Juan Pablo Galavis Talks New Season of ABC's THE BACHELOR

The 18th Edition of ABC's popular romance reality series THE BACHELOR, featuring former Venezuelan soccer player Juan Pablo will premiere Monday, January 6, 8:00 - 10:00 p.m.. Prior to the season debut, join host Chris Harrison in a one-hour special edition of "The Bachelor" entitled "The Bachelor: Countdown to Juan Pablo," airing SUNDAY, JANUARY 5 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET). In the special, viewers will get a more in-depth look at our newest Bachelor, the sexy, single dad, Juan Pablo Galavis. It's an exciting sneak peek into Juan Pablo's everyday life in Miami, his family and his endearing relationship with his four-year-old daughter, Camila.

This week, Galavais spoke with reporters about the upcoming season of THE BACHELOR. Below, find out what his prospects are for finding his one true love on the newest installment of the dating competition!

I guess my obvious first question is do you find love during your season on "The Bachelor" walk away with a fiancee?

You have to watch till March, you know, that's part of it. I wish I can tell you, but I'm very happy. I'm a happy guy; I'm always happy. And you'll see in March. You'll call me back and let me know how it ended up.

What process did you go through to decide that you wanted to be "The Bachelor", and are happy with the decision?

Juan Pablo: It's a process - you have to think a lot. I have a daughter, you know, and being on "The Bachelorette," it was a little bit less thinking because I knew that I could go home week one, week two, day one, week three. In this one, you have to be for the entire season, so it was going to be a little bit of a time away from my daughter.

Also I hate hurting people. And it's a (inaudible), but at the same time you have to take the risk of meeting people - 25, in this case 27 - that I knew that they knew a little bit about me.

They knew what I wanted and then they knew that I wanted to have a family, have kids, so - so definitely it was a risk but like I've said plenty of times you can meet people everywhere in a club, or restaurant, but you don't know if that person is in the same page, you know, you don't know if that person wants to get married, have kids, or not.

So in this case it was easier in a sense. But at the same time it's harder because you have to say goodbye to a lot of people. And like the answer to the question before I'm very happy, I'm a happy guy so I'm always happy and I think of that as every opportunity I always see the positive thing so.

You're a good looking guy, you're fit, you're funny, you know, you obviously want to have kids and so forth, so why are you still single?

Why not? Because of that, you know, there's always - you can meet a person - a great girl, you know, and then all of a sudden she doesn't want to get married. So there's one thing. Maybe you meet a girl that she doesn't understand that you have a daughter, so there's another reason. Or maybe you have a girlfriend and she likes your daughter a lot, but inside of her there's something that tells her that she's not going to give you - she's not going to give me my first son, so there's another issue.

So it's not easy. You know, there's always somebody for some - for people everywhere, but it's not easy to find that person. And in this case, they knew about me, so I thought maybe it would have been easier enough, and I took the chance.

What was first reaction when you found out that one of the contestants or the bachelorettes was seven months pregnant and would that sort of pairing go over in Venezuelan culture?

It was - it was shocking but, you know, there's (love) for everybody and, you know, when you have somebody that is pregnant, you take care of it, you know. Maybe - maybe my reaction - I was like shocked, obviously, but I'm a dad and I know how that feels and, you know, single moms, single dads, you know, when they don't have that other person to raise their child, it's just tough in the sense they need that chance. And - if I'm able to give her that chance, it's great, you know. It's not easy but - it's a hard situation but (we all need it).

How do you answer critics who have something to say about you leaving your daughter to film a reality show not once but twice?

I haven't read that, but if they tell me, oh, you leave your daughter - well, my daughter has a mom too. And her mom takes care of her anyways when I'm away. And I travel a lot. So, it's not that I'm leaving her to do a reality show; I'm, you know, leaving her - couple of times to be - and maybe finding somebody that I can be happy and have a family and then she will have brothers and sisters.

So, I don't think that if somebody says that, you know, maybe they don't have families and they don't know what that means, you know. So - but I don't - I don't care about those kinds of critics. I'm glad that I haven't read them.

How are you going to express your culture in this season of "The Bachelor"? Are we going to see you eating empanadas or expressing your Latino culture in any way, shape or form?

I'm going to tell you something; I'm going to tell you something. I am the Bachelor, and I am a Latino, and obviously it's going to be me. So, there's going to be a lot of Latino things in the show - a lot, you know, just me. And it's going to be great. It's going to be a lot of food, a lot of dancing, a lot of stuff. I'm going to tell you, it's going to be so different that you're going to love it.

What reaction have you been receiving from the Latino community on social media?

People are just happy. And it just - it's not that I'm a Latino, I'm not - because also I'm Spanish, you know. Another fact that you a Latino or not, it's just, you know, it's not easy to find somebody for the show, and also in "The Bachelorette" or "The Bachelor" to find people from different cultures. They don't understand this show; they don't want to be in this show. So it's not easy and definitely their reaction has been great and I'm happy. It's going to be great.

