The Bachelor’s Dina on Finding Love After Grant: ‘I Just Don’t Like Giving People A Chance.’

And then there were three. The Bachelor’s Dina Lupancu said farewell to Grant following hometowns on the latest episode of the ABC reality series. The self-described “ice queen” introduced Grant to her friends instead of her family, which may have been the reason why Grant was hesitant to move forward with the 31-year-old attorney from Chicago. (On the other hand, there’s also more to this story, which you’ll see on The Bachelor: Women Tell All next week).

Family visit or not, Grant and Dina just didn’t have the secret sauce that one needs to get to the final rose. It’s a reality that Dina is at peace with, knowing that opening up is not something that comes easy, especially with such an expedited process. In fact, she’s more than willing to point out the attributes that Litia, Juliana and Zoe have that make them a better fit for Grant.

But in the months since her Bachelor elimination, Dina is reflecting on what she learned on the show, noting that she was never “going to be fake nice” just to keep the peace. Ahead of Women Tell All, she also opens up to Glamour about Grant’s uncertain ending, and why she’s still struggling to find her own Mr. Right. Read on.

The Bachelor’s Dina and Grant.

Disney/John Fleenor

Glamour: As you’ve watched The Bachelor this season, is there anything you wish you did differently?

Dina Lupancu: I think I’m someone where it’s like what you see is what you get. I’m never going to be fake nice, and I’m never going to be mean-spirited. But it also reminded me that you have to be so careful with what you say with your face and what you say with your words because someone catches you in that moment and if they don’t know you like that, it can look so bad. You can look so catty and it can look so mean. And I’m not that person at all.

I grew up in a really big family, so I have really thick skin and nothing really makes me offended. And so I think that I can say whatever and people not take it so to heart, but I have to watch what I say. I said a few things in the beginning episodes, where I’m like, “Oh my God, that’s so mean.” And if you know me, I’m just speaking what I’m thinking in that moment. But it not necessarily has any weight to it. So yeah, I’ve had those moments for sure. I’m like, “Oh, Dina, don’t do that.”

Do you feel like you have to explain yourself to people who meet you now, especially if they know you from the The Bachelor?

No, I don’t feel like I have to explain myself. I’m not somebody that will do that. I think people are going to have their opinions and since they don’t see everything, they’re going to hold onto [what they think they know]. And I’m not going to try to change their mind. Just like how someone that might have the wrong impression of me might be really positive. I’m not going to go in there and be like, “Oh, actually you got that wrong.” So I try not to control the narrative. As soon as you try to control the narrative, you have already lost. So I don’t do that.

Looking ahead to the finale on March 24, what was your initial reaction when Jesse says to Grant, “You need to tell me which woman to send out first,” and Grant apparently has trouble deciding on his final choice?

My gut reaction was, I’m not surprised because he had some really amazing women at the end. And I remember when I left I was like, “Oof, this is going to be hard for him.”

So not surprised in a good way that he would have trouble?

Yeah. I knew that he would have trouble, so it was not surprising to me. I think what was surprising to me though was that it was the day of [the proposal]. I was like, “That was a little crazy.” So I’m at the edge of my seat just like everyone else. We’ll see.

Is there a woman that you think might be the better fit for him? Not who he chooses, but who is the better fit based on what you know?

It’s so hard for me to say that because I think we’re not all just one-dimensional. When you look at Litia, you see somebody who is so ready for marriage. I’m really good friends with her, so I know that she’s so ready and she is looking for her husband, she’s looking for a family. I think with Juliana, she’s fun, and she can bring a lively environment to a family. If you’re gravitating towards that, then that’s what you would want as well. I think with Zoe, it’s the same thing. She’s looking for someone that chooses her first and wants to be with her and loves her and wants to give that back, too. So it’s so hard. They both have so many different qualities that they bring to a relationship. I can’t say who would be the best fit, but I just think it’s a matter of who’s the best fit for him and only he knows that.

So what’s next for you? Are you dating now or are you looking to go on Bachelor in Paradise potentially?

I’m not dating, which is, like, why I went on the show in the first place because I am so bad at dating. I don’t want to date. It’s so daunting to me. But I still want the same things that I wanted when I came in, which is to find my person and to get married and have a family and have the whole shebang. So I don’t know how I’m going to do it. Paradise, I don’t know. I don’t know. It’s a big unknown for me right now. I hate it. I just don’t like giving people a chance.

How come you don’t like giving people a chance?

Because it’s so much effort to not get a first-year result. And I’m so logical that I’m just like, I’m not doing this for fun. It’s not fun. If I want to have fun, I want to hang out with my friends, I want to see my family. I want to do things that are genuinely for sure a good time fun.

For me, dating a random guy and seeing if we mesh is not fun for me unless I know for sure it’s going to work out, which just doesn’t make sense. But my brain’s like, It needs to work out or else it’s not worth my time. Stupid, [I know].

I understand in the sense that I would rather be friends with a guy first. I’m just not good with the pressure that comes with a first or second date.

Me neither. And then you have to foster that relationship. I’m such a fiercely loyal person. If I’m dating someone, then it’s like, “Well, I got to see it through until it doesn’t work, and then I have to find someone else to see if that works.” That’s daunting to me. I need to stop though. I’m 32. I need to figure it out. I have to do it eventually though. It’ll happen when it needs to happen.

I feel like what is going to work will find you. But that doesn’t mean that you hide yourself.

Well, that’s what I’ve been doing.

It’s just important to be out and about, and don’t close yourself off.

That I can do.

And if dating is too daunting, then just don’t put yourself in that position right now.

Yeah, I’m not. I gave myself until summer, so I have a few more months.

And if not, Paradise is always a potential option.

Yeah, if I go. We’ll see. It’s a toss-up for me.

The Bachelor: Women Tell All, airs Monday, March 10, on ABC, and streams the next day on Hulu.