Capital graduate lands spot on reality show
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| Britt Bowe, Photo: Copyright 00A9 2006 ABC, Inc. |
By: Haley A. Miller
Can one instantly assume that a reality show is not a depiction of truth, but instead just cut-throat behavior for high ratings? Well, anyone can think what they want. Yet, the reality for one Capital graduate was the chance for a free fairy tale trip to Italy complete with new friends, exotic experiences, and beautiful sights. And she grabbed it.
While watching reality-TV shows, most typically think, "I would never do that." Britt Bowe thought the same thing, until she got the call.
After graduating from Capital in 2000 and working as a beer chemist for Anheuser Busch, Britt decided to go to Capital Law School. She became good friends with a regular reality-TV junky. Her friend found out that ABC was accepting female nominations for a new reality show. She thought Britt would be a perfect candidate, so she nominated Britt online.
ABC called Britt to notify her that she was a potential candidate but did not disclose too many details about the show. Britt said, "I realized what a big privilege it was to be selected. I had never thought I wanted to be on a reality show, but I knew that I would regret it if I didn't try."
Many phone calls and a lot of paperwork followed before ABC asked Britt to submit a video. Her assignment: create a video depicting a few minutes of personality. She asked her sister and some friends to help her, which led to a day's worth of laughs and good times. After receiving her video, the network asked her to fly out to Los Angeles for an interview. Britt had already planned a trip to Paris with a good friend, but she cancelled the trip so she could interview for the television spot. She still wasn't quite sure what the show would involve.
Once Britt found out she had been chosen to be on "The Bachelor: Rome," she was ecstatic. "I applied for a passport a few years ago just so if I wanted to travel outside the country, I would be prepared. When I found out the show was going to be filmed in Italy, I was hoping to be picked so I wouldn't have cancelled my trip to Paris for nothing."
ABC provided her with transportation and housing in Rome. She spent a week in the middle of August filming with the show. When asked what it was like to be followed by cameras, Britt said, "You knew when they were on you. You would be talking to somebody, and all of a sudden, you're trying to figure out what you had been saying that made them turn to you."
Not knowing much about the Italian prince, all of the female participants were surprised when they arrived in Rome and saw his family's name on buildings around the city. They were even more surprised to meet him and find out he did not speak Italian. Prince Lorenzo Borghese has lived in the United States since he was 5.
Aside from a few minutes of conversation in the limousine, Britt did not have much of a chance to talk with the prince. "He seemed to be a very nice and funny guy from the way he talked with everybody, although I didn't have much of a chance to make an impression."
With only a few minutes to differentiate herself from the other women, Britt noted that aside from appearance, it was difficult for someone to stand out in the crowd. "I went into this knowing that I couldn't change what he wants or prefers; if he prefers a small, petite blonde, then that is great for me, but if not, then oh well. I am not a very competitive person, so on that first meeting it was either working in my favor or it wasn't."
During the first rose ceremony, Britt and half of the female participants did not receive roses.
It is difficult for Britt to imagine how her life would have been had she been selected to be the prince's wife. She said, "The prince seemed to be somebody I could spend the rest of my life with. I had an opportunity to make the fairy tale come true." She also admits that her life would have been pretty hectic at first if there had been a lot of publicity about the show's conclusion and speculation about their life together.
After Britt and some of the women filmed the first show, they decided to make the most of their time in Italy. They traveled to Naples, Capri, Pompeii, Florence, and went on a bicycle tour of Tuscany. They became very close in a matter of days.
When asked whether or not she would go on another reality-TV show, Britt says, "I would because I strongly believe that you just never know what might happen, and I have no regrets. It can be such a great opportunity, and you never know where it might take you or who you might meet."