DRESS: RACHEL COMEY (ARITZIA) HEAD SCARF: STYLIST'S OWN BOOTS: FRY	PLAID SHIRT: TNA (ARITZIA) JEAN SHORTS: VINTAGE JORDACHE (ARITZIA) BELT: BANANA REPUBLIC BOOTS: FRY SOCKS: H&M
TANKTOP: WILFRED (ARITZIA) PANTS: WILFRED (ARITZIA) BRACELETS: DANDI MAESTRE	DRESS: RVCA (ARITZIA) NECKLACE: MANOUK (MANOUK.NL) BOOTS: FRY
TANKTOP: WILFRED (ARTIZIA) JEAN SHORTS: VINTAGE JORDACHE (ARITZIA) BELT: BANANA REPUBLIC

VANCOUVER VIEW: How did you come to be on The Bachelor?

JILLIAN HARRIS: Easy—drinking wine! Seriously though—my BFF Carol Kelley and I were drinking wine [while] watching it one night. I think I mentioned something about the girls being crazy and of course that prompted me to apply. Lo and behold, I get a call! Wow, eh?



VV: And then came The Bachelorette! Talk about second chances, Jill...

JH: Even though the first round was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, it was really tough on me and very, very stressful. I vowed to never do TV again. Then they asked me to be the Bachelorette and I didn't skip a beat. SURE! But really—I did have a rough time answering them. I didn’t want to lose my job (I worked as the designer for Browns Restaurants) and I also worried about what people would think of me.



VV: The show's couples seem to have a poor track record. Why do you think that you and Ed have what it takes?

JH: The thing about the show is that it has as good a track record—or better—as any other eight-week relationship. The difference in this show is [that] at the end of the eight weeks there is a premature proposal. First off, Ed and I kept the ring and kept it on my finger, but between the two of us we knew we needed to give ourselves time. I don’t think we are really any different than any of the couples who did make it or who didn’t—they (and we) are just all real people who gave something crazy a chance. I do, however, think Eddie and I have what it takes. We live in real life now, and we have a very real relationship. But we all know, even that sometimes isn't enough—so we work hard on trying to communicate, understand each other and work on our faults. Even though we’re like two peas in a pod and love each other to death, there is no such thing as a fairytale relationship and just like every other person out there, we have things to work on.



VV: Have the dynamics changed since you and Ed have been dating off camera?

JH: Of course, but remember our relationship on camera was so quick. I joke around that I got engaged to someone after knowing them for eight minutes. The question is, has our relationship evolved in the last year? Yes—just like any other. You learn about the person, you love them more, I wear less makeup around him and we have a joint bank account. (Laughs) I think after the last year of being with him, we know each other well enough now to get engaged. Wait...we already did that!



VV: Describe for us a regular day for you and Ed.

JH: Wish I had something more exciting to tell you, but: wake up, have coffee, work, make dinner, clean up, do laundry and go to bed. The odd night we have an event but other than that, it's pretty normal!



VV: Do your parents get along?

JH: The parents love each other. They all have similar values, morals and direction. They are very involved in our lives and they are all involved in changes in our lives. We are very blessed to have such wonderful parents. They met for the first time in November. All the parents came to Chicago and they hit it off!



VV: How do you picture your “dream” wedding?

JH: A burlap sack dress, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and a keg of beer. Honestly, though, the longer we are engaged the longer I do not feel the need for an elaborate wedding. I am very frugal with my money, so I don’t like the idea of spending a lot. All that matters is that everyone has a blast and the focus is on our love. Maybe it could be on a farm with a big barbecue and lots of kids. Super simple.



VV: Would you ever consider televising it?

JH: At one point very recently, yes. We had conversations with ABC and were so close to going ahead with it, but I realized there was a risk, that somewhere in the back of our minds, something would be telling us “you're not taking this seriously.” So we are pretty sure that we are going to stick with Plan A—the burlap sack and a keg of beer. Okay, maybe there is a happy medium!



VV: Would you recommend the reality TV experience to others?

JH: I would recommend any experience to others. Whether I had a good time or not. You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take, and it's better to be absolutely absurd then boring. Life is about going for what you want, or going for something you think would be crazy and walking away from it with what you wanted. I never thought of the experience as fake or phony. Yes, the show is produced, but I am as real as it comes so no cameras or producer can take that away.



VV: As you are extremely outgoing and personable—do people in Chicago notice your West Coast character?

JH: Oh yeah, eh! Actually, people in Chicago are just like Albertans—so outgoing and social. I actually fit in better here than I would have thought!



VV: What do you miss the most about Vancouver?

JH: Carol Kelley, my apartment, being close to my family in Kelowna, beautiful Mother Nature, Granville Island.



VV: Do you see yourself becoming a full time Chicagoan?

JH: No. It's Canada long term. Love it here, but could never be that far away from my family. Maybe Kelowna?



VV: Any aspirations for the TV world in the near future?

JH: I was just announced as a full-time designer on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition— so, yes! I am less averse to the idea now. For some reason, I associated TV with “fake” and it doesn’t need to be that way. It's about what I make it. I balance my life really well and don’t lose sight of what is really important.



Styling/Interview: Karolina Jez
Photography: Karolina Turek (karolinaturek.com)
Makeup: Brei Zellinsky
Hair: Erin Coyle