- Kaitlyn, thanks so much for being on.
- Thank you for having me.
- This is so fun. You're like the jackpot of all guests.
- Which is funny because I feel like I don't,
like I have no business being in this world.
(both laugh)
- Oh, whatever. Oh my gosh.
No, you fit in this world
so much easier than what you think.
- I'm trying.
- Okay, so when it comes to the show.
- Yes.
- I have so many questions.
- Most people do.
- I cannot wait to hear all this, okay.
- Okay.
- Because when it comes to the financial side,
as a viewer, that's like, somewhat of the lens
I look through because I can't help it.
It's just like, part of how my mind works.
So I'm watching it, and I'm like, okay.
You were on the side of the contestants of The Bachelor.
- Yup.
- And then you were The Bachelorette.
- Right.
- So you have two different perspectives.
- Perspectives, yes.
- Which are pretty different, right?
- Very.
- Okay, so when it comes to what you pay for.
- Mmm hmm.
- I'm gonna be so nosy here, but what you pay for—
- It's interesting stuff.
- Yeah so when you're a contestant, what is provided
for you, and what do you have to pay for?
- You pay for everything, and nothing is provided for you.
- [Rachel] Seriously?
- I was living in Vancouver, and to even get
a flight to go down, you know, for one
of my first auditions.
- [Rachel] Yeah.
- I was taking care of it.
I put myself up in the hotels.
- [Rachel] No way.
- Yeah, yeah, they're just like,
"If you want this, come get it."
- [Rachel] Totally.
- Yeah.
- [Rachel] So that's all on your dime?
- Yes.
- Okay, so when you get on the show, you go.
- [Kaitlyn] Yeah.
- I see all the luggage that all the,
you know, that all the contestants bring—all of that.
- [Kaitlyn] Yeah.
- You get no free clothes as a contestant.
- Well, once you make it to a certain point,
you get a little swag bag.
- But all your clothes that you're wearing.
- [Kaitlyn] Yes.
- On one-on-ones, and all of that, or group dates?
- It was crazy, the amount of money that I spent,
just to go into the show, because you don't know
how long you're going to last.
You could either be home night one, or you could be there
for a solid nine weeks, and it's like,
you have got to think of rose ceremony dresses.
- [Rachel] Yes.
- Heels and jewelry, and these things aren't cheap.
- [Rachel] Totally.
- It's quite expensive.
Everything, it's crazy what goes into it,
and yeah you don't get anything.
- Yeah, do people go into debt for this stuff?
- Oh, I did.
- [Rachel] Yeah.
- I don't know how you don't.
I mean I was working at a restaurant.
I taught spin classes on the side.
I was living in Vancouver.
- Yeah.
- [Kaitlyn] Paying ridiculous rent.
But yeah, it's a lot to think about
when you're going away for that long.
- [Rachel] Yes.
- National television and what everybody
puts into it, and the show . . . yeah, no help.
- Yes, okay so when you are The Bachelorette.
- [Kaitlyn] Mmm hmm.
- Is it the opposite—like everything is provided for you?
- I think I brought my pajamas, and that was it.
- Seriously?
- Just a comfy pair of PJs because everything
is taken care of if you're the lead.
You just pick from, you know, you have
wardrobe pick outs every week, and this is
what I'm going to wear.
And they can't tell you what the dates are,
so they'll be like, "You might be in a chilly helicopter."
(laughter)
- Maybe, possibly . . .
- Hypothetically speaking, it's a helicopter.
So they'll give you ideas, but yeah.
All wardrobe to choose from.
There's a stylist. There's a hair and makeup artist.
- So it's like polar opposites.
- [Kaitlyn] Right.
- From being a contestant to being like, the lead.
- Yes.
- So fascinating, yes.
Okay, so, and I guess it depends on the person
and their job, but like do a lot of people
have to leave their job?
Because if you make it, you're out of work
for four months of your current job.
- Yeah, I mean it just depends,
but yeah, some people lose their jobs.
And then there's things, where I had a very casual job,
and they were like, "Oh my gosh, great.
People see your face on TV. Bring them
into the restaurant."
(laughter)
- Totally! Some marketing.
- Yes, exactly.
They're like, "Go network."
Yes.
- Okay, so after you're on a national show
like this, obviously people recognize you.
They know who you are.
Do you find that a lot of the contestants
go back to their normal life?
They go back to the job.
That they say, "Oh yeah, you can come back."
You know, they just move on with their normal life.
Or do they take more of like the influencer spin?
Like how do you feel like people react?
- [Kaitlynn] It depends.
For myself personally, I didn't want
to go back to the restaurant.
- Yes.
- I was like, wow, what a blessing
that I have this platform.
I can turn it into a business.
I can do things I'm passionate about.
I can work for myself.
- Yeah.
- Yeah, so some people choose to go back
to their job, and if that job was something
that they're passionate about or something
that they could go back to, a lot of people do.
But majority people I would say
try to take a run at the influencer thing
because it just seems like a dream job.
- Okay, that's so good.
Now, so you get paid to be on the show.
As a contestant, do you?
- No.
- You don't?
- No, so that's the worst part.
You go into debt, you have no idea
how long you're going to be on that show
or if you're going to get your job when you come back.
And you don't get paid a dollar.
But yeah, it's crazy. But you don't get paid
as a contestant, and then as the lead
you get paid quite a decent amount.
- [Rachel] Sure, to do that.
Okay, so you have two really fun business lines out.
- [Kaitlyn] Yeah.
- [Rachel] And your podcast is so fun.
- Yeah, podcast.
- [Rachel] Off the Vine, there.
- Yeah, I mean, growing up I always wanted
to have my own radio show, and I actually have
a photo of myself from 10 years ago writing down
my goals in life, and I would post them on my mirrors.
And I would just look at them every day.
And it's funny now to think back and like,
"Oh wait, look I did that."
- It happened.
- I didn't know about podcasting before
but it's right, you know.
It's like a radio show.
- It basically is.
Yes, yes.
Oh, we talk about goal setting a lot.
- [Kaitlyn] Yes.
- But even the power of writing it down and what it does.
- Manifesting is everything.
- [Rachel] It's so true.
Oh, Kaitlyn, thanks for coming on.
- Oh my gosh, thank you for having me.
- I know this was like, I bombarded you
with all Bachelor questions, but all the fans.
It's like every question every fan wants to know.
So fun.
We met doing the podcast.
- I'm going to hang out here more often.
- Come back, Kaitlyn, come back.
- Feels good.
- Oh, thanks for being on.
- Thank you so much for having me.
(gentle music)