Now that you've done this process with "The Bachelorette" and "The Bachelor", is there anything that you learned about making this show behind the scenes - anything that really surprised you?

I have to be honest with you, I've seen "The Bachelorette" six episodes. I saw a half hour of "The Bachelor", while I was doing the - before I did "The Bachelorette", because they come - have you seen the show, I was like no. So I've never see - I'm going to see "The Bachelor" for the first time on January 6th, from 8:00 to 10:00. So, I would just be myself and, you know, doing what I'm supposed to do in the date and going out and doing all that. So to me nothing was to new.

Obviously, you know, there's a format on it, kind of because, you know, there's some rules (inaudible) there's this (inaudible) there's lot (inaudible). I would say I'm - if I was me and they say do what every you want up there, it would have been different. But that's how it is, you know, so nothing - nothing else that I - that I can tell you about it because I've never seen it. After I watch this show, you - we can talk about it and I'll be like Oh, maybe that one I would have done different, you know? But at the moment we'll have to see the show.

As we see every season there, people like to make stunt entrances. Did those make a difference to you, do you think they're a good idea?

Juan Pablo: Well it depends, you know, there are 27, I was like who was the one - when I was like the 10th - I was like what was the number one, you know, it makes a little bit of that impression, but, you know, roses I give them away because I felt like it. You know, and you're going to love that.

And being a (inaudible) you don't understand it and definitely a good first impression, I was waiting for crazy and I didn't have too many crazy ones I think. So, definitely the first impression (inaudible) it might be the (inaudible) of something. You know, it's a weird night to me. First night's very overwhelming, there are a lot of people and stuff like that. So it's not - it's not easy. It's not easy.

What are you looking for in a woman?

I'm looking for a woman that is smart, that is honest, that likes sports a little bit maybe, and was looking for somebody that knew how to dance because I love dancing. That's one of my biggest turn on, or like I fall in love with that.

But in this situation I say to myself, Juan Pablo, not all of them are going to dance. Not all of them will be good dancers, so please don't let them dance yet. And just get to know them better. And that's how I did it, so.

What role will your daughter's pproval or disapproval play in your selection of a future mate?

I don't need approval from her, you know, obviously she's going to be five. The way I see and the way you're going to understand when you see the show is that I introduce Camila on the first day (to wherever). When I'm dating on the regular basis - whenever is possible, I introduce that to my girlfriend at the time, but obviously I don't tell her, "Listen Camila, this is my girlfriend."

No, this is a friend of Daddy's. That's how I treat it. We don't hold hands, we don't kiss, we don't sleep over, we don't do anything in front of my daughter. I don't do it in front of my daughter because I don't want her to grow up seeing dad dating this person. After (Carla), I just had one girlfriend, who was the one who had the chance to meet Camilla,), and it was a friend of Daddy. That's it.

So, obviously if - I'm getting married with somebody someday, definitely I would be like this is the one, she could be your stepmom, and I introduce her as my girlfriend because I am 100 percent sure that I'm going to marry somebody whenever that has to happen, you know.

So I take it that way. Approval, no. Definitely have to talk to her; she's got to love my daughter and, you know, because she can't love me if she doesn't like my daughter. It's not going to work, so. (Inaudible).

Are you concerned at all about whatever sort of impression she might have of this dating process that you're going through and what message that it might send her whenever she does find out about it in the future?

Well, she'll find out later. She's not going to watch this show. I'm going to show, you know, maybe some things to her, but I'm not going to show her everything, you know. It's not worth it. She's little, she's going to be five. So, it's not even worth involving her into this whole process and tell her, listen, Daddy's going to go out with 27 - no, it's not worth it at all.

Would you say that your first impressions of a lot of the ladies were pretty accurate based on how they acted throughout the season or were you surprised about what you learned about some of them as time when on?

I wouldn't judge a first impression. I don't judge first impressions at all, because I didn't do something but I could have done some weird thing too, and it's not me. You know, just to be funny. So, it's hard to say, oh, because you did this, you're going to be this way. No, I would have done double flip and take my shirt off, like maybe like (Sag) did and that's not me. It just would have done it because it was funny, you know, so. I wouldn't judge on first impression.

Where do you go on a first date that's not on T.V. and why?

I, you know, what we - we're different. I'm Venezuelan and I'm so different as Americans. I don't even worry about first dates, second date, third dates. I kiss on the second date because I wanted to kiss her in the first date because I want to do dinner and then we do this and - no. I'll just say listen what do you want to do I'll pick you up and then we'll figure it out and we'll just go to the movies. And then, oh you want to have something to eat let's just have something to eat.

We are a little different and that's how I am, you know, and to me I don't pick a place for a first date. I just call somebody and say, hey, I'll pick you tomorrow. You want to do something? Sure, what do you want to do? Maybe movies. OK, good.

