Get to Know Bachelorette Canada’s Jasmine Lorimer

She’s a small-town girl who dreams of finding true love

Jasmine Lorimer is on the search for her soulmate as 20 eligible suitors compete to win her over on the reality show The Bachelorette Canada, premiering Tuesday, September 13th on W Network.

Originally from Kenora, Ontario, Lorimer now calls Pemberton, B.C. home where she works as a professional hairstylist.

BCLiving sat down with The Bachelorette Canada’s first-ever “bachelorette” (Jillian Harris and Kaitlyn Bristowe appeared on the American series) to chat about her reality TV experience, love and a few of her favourite things. 

BCL: How was the experience of going from small-town girl to Bachelorette Canada’s first bachelorette?

JL: I didn’t really struggle with it that much. I was like, “OK, this whole experience of filming the show is crazy. We are doing all these elaborate things, and I’m on these incredible dates, and I’m meeting all these guys.”

But it was just me and the guys. And now that it’s premiering on TV, it’s not going to be just me and the guys anymore. And obviously I was aware of that going into it, but it’s really hitting me now that it’s going to be out there for the nation. It’s exciting, it’s nerve-racking, but it’s exciting.

BCL: How did you prepare yourself for the spotlight that was to come?

JL: On the first night I was so nervous. I was also nervous when I had to make little speeches to the guys. I don’t know why, but that was one thing I would always get nervous about, especially before rose ceremonies and stuff like that. But for the most part I was just trying to enjoy it.

I don’t know if you do prepare yourself… I think every little step of this has been something new and I’ve never known how to prepare for it. I just kinda take it as it comes. I’m trying to at least anticipate that there’s going to be a lot of comments, but that just goes for anybody I guess who is in the public eye. But I think what makes it a little more difficult is the fact that it is so personal to all of us. It’s not like I’m an actress and I’m playing a part. I’m playing Jasmine, so that might be tough. But it’s OK because I was just myself and that’s all I could do.

BCL: What made you decide to audition for the show?

JL: I was approached by a friend of mine who had a cousin in casting and they had asked her if I might be interested. I guess they saw some photos and wanted to know a little bit more about me. So I met the production team and it was really good!

It also sounded like a great idea. I’d love to meet someone and here are 20 hand-picked guys looking for the same thing so I’m bound to meet someone out of that. Plus, I’m also kind of an adventurous person so why not do it this way?

But yeah, it was after meeting the production team and realizing that they actually genuinely care about the relationships. I mean they’re making a show, but their big focus is making sure that everyone’s comfortable. At least I felt like that, and that was my experience with it. They cared about me, and they cared about the relationships and it felt like that from the start. That’s the reason why I was so confident and comfortable going into it. I never felt alone.

BCL: How did your friends and family react when you told them you had been selected?

JL: (laughs) Well, my mom and my sister were the only ones who knew before I even left. And then the rest of my friends and family found out when everyone did—when it was announced online and on TV in June. So I had already finished everything by that point and I had to keep my mouth shut. Everyone just thought that my phone died for a couple months. So everyone was shocked but really supportive!

BCL: Did the men live up to your expectations?

JL: Yeah, the guys totally exceeded my expectations. Even the first moment when they were all coming out of the limo and I was meeting them I thought, “wow, it’s gonna be such a hard time picking from these guys.”

BCL: What is the most important trait in a man?

JL: For me, it’s kindness because I think that just reflects into so many different branches of life. Someone who is kind is also going to be loyal, thoughtful and be a good partner.

BCL: What was the biggest thing you learnt about yourself from being on the show?

JL: I learned a lot about myself. The biggest thing I learned is realizing what I need out of a relationship, rather than what I want. I realized that these are the patterns I’ve been following and I can try to break out of it. Also, realizing what has kept me from having a relationship that is really long-lasting, or why have I been running away from that. I think just being able to analyze myself enough and being able to accept that I have maybe made choices that weren’t in my own best interests in the past was a big lesson to myself.

BCL: Is there any advice you would give young women who are looking for “the one”?

JL: I would say date a lot. And I know people told me that before, but I had a hard time with that because if I like someone, I just like someone and that’s it. And I will usually just wait until I’m single again before I go and date someone else. But I think its important to date a lot and date people that maybe you normally wouldn’t go for, because you never know who youre gonna click with. I think that could really make a difference if you haven’t found the right one.

BCL: What’s next for you?

JL: To be honest, I haven’t really thought much about it because I’m just trying to get past this whole idea of the show happening. But I want to go travelling again once this is all done and take a little break. I think it’s going to be a hectic couple of months. I am looking forward to it, but I’m looking forward to a normal life after. I’m already trying to get back into that anyways.

Click through the slideshow above for some of Jasmine’ s favourite things and to see more pictures…