Lindzi Cox was rejected by The Bachelor star Ben Flajnik when he selected Courtney Robertson as his final bachelorette and proposed marriage to her during Monday night's sixteenth-season finale broadcast of the ABC reality dating show.
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Below is the second portion of Lindzi's interview. Click here to read the first half. Also be sure to read our separate interview with The Bachelor host Chris Harrison.
Some bachelorettes are now actually a little relieved that Ben eliminated them. Did you have a change of heart and currently feel the same way in that maybe you think it's best you didn't end up getting engaged to Ben?
Lindzi Cox: I think that in hindsight, hindsight's a beautiful thing, (laughs) and I really am happy with how things ended for me. In the moment, I felt that way about Ben and he made his decision and I respect that. I think that he did come off pretty well in the situation he was in.
So, I don't feel like I dodged a bullet, but I do feel like things worked out the way that they were supposed to work out. I'm really happy start to end with this whole experience I got to have and I learned a lot. I think I'm really happy and content with the way it ended.
So it sounds like you're not depressed that you didn't get to marry Ben?
Lindzi Cox: No. (Laughs)
If things didn't work out with Courtney and Ben ever came crawling back you, would you be open to giving him another chance?
Lindzi Cox: You know, I don't know. I don't know. I'll cross that bridge when [I get] there, but I think -- I don't know. I feel like if he didn't know for sure about me then, then he wouldn't change his mind now.
Did you get a chance to talk to Ben or Courtney at the After the Final Rose special? Because it's clear you were backstage but just didn't get to go on-camera.
Lindzi Cox: I actually have not spoken to Ben or Courtney since that last day in Switzerland.
Do you wish you could speak to Ben and Courtney?
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Lindzi Cox: Um, you know, no. I don't think so, and if I could speak to them, I think I would want them to know that I'm happy for them and I wish them the best.
During an appearance on Good Morning America, you said you would definitely do the process again. Would you consider being the next star of The Bachelorette?
Lindzi Cox: I think that obviously it would be a year away. It's not something that I've been talked to about yet, but given the opportunity, I would definitely, strongly consider it.
You have had two major breakups highlighted on television in which one was the "Welcome to Dumpsville" text and the other was Ben rejected you at the final Rose Ceremony. Which was more difficult for you to handle and why?
Lindzi Cox: I think that any time you get your heart invested in a relationship and it ends, I think that they're both difficult. But I think I was able to bounce back from being broken up with on national TV a lot quicker than the "Dumpsville" incident.
So, yeah. I think any breakup is tough, but I think the "Dumpsville" one was the first real heart break I went through. So, I think they get easier after that a little bit. You kind of learn that it will be okay again.
Do you plan to attend any of The Bachelor reunion parties and are there any former Bachelors in particular you'd like to meet?
Lindzi Cox: Yeah, I would love to attend those parties and I'm kind of excited to meet a lot of different people, you know? There's a couple. We'll see. I don't know. Stay tuned. I kind of want to play the game a little bit with them. (Laughs)
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Lindzi Cox: Well, I learned that men like naked girls and skinny dipping. (Laughs) I think the thing I learned the most about this is before Bachelor, dating people -- if things were going well, I kind of just left it with that, and was like, "Okay, let's see where this goes."
I wasn't a really good communicator and I don't know. Bachelor really, just going through that, kind of taught me how to be open with my feelings and be good at this dating thing.
I think it kind of made me realize why the previous relationships in my past hadn't worked out, because there is a lot of communication that goes into a healthy relationship. So, I think I really learned how to, I don't know, kind of let my guard down more and be more open with people that I'm dating.
When Ben told you he appreciated the fact you were opening up more, was that kind of an "aha! moment" for you?
Lindzi Cox: I don't think it was an "aha! moment." I think it was kind of that I moved at my own pace on the show and did it as it was comfortable for me. So I think that was kind of the time where I was like, "Okay, I really like where this is going." I was kind of slow out of the gate.
