Vanessa Grimaldi, the first Canadian to win The Bachelor, said Monday she is discovering new music on the radio — well, new to her.
“When we were on The Bachelor we were stripped away from life so I don’t even know what song was playing,” she told iHeartRadio.ca, “and when I turn on my radio I go ‘Oh my God! This is a new song’ and [friends are] like ‘No, it’s been playing for three months.’”
Grimaldi has her favourite artists, though. “I’m a very proud Canadian so Justin Bieber, The Weeknd, Drake… love my Canadian music.”
She added: “I've always been a big Beyoncé fan so anything Beyoncé-related.
“Huge Hanson brothers fan.”
Wait. Isaac, Taylor and Zac of “MMMBop” fame? “Yup!”
The 29-year-old Montreal native, who won the heart of Nick Viall at the end of season 21 of The Bachelor, is in her hometown to appear at the closing night of the Just For Laughs festival, where she will introduce a local comedian.
The show is a roast of Montreal and Grimaldi said it’s “absolutely” acceptable to take shots at the city.
“If you’re from here you’re allowed making fun of it,” she explained. “But if you’re not from here then you’re not allowed.”
Now living in L.A. with Viall, Grimaldi said “it always feels great to be back home in Montreal.”
Has her fiancé spent time in the city?
“He has,” said Grimaldi. “This is the first time he hasn’t been down with me because I’m only in town for three days and I’ve been working.
“He enjoys it but every time he’s been here it’s been raining so we didn’t have a chance to fully enjoy the Montreal experience.”
Grimaldi added: “I’m really sad that he’s not here but I’ve been Facetime-ing him and showing him around the city.”
Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images
Has Viall savoured the local delicacy, poutine?
“He has not,” said Grimaldi, who already knows where she will take him. “My favourite poutine is from McDonald’s. No, this is not an ad… but I love McDonald’s poutine.”
Grimaldi said there's nothing new to share about the couple's future plans. No, they haven't set a date.
“Nothing has changed," she said. "We’re enjoying being engaged at the moment.”