Here's a helpful hint for all you local single gentlemen. If you're in a bar or a restaurant and you happen to see Kari Fajen, the Overland Park gal who got elimidated from ABC's "The Bachelor" this week, and you're looking to make an impression on her ...
do not mention the show!
Fajen, a 27-year-old former Chiefs cheerleader and native of Lee's Summit, wasn't offered a rose by Jason Mesnick, the single dad looking for a wife in the 13th edition of "The Bachelor." That episode aired on Monday; after it episode taped last fall, Fajen left California and resumed her work at PlattForm Advertising in Lenexa, which she joined in 2005.
"When I go out, I'm happy that people recognize me," she said. Being Kansas City's most visible single woman, however, hasn't affected her love life. In fact, in a conference call with reporters Thursday, she admitted that she now has to be on guard for men who are attracted to her for her television semi-stardom. She said she doesn't want to date someone who likes her "because I was on the show, but wants to date me for who I am."
Fajen is listed with the local agency Voices & Models, which kindly supplied this photo of her. Wendy Franklin, who runs the agency with Vicki Evans, said she has pictures of Fajen in "every color of hair you could have," and won't swear that what you see here matches the 5-foot-3 model's current tint.
Producers for "The Bachelor" picked Fajen out of a bunch of audition tapes filmed at Trolley's Downtown Bar & Grille in Overland Park, owned by onetime "Bachelor" bachelor Aaron Buerge. Once she got to the ladies' lair, she made an attempt to bond with all of her fellow contestants, because that's what a nice Midwestern girl should be doing.
"I call myself 'The Chameleon,' and try to get along with everyone," she said. "I liked all the girls and tried to stay away from the cattiness."
She even claimed to get along with some of the show's self-designated divas.
"America sometimes sees Megan in a bad light," said Fajen, referring to the single mother and lacrosse coach who at times has looked like she wanted to high-stick one of the other contestants. "We had some really good long conversations."
Unfortunately, she had no similar luck with Mesnick and was kicked out of the house before the two could have a one-on-one date.
While some of the other bachelorettes no doubt plan to use their 15 minutes of reality fame to launch actressing careers in Hollywood, Fajen said she has no plans other than "getting back in my routine."


Comments