You know, I just more natural than in the States. There there's many things in different cultures that you will see probably during this show that I will explain because definitely my words are the ones they're going to explain why I am the way I am, and you'll be like, well, this guy's that way. And then you'll listen and, oh, now I understand.

So, you'll enjoy it. I promise you, you guys are going to enjoy this show.

Do you have any dating turn ons and turn offs and why?

I hate dancing, man. You seen us dance is horrible. So, I'm not dancing, you know, no dancing. I tried not to, you know, it's funny. But we'll see maybe I'll change my mind and I'll change the way I am because of the show because I know, you know, all of them are going to be dancers, so.

And somebody that doesn't eat, too - you know, I like food a lot. So I know I don't want to - I don't like sushi, I don't like this, I don't like this. Maybe that would be a horrible turn off. I don't know.

What's the best love advice you've ever received and who did you receive it from?

Advice, the best love advice I received before joining this show? You know, just tell her your feelings, you know. You've just got to let yourself see how you feel and try to listen as much as you can and understand people. You know, you have to put yourself in the other's shoes too. And I was in the other shoes. I was in the other show.

So, you have to understand that and I'm glad that I wanted to do this show being on the other show. They said now you will understand the whole process and how - why these people talk and why these people interact and why these people feel that way, you know. So, definitely you just got to let your gut feeling tell you and you figure it out.

Have you talked to any of your fellow contestants from Desiree Hartsock's season?

Well, you always, you know, we talk we tweet. You know, they're supportive of course. You know, they want the best for me and I want the best for them. You know, and definitely, you know, (Sag) was my best friend out of this and (Dan) and we talk and hopefully everything went well and before I went through the show, hey, are going to do good or everything's going to be great.

You know, it just - just encouragement words that, you know, that they just have for me and I appreciate it all those of course. And obviously for me to them is they - I know they're going to find her somewhere and, you know, I'm always supportive for them whenever they need, you know, they can call me and it's great having friends out of all this.

Did it feel like it was a totally different experience being, you know, sort of the bachelor and the guy in charge and the one sending people home.

Of course it was a different experience I got to on the dates. Finally I got to go on my one on one date that I never went in the other show. So, but yes, it's a different experience because you're the one dating every day and going on the dates. But it's tiring too, you know, it's tiring. On the other one I got to rest and this one I didn't.

So, but it was fun. It was great.

About The Bachelor Premiere:

In the premiere episode of THE BACHELOR, Juan Pablo enjoys some time with his adorable daughter, Camila, when he is surprised by a visit from Sean Lowe. Sean offers some pointers on how he should handle his romantic adventure when 27 amazing women come from all over the world to meet him. Although not looking forward to having to send any of these beautiful bachelorettes home, he soon forgets about that when he hears the first screams of excitement from the limousines. It's obvious the women are out to make a memorable first impression. A gorgeous nurse pulls out a stethoscope and lets him listen to her heart. A free-spirited hippie decides to go barefoot. A vivacious dancer invites him to show her his sexy salsa moves. The real showstopper is a music composer who arrives on a "piano bike," playing her own composition. Not to be outdone, one woman shows up seven months pregnant. Is it a stunt or an OMG real moment? And one bachelorette brings a date - her dog, Molly.

Juan Pablo tries to calm everyone's nerves by surprising the women with an impromptu dance party and a spontaneous photo booth. Now, as he tries to get to know the women individually, the stunning nurse impresses him with her commitment to caring for sick children. A lovely single mom connects with Juan Pablo as she shares stories about her eight-year-old son. But things get a little crazy when an overzealous masseuse gets The Bachelor on her massage table and treats him to some of her best moves.

Tensions run high once Chris Harrison brings out the first impression rose, with those who haven't spoken with the handsome bachelor growing more anxious by the minute. One recently heartbroken woman tearfully relates her story of being left at the altar by her former fiancé. An elegant opera singer, who has come half away around the world to meet Juan Pablo, is totally enchanting. As the party draws to a close, he offers the coveted rose to a stunning beauty, but she is hesitant to accept it. Why?

At the end of the evening, 18 bachelorettes remain to start the exciting adventure with Juan Pablo and begin the search for love.

About Juan Pablo Galavis:

Juan Pablo Galavis, the former Venezuelan soccer player, stepped out of the limo to meet last season's Bachelorette, Desiree Hartsock, and into the hearts of female fans across the country, who were taken with his sincerity, easy-going charm and good looks. The dashing single dad, very devoted to his daughter, Camila, was ready to find love. Juan Pablo became one of the most talked about men of the season despite failing to win Desiree's heart. The fans spoke and now Juan Pablo is back for his own chance to find the love of his life, wife and stepmother to his daughter. He begins his search for his soul mate, choosing from among 27 beautiful bachelorettes, when the 18th edition of "The Bachelor" premieres.

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