Interview: Jackie Hickey talks about her 'The Bachelor' experience

Jackie Hickey had already planned her wedding to The Bachelor's thirteenth season star Jason Mesnick.


However, while the divorced 26-year-old wedding coordinator from Dallas, TX had already decided on a beachfront setting and 40-50 guests for her nupitals with Jason, she was disappointed to learn that she was among the 10 bachelorettes Jason eliminated in the premiere of the ABC reality dating show's thirteenth edition.

During a conference call with reporters on Thursday, Jackie talked to Reality TV World about why she became so enamored with Jason so quickly, how she felt about receiving elimination votes from the other bachelorettes during the show's initial cocktail reception, and whether or not the girls had been voting with the interests of Jason or themselves in mind.

Reality TV World: You had said [that] you had thought you had found the man of your dreams in Jason, how did you become so certain of that upon meeting him?

Jackie: Well I'm not sure if it was just the meeting, it was what I had read about him and seen in past... I don't know. He seemed very genuine and sweet, and that's the kind of man I want. It was reality TV, it was a neat experience.


Reality TV World: How did you feel about that [voting twist] where you were told you would have to eliminate one of the girls?

Jackie: Completely shocked. I had no idea that was going to be the twist. I mean, when that came out we had only known each other for three or four hours. So when it came down to it. iot seemed like the girls who were the most memorable got the most votes. So, I mean, I'm sad that I got a vote, but I'm glad that people knew who I was.

 
Reality TV World: That was my next question. What was your reaction when you learned you [had received the third-most votes]?

Jackie: I was shocked at first, but then I was like "Well, at least everybody knows my name. I'm out here for that reason."

Reality TV World: When you were hearing girls talk about their votes, do you think they were looking out more for Jason's interests, or was it more out of jealousy and trying to get one of the "big guns" out early?


Jackie: I think it was more of a "get one of the big guns out"-- somebody that's open and talkative and entertaining. [They decided based on] more of a competitive stance and not so much for Jason. That's what I did!

Reality TV World: Who did you vote for?

Jackie: I voted for Melissa, the other girl from Dallas, TX

Reality TV World: Who did you see as your biggest competition? Was it Melissa?

Jackie: It absolutely was Melissa. We're both from the same town, we look similar, we've both tried out for the same things, and... Hey, she got a rose.


Reality TV World: What [led you to feel] that you were ready to be married again, and then also instantly become a step-mother as well?

Jackie: I was ready for it. Since I've already been married I kinda know what it takes, and I'm a little more experienced on it. On being a step-mother, I'm all for that. [My family] had a step-father and he always told me I was a bonus and not baggage, so I thought that woudl be the same with Ty and Jason

Reality TV World: [Can you talk a little about when] you were married and how long it lasted?

Jackie: Sure! I got married at 23-years-old. I was only married for about a year-and-a-half. It was a short dating term before we got engaged, and we were engaged for a year. Yeah, that year-and-a-half, that's all we got.
 
Reality TV World: Going into the Rose Ceremony, did you have any feeling that you may not be receiving a rose?

Jackie: No, I really did think that I was gonna be up for grabs and I did think that I was gonna get [a rose]. It's kinda when I saw Melissa -- the other girl from Dallas -- get one that I thought "Wow, he's probably not gonna keep two girls from Dallas." Kinda then [is when] I went "Ohhh."
 
Reality TV World: Were you suprised that anyone else, besides yourself of course, did or didn't get a rose?


Jackie: There were a few girls, like Sharon. I wasn't sure if she was going to get one, she was so quiet and whatnot. And then Meghan got to stay even though we all thought she shouldn't. But, you know, it's okay.

Reality TV World: When you met Jason for the first time outside the limo, it seemed like a pretty brief meet. how did you feel that went?

Jackie: It was good. Again there's editing in this, so it wa a lot longer than what really was shown on TV. And it was a good conversation, we talked quite a bit, and then we said we'd chat more inside.

Also in the call, Jackie talked about if she would like to serve as a wedding planner for Jason's wedding, what she would have done differently during the cocktail party, why she wanted to get on the show in the first place, and the unusual circumstances behind her decision to compete on the show.

Will you offer your assistance [as a wedding planner] once he starts to plan his wedding to the winner?


Jackie: I would love to. If I can't be the number one it's fun to plan. That's kind of what I do now, I'm never the bride, just the planner.

Hindsight is 20/20, so if you had this to do over again is there something that would make a difference to where you would get a rose?

Jackie: I probably would not have so much bubbly (Laugh). I mean it's pretty obvious I had quite a few cocktails that evening, which isn't like me. But nervous excitement, and [being] a little scared and intimidated. I would definitly curb my drinking.

What made you want to participate in the show in the first place?

Jackie: It's partly... I see weddings and I see everybody's happy ending, and I really wanted  to see if this would be my avenue to find that one for me.

How was the reaction back home to your edit? How do you feel personally about how you were portrayed on the show?


Jackie: Oh, I was a little embarrassed because, of course it's TV, so there's a lot of editing and they choose what they wanna show in their ways. The reaction was "Wow, you didn't tell us you acted like that!" And I didn't really know I did.

What was that moment like when you were watching yourself on television?

Jackie: Oh, I had quite a few people over. I had a nice party and I had one of the nice party dresses on that I had bought for The Bachelor and didn't get to wear.  It was shocking. I hide my face a bit here and there, but my friends were like "Wow, that's Jackie! That's you!"

Do you think that having been a part of it has helped you in any way -- especially in your business?

Jackie: I think it will help in my business, absolutely. There's been some articles about me here in Dallas, and so when more people know what I do... It's a great preface for the show, and it's for my job, so... (pauses) A lot of my brides saw me.

Do you think you could land a local TV gig?


Jackie: I would love it! Sign me up!

How did you get to the show. What's your story for getting on?

Jackie: One day, and it was a long time ago in March, I had seen one episode with [Matt Grant] in the last [season of] The Bachelor and I was like "I'm gonna submit my picture," and all the sudden it popped up.  And what was silly is that I had been dating somebody and [I] let all that go just to be on this show because it was a once in a lifetime opporitunity and I didn't think why I would let that go.

How's he feeling?

Jackie: He's good. He didn't wanna stop me from fulfilling something that I wanted to do or thought that I needed to do, so he let me do it.

Are you back together?


Jackie: Possibly...






About The Author: John Bracchitta