'The Bachelorette' star Desiree Hartsock: I didn't pressure myself to fall in love

The Bachelorette star Desiree Hartsock's search for love on the ninth season of the ABC reality dating show will begin Monday, May 27 at 8PM ET/PT.


The Bachelorette star will be introduced to 25 bachelors all competing to win her heart, and the season's premiere will conclude with the 27-year-old bridal stylist from Los Angeles, CA, whittling the pack down to 19 during the first Rose Ceremony.

Prior to the debut of Desiree's season, the network will also air The Bachelor's Funniest Moments, a one-hour special, on Tuesday, May 21 at 8PM ET.

During a recent conference call with reporters, Desiree talked to Reality TV World about her upcoming season of The Bachelorette and hinted at what viewers can expect to see. To read what she had to say, click here. Below are some additional details from her call. Click here for more.

What did you do diet and fitness-wise to prepare to be on The Bachelorette or on TV?


Desiree Hartsock:  Well, I naturally eat a pretty healthy diet, so that works for me.  But that did, you know, I did have a trainer just for a couple weeks prior to the show to kind of help get me fit.

And how did you stay in shape during the show with all those romantic dinners?

Desiree Hartsock:  I don't know if I did.  I think it's just staying busy and being able to do some here and there in the hotel.

So you mentioned a trainer, as a quick follow-up, what did you need help with when it came to your fitness routine once you started with the trainer?

Desiree Hartsock:  With the trainer, it was very diverse -- mainly just weights and circuits I guess you could say.  So it was more along those lines.


I was just wondering if any former Bachelorettes reached out to you once you got the role?

Desiree Hartsock:  You know, not necessarily.  I haven't really spoken to any one of them -- just some support from [Ali Fedotowsky] via Twitter.

That first night when you met all the men must've been really overwhelming. Was there ever a moment when you thought, "What have I gotten myself into?"

Desiree Hartsock:  No, I was like happy.  I'm all, "Look what I got into."  No, it is very overwhelming, but since I had been in their shoes, I knew that they were more nervous than I was.  So I kind of empathized with them.

You kind of talked about this a little bit earlier, but what was the hardest question you had for the guys going into the season?


Desiree Hartsock:  Hardest questions.  You know, I was straightforward.  I would ask them, you know, "Are you ready for marriage; Are you ready for a family; Do you want kids; Where do you see your future?"  And that's in order for me to really see if my future lines up with them.

Was there a specific one of those that was the most important to you?

Desiree Hartsock:  Well, it wasn't necessarily a specific.  I guess, yes, it was just a mixture of everything.

What were you most worried about going into the season?

Desiree Hartsock:  Most worried.  I don't know if I really had any worries.


Possibly maybe not falling in love, were you worried about that?

Desiree Hartsock:  You know, I didn't want to put any pressure on it or have any expectations.  So I wasn't necessarily worried, but I guess I would be with that.  I was worried that maybe this wouldn't work for me. I think though I was still very hopeful that it would.

Which former Bachelorette would you most compare yourself to?

Desiree Hartsock:  I don't personally know any of them, but I would say Ali's free spirit is very similar to my own.

Besides Twitter, has Ali reached out to you with any advice or...?


Desiree Hartsock:  No, just via Twitter.

So with the summer approaching, we were wondering, what are some of your "go to" diet tips and how do they help?

Desiree Hartsock:  You know, on the diet tip, I would say never let yourself go hungry, because you need to keep your metabolism going, and get outside.  Even just a walk in the morning before work, kind of you know, jump starts your metabolism.

Actually speaking of fitness, what are some of your top fitness tips and how do they help?

Desiree Hartsock:  Fitness tip.  Well, let's see.  Honestly, just staying active no matter what it is, like I hike and I try to just even take a walk whenever I can.

What would be some of your favorite activities to do outside?


Desiree Hartsock:  I love to hike.  Sometimes I try to do beach volleyball.  I love to bike.  So anything that I can just get moving and, I don't know, I feel like it clears my mind too and it's a good destresser.

The clothes you wear on the show, are these your own clothes, your own dresses or is there a wardrobe person and stylist?

Desiree Hartsock:  There is a stylist.  But the mixture of, you know, those and my own clothes.  So it's still very much my own personal style.

I know you're a fashion designer.  Did you design anything for the show or say, "Hey maybe you guys could put this together?"

Desiree Hartsock:  You know, we did work together and I was able to design a dress, one of the Rose Ceremony dresses.

Which Rose Ceremony?


Desiree Hartsock:  It will be -- I think it was the third, the third episode.

Great, we'll look for it.

Desiree Hartsock:  Oh thanks.

Above are some additional details from Desiree's recent conference call with reporters. To read what she had to say to Reality TV World, click here. For more, click here.






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski