Interview by Lori Bizzoco. Written by Sarah Batcheller.

If you’ve been watching Bachelor in Paradise, you’ve most likely declared Michelle Money as your spirit animal by now. The witty, warm-hearted Utah native originally appeared on Brad Womack’s season of The Bachelor and later on Bachelor Pad 2. Now, in paradise, this single celebrity mom has swept away audiences with her humor and impeccable style (we mean impeccable). On the show, she’s the resident beauty guru, getting the girls beautified for their dates. At home, Money is mother to nine-year-old Brielle and works as a hair stylist while filming her YouTube show, MMandL.

…Find out what Michelle told us in our exclusive interview!

Interview by Lori Bizzoco. Written by Ann Luther.

On this week’s episode of Bachelor in Paradise, Jesse Kovacs escaped Tulum, Mexico, in his typical controversial fashion. The villainized cast member departed the reality TV show with regrets and without a relationship and love. In all the chaos of his exit — the accusations, the name-calling, the confrontations, and the yelling — it was difficult to understand just what happened in paradise and why. Luckily, we got an exclusive interview with Kovacs and heard his side of the story.

Related Link: ‘Bachelor in Paradise’ Contestant Jesse Kovacs Denies Threesome: “I Fell Asleep”

Reality TV Star Opens Up About Controversial Celebrity Hook-Up

We all know the magic of television editing can turn anyone’s character sour, but Kovacs testifies, “I feel like trying to explain what happened on the episode would be a cop-out. I can’t blame anything on editing.” He goes on, “There were certain things that were suggested that never happened, but all the statements made by me and others really were said.”

In his last moments on camera, Kovacs was accosted in his exit car by three heated women: Christy Hansen, Michelle Money, and Lacy Faddoul. The scene was intense. “I have no idea why they were upset after I left.” The San Diego native added, “I never wanted a drama-filled confrontation. I just wanted to leave.”

But we all know what he said in front of and outside of the confessional camera. After the show, the winemaker told us that he “never had the intention of being disrespectful,” but then he conceded, “I made some pretty stupid statements about Christy, and I feel horrible.” The 32-year-old admits that he called Hansen and apologized. “I acted like a dick, and Christy wanted to let me know.” He also “hashed it out” with Money post-show.

The style in which Kovacs went out was by no means gentlemanly, but he defends his actions. “I left as soon as I felt like my time was up. No connection was happening, and I didn’t want to waste any one’s time. And I know people probably think I already wasted every one’s time, but everything happened so fast.” He must have done something right, though, because he says he still talks to most of the guys. Plus, “Lucy [Aragon] and Michelle are still friends…I think.”

Related Link: Jesse Kovacs on ‘Bachelor in Paradise’ Controversy: “Guy Talk Isn’t Always Meant to be Shared”

The whole ordeal surrounding his celebrity hook-up was a lot to handle, but reflection brings both perspective and clarity. Kovacs wants everyone, especially his parents, to know that he’s sorry. In a statement to us, he explains: “To my Mom and Dad, I’m sorry you had to sit through that, and please stay off my Twitter for a while. I acted like a no class d-bag, and although all the things being said about me aren’t true, they are well-deserved.”

We look forward to what comes next for Jesse Kovacs, the Liquid Lounge co-owner, reality TV star, and self-proclaimed d-bag!

You can keep up with Jesse on Twitter @JesseAKovacs. Be sure to tune in to Bachelor in Paradise on Monday nights at 8/7c on ABC!

By Ann Luther

After this week’s episodes of Bachelor in Paradise, you’d think the show was set in the Bermuda Triangle instead of Mexico. The scrumptiously scandalous moments were centered around none other than Jesse Kovacs, who arrived on Monday night’s episode and was swept away on not one but three dates with beautiful ladies on the show: Jackie Parr (from Sean Lowe’s season), Christy Hansen (from Juan Pablo Galavis’s season), and Lucy Aragon (also from Galavis’s season).

…Find out what Jesse revealed in our exclusive celebrity interview!

Interview by Lori Bizzoco. Written by Shannon Seibert.

Fans recognize Jesse Kovacs from season five of The Bachelorette, where he fought for Jillian Harris’s heart, and season one of Bachelor Pad, where he caused drama with ex-girlfriend Elizabeth Kitt. Now, he is standing at another rose ceremony, waiting to see if he will get a rose on Bachelor in Paradise tonight. “It’s funny because, during this rose ceremony, I was sick as hell. I don’t think they show it, but I was off in the jungle puking my brains out,” Kovacs tells us in our celebrity interview. “So I wasn’t even concerned about getting a rose.”

Related Link:  Former ‘Bachelor Pad’ Exes Elizabeth Kitt and Jesse Kovacs Offer Advice on Dating and Love

Jesse Kovacs Talks About Return to Reality TV for Bachelor in Paradise

Arriving in Tulum, Mexico this week, his first date was with Jackie Parr (Sean Lowe’s season). He knew nothing about the format of the show; he did, however, know that it was worth it if finding relationship and love was a possibility. “It’s all about the experience for me,” he shares. “If you’re open-minded, you can meet someone anywhere. It doesn’t matter if it’s on reality TV or if you’re in the coffee shop, at a bar, or at the post office.”

