Theresa Nist almost packed her bags for the Golden spinoff of Bachelor in Paradise after her divorce from Gerry Turner — but ultimately sat this season out.
“Just not my vibe,” Theresa, 71, exclusively told Us Weekly in April. “Just wasn’t the right thing for me. I don’t know if I would change my mind about it another year, but I’m not getting any younger. I don’t know, I thought it through. I couldn’t imagine how it would work for me.”
Theresa noted that she plans on rooting for everyone else, including fellow season 1 Golden Bachelor contestant and her “best friend” Leslie Fhima. “I’m just gonna be so excited for all of them,” she said. “How exciting is this?”
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Less than two months later, Theresa shed more insight into why she wouldn’t be on the beaches of Costa Rica.
Theresa Nist Would Do ‘Golden Bachelor’ Again in ‘Altered Universe’
“I wanted to go on the show and then I went back to them and said, ‘I changed my mind, I don’t want to do it,’” Theresa said on an episode of the “Almost Famous” podcast earlier this month. “And then I went back and said, ‘You know what, maybe I’m being foolish.’ Then they ultimately did not select me. … Because I said I didn’t want to do it, they said, ‘No, this girl is not committed.’ So, I feel that that was the reason why I’m ultimately not on the show. I think it was a great decision. I think it’s good that I’m not on the show.”
While Theresa was not cast on the show, fans of Bachelor Nation will see several familiar faces hoping to find a second-chance at love. ABC revealed on Monday, June 16, that The Golden Bachelor alums Leslie, Kathy Swarts, Natascha Hardee and April Kirkwood would appear alongside The Golden Bachelorette alums Jack Lencioni, Ralph “RJ” Johnson, Kim Buike, Charles “CK” King (a.k.a. Charles K), Keith Gordon and Gary Levingston.
The Goldens are joined by 16 other contestants from the traditional Bachelor shows — who may or may not be game for age-gap romances.
“Historically, I’ve capped it at 45,” Zoe McGrady told Us ahead of filming. “I don’t know what the [youngest] is for the Goldens, but I think as far as they go, I just want to focus on their advice and their wisdom, but you know, never say never.”
Dale Moss, meanwhile, is not interested in pursuing one of the older contestants. I’ve definitely got older women in my dating history,” he said. “I don’t even think about someone’s age [or the] gap. I think The Golden Bachelor [stars] they’re going to be more guidance and friendships. I can just say that very, very clear. No shade!”
Bachelor in Paradise premieres on ABC Monday, July 7, at 8 p.m. ET.
Us Weekly
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