For Genevieve Parisi, who struggled to be vulnerable with Clayton Echard, her time on The Bachelor season 26 serves as a learning experience.
Genevieve Parisi's time on The Bachelor may have ended just before the highly-anticipated hometown dates, but this 26-year-old bartender from Los Angeles, California, is, for the most part, looking back with happiness on her journey to find love with Clayton Echard. Throughout Genevieve's time in The Bachelor season 26, she was rarely involved in drama (aside from getting stuck on a two-on-one with Shanae Ankney) but also had a weaker connection with Clayton than some of the other women. Ultimately, it was Genevieve's struggle to be vulnerable that resulted in her elimination. However, the experience helped her grow.
During the most recent episode of The Bachelor, the remaining seven contestants traveled to scenic Vienna, Austria. Following a lavish shopping date with Susie Evans, Clayton took Genevieve, Sarah Hamrick, Teddi Wright, Rachel Recchia and Gabby Windey on a group date to therapy to see a psychoanalyst. As someone who has a difficult time breaking down her walls, Genevieve instantly felt uncomfortable. In fact, she was "terrified." On the heels of her session with Clayton, who felt she wasn't vocal enough about her feelings toward him, Genevieve was sent home.
After her final episode aired, Genevieve shared on Instagram a brief clip from the dreaded therapy date, which shows her saying, "I don't even know what's going on inside of me." In the caption, Genevieve poked fun at the moment by stating that, five months later, she still doesn't know. On a more serious note, Genevieve admitted that, prior to The Bachelor, one of her "worst fears was being vulnerable." Though this fear continued throughout her tenure on the show, Genevieve left Vienna with a valuable lesson that she'll take with her moving forward. "I learned that it's ok to let others see the parts of you that you may be scared to show. You will never be able to fully love somebody if you have your walls up, and that's something I'll continue to work on."
Not only did Genevieve have this revelation, but she also formed solid friendships with the other ladies of The Bachelor season 26. "The 2am talks, family dinners, laughing (until some of us peed our pants I will not mention names), traveling the world together telling people we are an equestrian team--I'll hold the memories in my heart forever," she said. Genevieve also thanked Bachelor Nation for supporting her. The comments section of Genevieve's post was flooded with positive messages that referred to her as a "star," "beauty" and "class act." Several followers applauded her for facing her fear of vulnerability on national TV. One said, "Props to you for actually being real and relatable. Most of us would NOT want to be vulnerable in therapy on TV like that and open up within just a few weeks. There's a reason therapy is usually private in real life."
At the end of her post, Genevieve revealed that she's "more than ready" to find what she initially went on The Bachelor to look for--a husband. Based on the outpouring of love for Genevieve on social media, producers would be smart to remember her when casting the next season of Bachelor In Paradise, if that's something she's interested in pursuing. Until then, viewers will be watching to see how the rest of Clayton's journey unfolds as Susie, Rachel, Gabby and Serene Russell take him home to meet their families.
The Bachelor airs Mondays at 8 p.m. EST on ABC.
Source: Genevieve Parisi/Instagram
