Jimmy Nicholson is a self-described “relationship person” so it’s welcome news to hear that the airline pilot has found himself happily loved up from his time on the reality franchise.
While we still have to wait until July 21 for the official premiere of The Bachelor Australia 2021, we can pass the time by scrolling through Nicholson’s Instagram account, re-watching the sweet promos for the series and getting prepared for one hell of an adventure in romance.
Ahead of the show’s premiere, POPSUGAR Australia caught up with 31-year-old Nicholson to find out about his experience on the show and what made him choose the lovely lady he is now with.
Over the course of our chat, Nicholson explained that he had tried dating apps but ultimately felt they were too superficial for what he was looking for, which is someone to settle down with. He also got candid about how the events of 2020 helped him get to this point as well as the inspiration that his parents’ relationship provides him and what he loves most about his new partner. Read on to see what else we learned about this dashing, and hopelessly romantic, hunk.
“She’s exactly what I always hoped for.”
POPSUGAR Australia: How did the events of 2020, and being a pilot during the pandemic, inspire you to make a change in your life?
Jimmy Nicholson: Last year was a really interesting year for all of us. I think everyone would come out of last year and say that they definitely learned something about themselves or probably changed the way they do life in general.
For me, I had something that I really worked so hard towards taken away from me, and I’m one of the lucky ones! I knew that I had a job to go back to and I’m now back at work, which is great. But we (the travel industry) were hit pretty hard. So that definitely gave me a lot of time to think last year. You know, there were a few lockdowns, a few lonely nights where you’re by yourself.
I’ve been on my personal journey that I needed before I could settle down with someone, and I was ready to meet someone. I think the timing when I was first approached to do The Bachelor, was almost perfect for me because I’d had that time last year off work. It made me really think about what I wanted out of life and relationships.
PS: Do you believe in love at first sight?
JN: I don’t.
I think I believe in lust at first sight, or you can fall in love with the look of someone. But you can’t possibly fall in love with someone by just looking at them.
Obviously, there’s a lot of beautiful people out there in the world. And there’s attraction. But you can’t at that point realise that you can be with that person for the rest of your life without having said a word to them or finding out what their favourite food is, for example. There’s a lot more to it.
PS: Were there any women on the show, though, that you felt an immediate connection with that maybe surprised you? Maybe because they had qualities that you didn’t even know you were looking for in a partner?
JN: Yeah, that’s true! That’s the beauty of The Bachelor — that these people pick 23 ladies they think might be really compatible for you.
And I guess sometimes, we all have a type and it kind of forces you to broaden your horizons a little bit. There were definitely some people at the very start who I was really attracted to, who weren’t the type of people that I have dated in the past, which was great.
On the first night, I had a few of those moments where I’m like, ‘Okay, this is cool. I’m happy I’m here.’ And the important thing is that now I’m with someone who I’m really happy with and it’s worked out really well for me, so it couldn’t have gone better.
“We bring out the best in each other.”
PS: So, is she The One?
JN: I think she might be!
I mean it, look, I’m realistic about these things. It is early days still, but I have to say she just can’t put a foot wrong. So it’s all looking really positive. She’s exactly what I always hoped for.
PS: What was it about your new partner that made you pick her?
JN: I can’t give too much away about who they are, but I can say that towards the end, I knew that she was going to be an amazing girl to date after the show. And having spent time with her since the show — and we’ve had the chance to spend quite a bit of time together in secret and also just chatting — it’s really made me realise that it’s when the cameras are off, that’s the true test.
We bring out the best in each other, we’re always laughing… I actually can’t believe that I’ve met someone on a dating show!
Because it’s the biggest thing for me going into it: you put everything on the line and you open yourself up to public scrutiny. You go on TV and everyone knows your business. And all you can hope for is you actually just meet someone that you can continue with and yeah, it’s worked out.
PS: What was your relationship history like, prior to coming on The Bachelor?
JN: My last relationship was seven and a half years and prior to that, I was in a five-year relationship. So, I was in a relationship pretty much from my late teens to my late 20s.
I really needed time to myself over the last few years to go out and do the things that you need to do before you settle down. The last thing I want to do is just get married, have kids and then have this thought that I haven’t done these things. I wanted to make sure that I was really happy that I’ve travelled with my mates, I’ve gone on trips and just done all these different things that you can’t do necessarily in a relationship. You know, go on a weekend away at the drop of a hat, not have to report to someone, all that kind of stuff.
But yeah, a couple of long-term relationships so I guess I’ve always been a relationship person.
PS: You’ve cited your parents as having the type of relationship you aspire to. What do they say their secret is?
JN: I don’t know if they have a secret as such, but they’re just best mates and they just bounce off each other. They’re two very different people, but they rely on each other for different things. Dad’s the ultimate handyman, you know, he can fix anything. And he’s, he’s very sociable. He’s a real people person.
Mum is a clinical psychologist, so she’s very grounded. She’s the rock. Dad doesn’t know how to use internet banking! Mum does all that stuff and it’s a really cute dynamic they have.
I guess the key to it is having your best mate and being able to marry your best mate, and I can see that with them. They go on little walks together every morning and they chat about… well, me a lot! They keep it interesting. They keep the romance there. And I think that’s important.
PS: Having now found love yourself, what advice do you have for other guys and girls out there who are frustrated with their search? Especially during a pandemic where it’s even harder to get out and meet people?
JN: I think if the whole process of The Bachelor taught me anything, it was that that you don’t have that peripheral stuff. When I was filming, I didn’t have my phone, I couldn’t stalk them on Instagram, I couldn’t find out what their reputation was like through mates. You’ve got none of that, you’re just going on face value and the connections that you’re forming face to face.
I think nowadays everyone is too susceptible to picking up their phone and stalking someone on the ‘Gram. We’re all guilty of it, I used to do it as well. And with modern-day dating, it’s all about swiping left or right based on how someone looks. I think when you’re trying to find someone that you want to spend the rest of your life with, there’s a lot more than looks.
Obviously it’s important to have that attraction, but I would just encourage people to go on little coffee dates and go for a walk with someone and keep it low-key and also stay away from getting a stalk on. Just leave all that stuff and just talk to each other.”
The Bachelor Australia will premiere Wednesday, 21 July at 7.30pm on 10 and 10 Play.
