends with him if he does pick her?
A. Kacie: I don't regret talking to him about Courtney and I was prepared for him to be standoffish but he was open to hearing what I had to say. The things I said were concerns to him but him choosing to still pick her is his decision. It's about what makes him happy. I think, after all of this, him choosing Courtney doesn't affect really how I feel about him as a person. I really think he's a great guy and I don't think it affects a possible friendship later.

 

Q. What was it that you didn't like about Courtney?
A. Kacie: I think for me personally, it was the little jabs that Courtney would make and the way she would position herself to be noticed more. Those are things that I wouldn't do. And I've said this but I think that she has two sides. I have a problem with somebody who has two different sides because I don't know which one is really you.

 

Q. Has being on the show taught you more about what you want out of a relationship?
A. Kacie: Oh definitely! Since the show has aired even... being there, you learn a lot about what you want but I think it's really made me evaluate what I want in somebody. That's the positive that has come out of all this! I think my first two qualities that I really want that have always been consistent in any relationship that I've had is that I want somebody with the same religious beliefs that I do and I want somebody that's going to be my best friend. I want someone that's adventurous and fun... there's a long list!

 

Q. Watching the show back, has your opinion of Ben changed?
A. Kacie: Watching the show, I still think that Ben is a great guy and I have the utmost respect for him. Watching the show and seeing why he let certain people go when he did made me respect him more. He didn't want to lead anybody on. At the same time, it just makes me question what it is that he was looking for.

 

Q. You're a fan favorite this season. Would you consider becoming The Bachelorette?
A. Kacie: I think it depends on where I am in my life and if my family would be on board. It's a group decision.

 

The Bachelor airs Mondays at 8/7c on ABC.

 

(Image courtesy of ABC)

 

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