Do you have any regrets from being on the show?
Lindzi Cox: I don't have any regrets at all from the show. I think that I was me at the end of the day and if I had been more -- I hate using the word "open" -- but if I had been more open and vulnerable, I wouldn't have been myself and I think at the end of the day, I was myself. I don't really regret anything.
Will you take the lessons you have learned from being on The Bachelor and apply them in your next relationship?
Lindzi Cox: Absolutely.
During some of your prior interviews, you joked about Ben's new haircut and Courtney being on a short leash. Is there any bitterness there or do you just have a strong sense of humor?
Lindzi Cox: Yeah, I've said this whole call that I'm really happy for them and I really do wish them nothing but the best. That was joking. Personally, I don't love Ben's haircut, but it was all fun and games.
When Ben rejected you at the final Rose Ceremony, you didn't show much emotion and really held your composure. Was that indicative of the way you naturally handle those types of situations or that maybe your feelings for Ben weren't very strong after all?
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So I think for me, where maybe I did put a guard up a little bit, I was very kind of protective of myself going into that, you know? So, I think it can only come as so big of a shock. I'm not much of a cryer. It's like you go into this, and you don't kind of really know how to react to some moments.
Are you currently dating or single, and what are you looking for in a man?
Lindzi Cox: Good question. I'm not dating yet, but now that the finale's over, I hope to be dating some time soon. And you know, I don't know what I'm looking for. I think that the cool thing about not really knowing is going into The Bachelor, I didn't know it was going to be Ben until two weeks before.
I never dated someone like Ben. You know how some people have their specific type and they just date like that? So, I'm kind of open to -- I'm kind of open.
What was going through your mind when you told Ben to call you if things didn't work out between him and Courtney during the finale episode?
Lindzi Cox: So, walking, leaving that situation, it was probably one of the more awkward silence conversation or awkward silence moments in my life and I don't know. I'm just kind of a joker and to me, that was my way of kind of breaking the awkward silence.
So telling him to call you was a total joke then?
Lindzi Cox: Mhmm. We laughed about it. Ben and I were laughing about it.
Is there a chance viewers will see you on Bachelor Pad this summer?
Lindzi Cox: (Laughs) I don't know! Hopefully! I would be very interested in doing it.
What went into your wardrobe choice for that final Rose Ceremony? Many viewers have taken to Twitter to discuss the dresses you and Courtney wore and some of the feedback is negative.
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When you got a one-on-one date with Ben earlier in the season, it was kind of on default because [Brittney Schreiner] decided to leave the competition and have somebody who was more interested in Ben take that date in San Francisco, and it was you. Do you think it was a good decision on her part and that it in fact helped you reach the Final 2?
Lindzi Cox: I think that even if I hadn't gotten that date, I would have gotten a date eventually. But you know, I was really happy to get that date. That was a really cool, fun date. And as far as Brittney's decision, I think she did what was best for her at the time and I really respect her reasoning and her respect for kind of the rest of us.
Watching The Bachelor season unfold from home, did you see a different Ben than you got to know while on the show?
Lindzi Cox: I didn't really see a different Ben. I think that he maintained pretty true to the Ben that I saw.
Do you think you and Ben will keep in touch and that a friendship could possibly develop in the future?
Lindzi Cox: Yeah, I think absolutely there's a friendship there.
Have you kept in touch with any of the other women from the show, and if so, whom?
Lindzi Cox: I have not kept in touch with anyone yet, but I'm really looking forward to it. There were so many girls, more girls than there weren't, that I'm really looking forward to being friends with after this.
Have you talked to any former Bachelors or The Bachelorette suitors?
Lindzi Cox: I have not!
From watching the show back, do you think Courtney ultimately had Ben from day one or do you think it was a gradual thing? It seemed like he always had her ahead of everybody else.
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Click here to read the first half of Lindzi's interview. Also be sure to read our separate interview with The Bachelor host Chris Harrison.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski