It wasn’t too long ago that Chandler Dewgard, 24, a graphic designer from New York City, was scrolling on her Instagram Explore feed when she discovered an open call from the Bachelor Franchise for women looking for love.
At the time, Joey Graziadei, a Pennsylvania native who did a stint in Hawaii as a tennis coach, was heartbroken as a runner-up on Charity Lawson’s season of The Bachelorette. However, he was given a second chance to find love after being selected as the next season’s Bachelor.
“I told my roommates, and they said ‘Chandler, you have to apply. He’s cute,’” Dewgard said. “So I applied on the website.”
Dewgard said the process was quick and brief, and before she knew it, she was in Los Angeles.
“It was very surreal,” Dewgard said. “I had actually just started a new job… I didn’t know what my job would say, but once I told them, they were extremely supportive of me.”
After packing, speaking with her family and getting on the flight, the feeling of actually going on the show set in.
“It’s something I never thought I’d be in, but I’m so excited to be a part of that experience and be a part of Joey’s journey,” Dewgard said.
Dewgard said once she landed in Los Angeles, she didn’t really know what to expect. Not being very familiar with the show, she tried to learn more on her phone after getting picked up from the airport.
“I was excited to meet all the girls and see who else was there,” Dewgard said.
Once Dewgard, after getting ready and dressed in a red gown, got to exit the limo and meet Joey finally, she greeted him with a legendary line referencing Friends: “I know your name is Joey, and my name is Chandler, and I just wanted to let you know I’ll be there for you.”
Graziadei loved the greeting, as did viewers, as many fans were posting on X (Twitter) their enthusiasm for the line.
“I didn’t really think about it at first once I had been cast,” Dewgard said, adding that the greeting was an idea of a friend of hers who is also a fan of Friends. “He also was a Friends fan, so I said ‘great, this worked out.’”
Being on camera at the Bachelor Franchise’s famous mansion was another aspect of the show Dewgard had to get used to.
“I sit behind a desk all day looking at a screen, so it was a very different environment,” Dewgard explained. “I don’t know if it was something I was able to adjust to as quickly as the other girls, I think for me, I was very anxious… I will say a lot of the girls there I had spoken to… I wasn’t afraid to say I was anxious, but they were actually very helpful to me.”
Unfortunately, Dewgard did not receive a rose during the Rose Ceremony, so she was not able to move on to the next phase of Graziadei’s journey.
“It was tough to put your life on hold hoping it will work out for you,” Dewgard said. “I don’t regret doing it and having that experience. I wish Joey nothing but the best and I’m also watching this season and I’m excited to see what happens. I think from meeting all the girls, I’m excited to see their journeys.”
Watching herself on television was something Dewgard had to get used to as well.
“It was weird, obviously watching yourself, and I cried at the end [of the episode], but it was fun,” Dewgard. “I was so anxious when I was there that night because I didn’t know what to expect, and watching it back, I think a lot of the times I saw myself it was later in the night when I had the conversations with some of the girls, and they calmed me down, and I think I was at the point of wanting to have fun and talk to everyone, so it wasn’t too bad seeing myself.”
Dewgard said she was happy to get back to her family and receive their support. And, she quickly went back to work.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Dewgard originally attended Syracuse University to study journalism, but she realized her passion for graphic design while taking a design course.
Now, she’s a 2D graphic designer for Tarte Cosmetics. She previously worked as an assistant graphic designer for Victoria’s Secret Pink.