What wasn’t aired is that Robert Graham pulled him aside and gave him a brief rundown of the situation. “I did know that Marquel and Jackie went on a date but still felt confident that she would want to go on a date,” he confirms. He also says that everyone was super nice and inclusive. “Graham Bunn and I pretty much hung out the entire time,” he adds.

When the winemaker first got to the island, he had three or four days of date after date after date and then a rose ceremony, leaving him with little free time to get to know any of the guys except for his roommates. “I’m talking with the guys in my hut as if I were talking to any of my buddies about a girl I was seeing, totally not realizing that there were microphones in the ceiling,” he reveals. “Certain things were relayed back to the girls — and of course, guy talk isn’t always meant to be shared.”

Related Link: ‘Bachelorette’ Star Marcus Grodd Is Engaged to ‘Bachelor in Paradise’ Costar

Teasing his storyline further, he admits that something happens that leads to tension between him and one of the guys. Plus, he gets mixed up in a big misunderstanding that causes him to head home early. “That will all come out later,” he assures us. He says that he looked like the bad guy, although he was telling the truth about what happened.

Despite everything, Kovacs doesn’t have any regrets and speaks highly of his experience. “It is what it is. Realistically, I should’ve known better.” Given he walked into a similar storm between AshLee and Clare, we had to get his opinion on the situation with the ladies. “I definitely feel like AshLee is always concerned about how she will be portrayed,” the reality TV star says. “Her edit or cut was the most important thing to her. I noticed this right away.”

His Recent Relationship and Love Life

He may not have found a relationship and love on Bachelor in Paradise, but we do know is that he had a serious girlfriend since viewers last saw him on Bachelor Pad. “She was in San Diego, and I was living in Los Angeles. We spent every weekend together — we’d go to the beach, and I’d bring a bottle of wine,” he candidly shares. “We moved in together, started a business, and then split up seven months ago.”

Outside of the show, Kovacs tells us that he isn’t looking to settle down again anytime soon. Instead, he’s staying busy with his entrepreneurial endeavors. He recently opened a lounge called Liquid in downtown San Diego, and he’s still managing Kovacs Brothers Wine with his brother. “We have some wine that we’re probably going to release in early September, and then we’re going to be harvesting again,” he says of what’s next.

You can keep up with Jesse on Twitter @JesseAKovacs. Be sure to tune into Bachelor in Paradise on ABC on Mondays at 8/7c! 

By Kari Arneson

Elizabeth Kitt and Jesse Kovacs are no strangers to finding love on reality television, as they both competed on The Bachelor and The Bachelorette series respectively – Elizabeth on season 14 with Jake Pavelka and Jesse on season 5 with Jillian Harris.  The two seemed to find love as they cozied up with one another during last summer’s reality hit spin-off series Bachelor Pad, but like the majority of The Bachelor franchise unions, their relationship didn’t last after the cameras stopped rolling.

Oftentimes, lack of communication in a relationship can lead partners down two totally different paths: Kovacs wanted something more casual while Kitt wanted to fall in love.  Nevertheless, the couple’s strong bond and competitive spirit led them into the final six, just a few steps away from winning the big pot of cash.

With another season of Bachelor Pad coming this summer, we asked Elizabeth and Jesse for their insight on dating, relationships and finding love on reality TV:

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Cupid Exclusive!

With The Bachelor final rose ceremony less than a week away, single women are placing their bets on who they think ABC’s two-time Bachelor, Brad Womack, will give that final rose to on March 14.

It’s down to this season’s two fan favorites: soft-spoken southern mother Emily Maynard and sassy, slaphappy divorcee Chantal O’Brien.  Based on Womack’s infamous dumping of both DeAnna Papas and Jenni Croft in season 11, many fans wonder if he’ll leave his final two picks heartbroken as well.

While everyone has an opinion, nobody can be sure what will happen.  Even Bachelor reality TV spoiler sites like Reality Steve have reported different endings before next week’s season finale.  That’s why Cupid’s Pulse took this question to the experts: six rose-loving revelers from past seasons – David Good, Natalie Getz, Tenley Molzahn, Kiptyn Locke, Jesse Kovacs and Elizabeth Kitt.

After all, who better to ask than former Bachelor and Bachelorette contestants who appeared not once, but twice (just like Womack) on the Bachelor franchise?  Each of them competed last summer for a chance to win $250,000 on ABC’s Bachelor spin-off show, Bachelor Pad – which Chris Harrison officially announced will return this year for a second season during last night’s The Women Tell All episode.

The verdict: None of the former reality stars chose fan favorite Emily Maynard, who 83 percent* of Cupid’s Pulse readers picked as their favorite for Brad in this week’s poll.

Here’s who the former contestants chose and what they had to say about it:

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