'The Bachelor' couple Nick Viall and Vanessa Grimaldi: We're very happy and not focused on our critics

The Bachelor couple Nick Viall and Vanessa Grimaldi left the show's 21st season in love, engaged and ready to start a future together.


During the finale Monday night on ABC, Nick proved the fourth time is the charm and got down on one knee to ask Vanessa's hand in marriage. The 29-year-old special education teacher from Montreal, Quebec, Canada couldn't have been more thrilled to accept Nick's proposal in Rovaniemi, Finland.

But with Nick's final decision came heartbreak for the runner-up, Raven Gates, a 25-year-old clothing boutique owner from Arkansas. Nick could definitely relate to Raven's situation since he had finished as the runner-up twice before on both Andi Dorfman and Kaitlyn Bristowe's seasons of The Bachelorette.

During a Tuesday conference call with reporters, the happily-engaged couple, Nick, 36, and Vanessa, 29, talked about going public with their romance and what's next for them. Below is a portion of what they had to say.

Vanessa, what have you learned about Nick since production or after? Anything that surprised you, maybe? 


Vanessa Grimaldi: I guess his cooking skills really surprised me. He's really good in the kitchen. He also snores when he's very tired, and he's been working really hard doing his choreography with [pro dancer Peta Murgatroyd] for [Dancing with the Stars].

Nothing really that surprising. I'm more of a -- I love to sleep in. I love to -- I'm not a big morning person, but Nick is a very big morning person. So that's one thing we're very different on. 

Is the morning thing going to become a problem? 

Vanessa Grimaldi: No because I sleep in and he cooks breakfast, and he comes in with bacon for me in bed. So I'm not complaining... Living the life. 

Chris Harrison asked if you guys had any major fight yet, and Vanessa you said yes. What are the issues that you guys are trying to work through now? 


Vanessa Grimaldi: I'm not sure if I said major issue. They're just, you know, discussions, like realistic conversations. I think it is difficult to relive this entire process as a couple, especially living in two different countries. But we're very supportive of each other. We're very happy together. And you know, we're very big communicators, so that's one of our biggest strongest points in the relationship. 

So it sounds like everything will kind of go away now that you can actually be at public together. 

Nick Viall: Yes. 

Vanessa Grimaldi: Yes. 

So the finale was kind of a whirlwind, like watching you guys on After the Final Rose, and some of the reception from Bachelor Nation was kind of questioning your relationship.  Do you guys feel like you have an added pressure to prove that you can make it in the long run? 


Nick Viall: I mean, I don't think so. I think every couple before us feels the pressure. I think, you know, that pressure exists, there's no denying that. So I don't think we feel like we have added pressure. Bachelor Nation is very loyal and very outspoken, and I've always appreciated that. 

But at the same time, again, Vanessa and I have always been realistic. And you know, this is about us focusing on our relationship and tackling that relationship outside of that world, and that's what we're focused on. And we're going to, you know, be realistic, give it our best, and treat each other with the respect that we know we deserve.

Now that you guys can actually step out in public together, Nick, I know that you have Dancing with the Stars coming up, but what's the one normal couple thing you guys are most looking forward to doing? Is it going out to dinner or maybe going to the movies? 

Vanessa Grimaldi: Yes. Well, we actually experienced it last night. We took a car together back to the house and we went out for dinner together with my family. So just the simple things, you know, going out for a walk. Nick loves his movies, so maybe go to the theater together. 

Nick, obviously Bachelor Nation took to Twitter during the finale, and some people were saying that, you know, you made a mistake choosing Vanessa over Raven. And I just want to know how you would respond to that. 


Nick Viall: I respectfully disagree. You know, I don't know. I mean, again, Bachelor Nation is, you know, very loyal and opinionated. And again, the show is set up that way, right?  It's like, the end of every season you're always going to have people rooting for both people. I'm also very thankful, and I'm sure Vanessa is, for all the overwhelming support that she has gotten along the way. And that's what we're focused on. 

What would you guys say to the people who are saying that your relationship won't last? 

Nick Viall: I mean, I feel like there are people who say that every season about every couple. So, I mean, that is what it is. And I think you saw last night that Vanessa and I are not pretending that we don't have our challenges ahead of us, like we don't pretend that we dated for a year before we got engaged. 

There are some obstacles that, you know, come with starting relationships, while I date 29 other women and then have to relive that experience. And so, we're going to give it our best shot and we're going to treat each other with respect. We're going to put each other first, and we're going to do everything we know we should do to make this work. 

Vanessa, during the last couple episodes, you talked a lot about your living situation and made it pretty clear that moving away from your family wasn't something that you would really compromise on. So I'm just wondering what changed? 


Vanessa Grimaldi: Well, I had that discussion with Nick and I just wanted to see what he was open and willing to do. You know, I love my family. I love work. I love my life back in Montreal. But like we discussed, relationships are built on compromise, and I was willing to uproot and move to the United States for the relationship. 

And I'm very happy with the decision. My family and my co-workers are very supportive about it too. And right now, I'm currently working on putting together a charitable organization for people living with learning disabilities, so I'm bringing a part of my life back in Montreal to my new life here in the States. 

Vanessa, you had mentioned on After the Final Rose that you never watched a complete The Bachelor season before. If you had, do you think you still would have agreed to appear on the show in the first place? 

Vanessa Grimaldi: I probably would still agree to go on, but I would have had a different understanding and perspective of the show. I think I still would have been as realistic, but I think I would have been better prepared. 

When are your birthdays? 

Nick Viall: Mine is September 28th and hers is September 30th. 


To read more from Nick and Vanessa's post-The Bachelor interview, click here and here.






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski