Former Bachelor star Alisha Aitken-Radburn has revealed some juicy behind-the-scenes details – from the contestants’ infatuation with Osher to their relationships with producers.
WATCH Bachelor in Paradise’s Alisha reveals insight into lockdown life with Glenn
The 28-year-old, who appeared on Nick ‘Honey Badger’ Cummins’ season in 2018, answered viewers’ burning questions during an Instagram Stories Q&A.
When asked if the contestants have a heads up about what the dates will entail, Alisha said that most of the time it was a “complete surprise”.
“You have 10 minutes to an hour to make sure you’re in an appropriate outfit. (Producers will let you know if you need swimmers, a change of clothes or an outfit for ‘intimacy’),” she said.
“Intimacy is less racy than it sounds. It’s (generally) the evening portion of your date with the cheese platter and where the smooches happen.”
Alisha said the ladies are essentially given “general information” about what the weather will be like and if swimming will be part of it, however the activities on the date aren’t disclosed.
The former Labor Party staffer also shed light on the relationship the ladies form with the show’s producers.
“You are originally paired with a specific producer who gets to know you initially and eases you into the process but then you end up working with them all,” she said.
“If you’re having to talk about particularly sensitive issues you’ll be paired for interviews with a producer you click with.”
When asked if the group dates are “really that intense,” Alisha said it depends on how far into the season it is.
“Once you’re deeper into the season and there is established conflict or pain points (let’s take this season – Steph and Holly) they can definitely become more intense and uncomfortable,” she said.
Alisha said that once genuine connections between the bachelorette and the contestants have formed, it isn’t too different to “real life” dating.
“If you saw the person you’ve been seeing/forming a connection with then form a connection with another person, it sucks!” she said.
Alisha also revealed the issues that arose from the ladies not being allowed their phones or access to the internet.
“It’s such an interesting experience meeting everyone without seeing how they present themselves online,” she said.
“It was actually quite disappointing (particularly on Bachelor in Paradise) when you’d discover a really big gulf between who someone really is and how they perform online.”
Anyone who’s tuned into The Bachelor at least once will realise how excited the contestants get when host Osher Günsberg appears – and Alisha said their reactions are completely genuine.
“It goes from ‘woah this is a crazy experience, lots of cameras, pretty dress’ to ‘oh wow I’m on The Bachelor‘,” she said.
Alisha had a Bachelor in Paradise romance with Jules Bourne during the spin-off’s second season.
She then came back for the third season of Paradise the following year where she found love with Glenn Smith, who appeared on Angie Kent’s season of The Bachelorette.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Sydneysider Alisha packed her bags and moved over to Perth to be with Glenn and the couple haven’t looked back since.
“We’re in a great routine, I’m having the best time in Perth,” she told WHO exclusively in May.
“We’re having fun and I think it’s really nice that we’re still taking really important steps in our relationship.”
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