I like…

Equality; Baroque music; Frozen Yogurt; The benefit of the doubt; Dry humor; Real conversations; Pomelos; Engrish; Bleecker Street; Curiosity; Adjectives beyond "amazing" and "awesome"; Kiwis; My Nintendo Switch; Reciprocity; Heels; Self-awareness; Lobster rolls; Superb spelling; Floss; Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs; Quiet confidence; Window shopping; Accountability; Violent Asian massages; Working fireplaces; Cocktails with egg whites; Looseleaf tea; Generosity; Backless dresses; Honesty

I dislike…

Entitlement; Ignorance; Guns; Talking without listening; Incorrect use of "it's" vs "its" (and while we're at it, "you're" vs "your"); Cruelty; People who take themselves too seriously; The middle seat on airplanes; Judgmental people; Condescension; Closed-mindedness; Assumptions; Stubbornness; Bullies

Singing-related press post-Bachelor →

Washington Post article by Anne Midgette
WQXR interview with Naomi Lewin (audio)
Minnesota Public Radio interview with Fred Child

Grantland interview with Emily Yoshida (video)
Jezebel: Farewell to Sharleen, The Most Revolutionary Bachelor Contestant Ever by Kate Dries
The Week: How to Exit a Reality Show with Dignity by Samantha Rollins
Nerve: A Victory for Feminism by Elizabeth Wurtzel
Nerve: Better Things To Do by Elizabeth Wurtzel
Flare Magazine interview with Flannery Dean

← Bachelor-only press

pan-da, /ˈpandə/

Noun:

1. A large bearlike mammal with characteristic black and white markings, native to certain mountain forests of central and western China. It feeds almost entirely on bamboo and has become increasingly rare.

2. A person who is noticeably different from others. (the "brown bears")

Why Pandas?

Viewers who first got to know me on The Bachelor know where the term "panda" comes from. But if you're new to the site, let me fill you in.

It all started in Episode 5 when I said...

Now for some backstory on what it means to me. For 6 years of my life I dated a lovely man from Toronto. We met at a Toronto Film Festival party in 2003, where several times throughout the evening we caught each others' glances across a crowded room—until I finally marched up to him and gave him my number. Later, on our first date, he told me something I will never forget: "When I saw you, you were like a panda in a room full of brown bears."

It means more than just looking a certain way or being someone's type. To us it meant a certain something about someone being inexplicably different and just... fitting. And someone's panda will most certainly be the next person's brown bear, and vice versa. (For inquiring minds, to this day he and I are still very dear friends and he and Andy get along like old chums.)

The Origin

A name is a name is a name...

After my season aired, I wanted to write The Bachelor recaps from the perspective of a former contestant. My goal was to create the sort of recaps that I, as a critical (yet longtime) viewer, would have wanted to read. When coming up with a title for this blog in 2014, I knew I wanted to incorporate "panda" into the name somehow because of what it represented to me and the folks who understood my unique definition of the word.

FAQ

Are you actually an opera singer? Do you still sing?

Yes! While a lot of Bachelor occupations are jokes (Free Spirit, Dog Lover, Chicken Enthusiast), I was indeed a working opera singer while on The Bachelor and still am to this day. For more on my opera career, please visit my singing website.

Did you go to school for singing? Where did you study?

Yes. I hold a Bachelor of Music and Master of Music, both in Voice Performance. I studied at Mannes.

What is your ethnicity?

My mother is Chinese and my Canadian father is a mix of Irish, French, and Native American.

You seem well-adjusted and intelligent; why were you on The Bachelor?

It’s a misconception that people on The Bachelor (or any reality shows) are dumb, desperate, or crazy. The unique circumstances of filming might make them behave crazily, but for the most part, we are normal and have our marbles intact. If you’ve ever asked (or thought to ask) me or any other Bachelor alum this question, you should be reading my recaps (if you aren’t already).

How do you curl your hair?

Hot rollers! I swear by them and have been using them forever. So many of you have asked me this that I’ve written a blog post all about them.

What do you wear under backless tops?

I am amazed at how often I’ve been asked this, but hey, such concerns are valid! I wear and swear by Nippies Skin.